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I-694 NON-MOTORIZED CROSSING STUDY PAGE 34 the transitway development. Once the trail is extended north, east-west connections to the Bruce Vento RegionalTrail become important in order to provide a true alternative to less attractive crossings such as TH 61 and White Bear Avenue. McKnight Bikeway Improvements (map reference Y) — This recommends that Ramsey County and the Cities of White Bear Lake and Maplewood explore the feasibility of a north / south bikeway along McKnight road in the vicinity of I-694. This segment of McKnight has lower traffic volumes and speeds than many other crossings of I-694. It is also at a non-interchange location, which significantly reduces the number of conflicts at the crossing. McKnight Road also lies at the center of a Priority RBTN corridor in the Metropolitan Council’s 2040 Transportation Policy Plan, though the exact alignment has not yet been defined. Future city and county planning processes should determine whether or not McKnight is the preferred alignment for the RBTN corridor and also identify the type of bicycle facilities for the selected route. On-street bikeway accommodations would be a possible low- cost option to implementing a bike facility in a shorter timeframe if there is adequate space to achieve this with a restriping or resurfacing. A separate or cantilevered trail bridge adjacent to the roadway could also be explored for feasibility, though this type of improvement would have significantly higher costs and would therefore likely be a longer-term endeavor. Silver Lake Trail and Lake Links Trail Plans (map reference Z) — This recommendation recognizes the planning work that has already been completed by Ramsey and Washington Counties and area cities via the Lakes Links Trail Master Plan. The Plan includes proposed trail alignments that address many of the gaps in bicycle and pedestrian connectivity in the I-694 study area. Notable connections identified in the Plan that relate to the I-694 study area include the Bruce Vento Regional Trail extension to White Bear Lake (previously discussed in Recommendation X), a trail on the west side of TH 120 south of I-694 as part of the Silver Lake Trail, and a separate trail crossing of I-694 east of TH 120 in Washington County. Funding to implement the Master Plan’s recommendations has not yet been secured. Table 4: East Study Area Opportunity Projects MAP REFERENCE DESCRIPTION NOTES STATUS / TIMING AGENCIES W Highway 120 Resurfacing • The MnDOT 10-year Work Plan includes a mill and overlay on TH 120 from 4th Street to County Road E in the general timeframe of 2020. • This segment of the corridor currently has high levels of pedestrian and bicycle traffic with minimal provisions (shoulders in some places). Opportunities for bicycle and pedestrian facility provision should be explored with city and County partners well in advance of this project in order to identify possible solutions and additional funding sources. • The existing sidewalk gap between the I-694 bridge and ramps should also be addressed with this project. 2020 (tentative) MnDOT; Ramsey County; Washington County; Oakdale; Maplewood; North St. Paul; White Bear Lake; Mahtomedi X Bruce Vento Trail Extension • City and County working with railroad to determine feasibility of extending Bruce Vento Trail within Railroad ROW or Xcel power line easement. • Would provide north south travel into White Bear Lake and eventually connect to the Hardwood Creek Trail. • Rush Line Transit Corridor planning is also looking for ways to resolve the trail connection if the Ramsey County Regional Rail Authority corridor is chosen as the locally preferred alternative. Long range Ramsey County; White Bear Lake