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Feasibility Report Page 11 <br />Snelling Avenue North and County Road E - Street and Utility Improvements <br />City Project Number PW 20-0100 <br />3.PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS <br />3.1 Street Improvements: Area 1 – Snelling Avenue North <br />This study included an investigation of design alternatives for the roadway and potential <br />addition of a pedestrian trail along Snelling Avenue North. While multiple roadway and trail <br />layout alternatives were initially considered as part of the study, viable design options are <br />governed by specific design requirements, which include the following standards. <br />Minnesota Rules 8820.9920: Minimum Design Standards; Rural and Suburban <br />undivided; New or Reconstruction Projects <br />Minnesota Rules 8820.9926: Minimum Design Standards; Rural and Suburban <br />undivided; Reconditioning Projects <br />Minnesota Rules 8820.9936: Minimum Design Standards; Urban; New or <br />Reconstruction Projects <br />Minnesota Rules 8820.9995: Minimum Off-Road and Shared Use Path Standards <br />Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Design Standards <br />It is important to note that some segments of the roadway corridor within Area 1 have <br />extensive vertical relief with steep slopes extending east and west from the edge of pavement. <br />Road improvements beyond full depth reclamation work is considered “reconstruction” by <br />MnDOT and triggers MN Rules 8820.9920 design requirements. Maximum in-slope grades <br />may be difficult to achieve and would require substantial clearing of trees and placement of <br />fill to widen the roadway platform in some areas, particularly along the roadway between <br />Skiles Lane and Lametti Lane. While there is sufficient right of way available along the <br />corridor, separation of the trail alignment from the edge of the roadway pavement would also <br />require substantial tree clearing and fill placement within areas having steep side slopes in <br />order to comply with ADA requirements for maximum trail grades. <br />Due to the standards and challenges mentioned above, two primary alternatives were <br />investigated as part of this study. <br />Alternative 1 - Full Reconstruction Plus Trail: This alternative includes the full <br />reconstruction of the roadway and the addition of an 8 to 10 foot wide multiuse <br />pedestrian/bicycle trail extending from County Road E to Highway 51. The potential trail <br />was considered based on the City’s 2040 comprehensive plan which identifies a proposed <br />regional bicycle transportation network trail extending along Snelling Avenue North from <br />Hamline Avenue at Highway 51 to Lake Valentine Road. <br />A schematic layout of the proposed roadway and trail improvements for Alternative 1 is <br />provided in Appendix G. The proposed road section and trail alignment were identified due <br />to several terrain challenges along the corridor as noted above. While the road is located in <br />a wide right of way, there are sections of steep grades along several sections, with side slopes <br />adjacent to the road in excess of 1:3 and grade differentials of 25 feet or more at certain <br />locations, in addition to delineated wetland boundaries along the corridor. <br />Attachment A