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I-694 NON-MOTORIZED CROSSING STUDY PAGE 18 Lexington Avenue Lexington Avenue (CSAH 51) provides a parallel crossing of I-694 to TH 51. A trail on the east side of the bridge was improved with the I-694 TH 10 / 51 project. Lexington Avenue provides access to major employers north of I-694 including Boston Scientific and Land O’Lakes. Lexington is also a major commercial corridor with several large grocery retailers as well as restaurants and other services. Metro Transit route 261 provides express service between Shoreview and downtown Minneapolis along Lexington. The existing trail along Lexington is owned and operated by the City of Shoreview. The trail provides pedestrians and bicyclists with separation from traffic in this corridor that sees approximately 21,400 vehicles per day. This separation is important to comfortably accommodate the wide range of users that are drawn to the employment, retail and transit destinations along this corridor. However, the high levels of vehicular traffic entering and exiting I-694 at the interchange can be a challenge for some pedestrians and bicyclists to navigate. Victoria Victoria (CSAH 52) provides a north/south connection from Shoreview to St. Paul. The crossing at I-694 is an interchange and carries approximately 14,300 vehicles per day. It is also a Metro Transit bus route. Land uses along Victoria are primarily residential with destinations such as Island Lake Park, and two schools south of I-694. Victoria has a shared use path along the corridor and at the I-694 crossing. The crossing was generally rated as a positive or good example of a pedestrian and bicycle crossing of I-694 among participants at the public meeting. Grass Lake Trail The Grass Lake Trail provides a trail crossing of I-694 that is completely separated from vehicular traffic. The trail crossing connects County Road E to the Vadnais Snail Lake Regional Park and includes connections to the Highway 96 Regional Trail via Snail Lake. Bicyclists and pedestrians who are not comfortable riding alongside traffic and seeking a scenic route can use this as an alternative to nearby roadway crossings of I-694. Many utilitarian bicyclists may not use this crossing because access through the park is not direct and is only open during park operating hours. Rice Street Rice Street (CSAH 49) provides a direct north/south connection from St. Paul to Little Canada, Shoreview, North Oaks, and Vadnais Heights. The roadway carries 17,400 vehicles per day and is a Metro Transit bus route. Within the study area, the corridor is surrounded primarily by residential land uses with commercial retail between County Road C and I-694. The interchange at I-694 does not have pedestrian or bicycle facilities and was identified as a notable barrier and safety concern by attendees at the public meeting. The roadway has shoulders north and south of the I-694 interchange and some segments of sidewalk.