10-29-07 Item 4H, Safe Route to School Grant

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The neighborhoods (Attachment A: Project map) south of the elementary school, which consists of approximately 155 house holds has limited trail ,.. connections to the school and library. The trail along County Road E2 and identified crosswalks will provide a safe off road connection to these locations. Providing a safe connection for the surrounding neighborhoods to the school for both walkers and bikers is critical. Band is now offered at Valentine Hills for fifth graders from 8:30 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. before school. Many parents have a hard time transporting their child to school for this and therefore, some students are unable to participate. Providing safe routes to school surrounding Valentine Hills will increase the participation of all extra curricular activities. Line 28: Provide a summary of any planning documents, surveys and or crash data that demonstrate the need for the project. Planning documents may include a school route plan, comprehensive plan, SRTS plan, etc. There have been 38 accidents in the fast 10 years on County Road E2 from New Brighton Road and Old Snelling. In 2005, there were 5 accidents, meaning a rate of 1.2 accidents per/1000 vehicles (taken from the Minnesota Department of vehicle Services). The speed limit on County Road E2 is 40 mph, except when children are present (School zone is set at 30 mph). The Ramsey County Sheriff has received numerous complaints from Valentine Hills Elementary of speeding along this road. Interstate 35W has an exit at County Road E2 and it is used by Bethel University students as a regular route to the university. Also, this road is used often as a shortcut if traffic backs up at Interstate 35W. The current AADT on County Road E2 is 4,100 (taken from the 2006 Mn/DOT website). In 2002, the City of Arden Hills completed a Parks, Trails, and Open Space Plan (Attachment C). It was found that: Arden Hills is divided by many major roads, highways and railroads. These transportation corridors provide excellent regional access and mobility, but they separate neighborhoods and people from schools, parks, and libraries. Trail connections are needed to tie the City together, create a comprehensive system of parks and trails, improve safety and enhance the feeling of community. The City of Arden Hills has one elementary school and one high school within its boundaries, Valentine Hills and Mounds View High School. Neither of these schools have proper trails necessary to encourage safe biking and walking as a primary way to go to school each day. Since 2002, the City of Arden Hills (in particular the Parks, Trails, Recreation Committee) has been working on updating its comprehensive plan, and has identified trail links within the city that are proposed for the next twenty years. In November of 2006, the Arden Hills City Council approved Strategies for Parks, Trails, Recreation,and Community Building (Attachment D). The Comprehensive Plan and Strategies address trail segments that are needed to connect the community to schools, libraries, and parks. The proposed trail on the south side of County Road E2 is listed as a priority (trail #10 of attachment D). Another significant proposed trail that is identified within the Strategies (Trail#3,5 of attachment D) is the Old Snelling Regional Trail (identified on Attachment A - project map). This trail connection is in the City of Arden Hills Capital Improvement Plan for the year 2010. This is a very dangerous roadway that has no trails or pathways. The trail would run along the entire stretch of Old Snelling (Crossing in front of Bethel University, another key connection) from State Highway 51 to County Road 96, (which would connect to the proposed Minnesota Safe Routes to School 12 2008 Grant Application Instructions