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