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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – MARCH 21, 2016 6 Mayor Grant provided background regarding the I-694/TH 51 project and said the project did not include a pedestrian crossing. He stated that Arden Hills appealed the design and that as part of the process and negotiations, a trail was requested and subsequently created on Lexington Avenue over I-694. He also stated that the County Road E bridge reconstruction pedestrian walkway was part of the negotiations as were improvements to the County Road F bridge. Mayor Grant said that while Arden Hills requested this study, it appeared the scope had changed greatly. He stated that I-694 is a major barrier because it is a major road and does not offer options for pedestrian crossings. He asked how the City could make trail connections over I-694 happen and appreciated the fact that MnDOT did not have the funding or jurisdiction over such projects. Sheila Kauppi of MnDOT stated this study was the first of its kind and noted that MnDOT has limitations as to how they could spend their funding. She stated trunk highway dollars were assigned to MnDOT owned right-of-way and so it is difficult to build a trail over a county road or city street. She said that a benefit of the study was that it could aid in the City’s solicitation of funding for improvements along the corridor. Councilmember Holden stated the original focus was to provide opportunities for residents of Arden Hills to cross over I-694. Gina Mitteco stated that MnDOT has a complete streets policy that considers pedestrians and bicyclists but this does not mean that every project gets a trail. She indicated that given the barriers along the I-694 corridor, locations that provide safe crossings with less extensive infrastructure changes were ideal. Councilmember Holmes referred to the municipal consent agreement and noted a pedestrian crossing at Snelling Avenue and I-694 was not an expectation. She remembers a compromise that included a crossing at Lexington Avenue. Gina Mitteco stated that MnDOT has interstates all over the region and there are trail gaps everywhere. She suggested Cities and Counties initiate funding via grants to aid in financing construction of pedestrian walkways. Acting Public Works Director Anderson stated that when the City applies for funding for trails, the City is scored and receives points based on whether or not the improvements are written into a long term plan and whether or not we are in agreement with other communities. He said that this study furthers the City’s chance of receiving federal funding. Mayor Grant said that the Council could review the language in the original agreement and asked if any action was expected from the Council at that time. Acting Public Works Director Anderson stated he was simply providing the final study and if no action was identified or required by MnDOT, they would conclude the study. D. 2016 PTRC Work Plan and Project Priorities Discussion