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<br />Regional Highway System-Findings/Conclusions <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />1. The study area is a significant contnbutor of traffic on I-35W, with ap- <br />proximately 40% to 60% of the traffic on I-35W generated by the study <br />area. Both growth scenarios generate increased congestion on regional <br />and minor arterial roadway networks. This increase occurs even when <br />a second lane is added to I-35W and internal links are added to the <br />minor arterial network. <br /> <br />2. Daily traffic volumes are expected to increase significantly and approach <br />or exceed 200,000 ADT in places by 2025. Even with an assumption of <br />two additional through lanes in each direction on I-35W, traffic vol- <br />umes are forecast to exceed capacity under the assumed land develop- <br />ment scenario. <br /> <br />3. Capacity deficiencies currently exist along much of the I-35W corridor <br />during a.m. and/ or p.m. peak periods. The deficiencies include lack of <br />capacity for the current demand and excessive weaving movements <br />(interaction between vehicles entering the freeways and those exiting <br />at nearby downstream interchanges). <br /> <br />4. A major system-to-system weaving problem occurs on northbound 1- <br />35W between the entrance from eastbound 1-694 and exitto westbound <br />1-694 has a very high weaving volume in a very short area, creating <br />backups into the mainline lanes. . <br /> <br />5. Forecast mainline volumes plus high-volume merges and weaves make <br />the segment of 1-35W north of 1-694 particularly at-risk for operational <br />problems. <br /> <br />6. The TH 10 "Diagonal" supports a critical regional function. 1-35W, 1- <br />694, and the interchange between those two freeways would not have <br />sufficient capacity to absorb the additional demand caused by regional <br />traffic diverted from a "downgraded" TH 10 "Diagonal". <br /> <br />7. The existing and forecast traffic volumes make the intersection between <br />the TH 10 "Diagonal" and CSAH 96 a good candidate for grade sepa- <br />ration. Such a separation, combined with an interchange between the <br />TH 10 "Diagonal" and the TCAAP site would provide a balance be- <br />tween regional traffic movements and land access. <br /> <br />Regional Highway System-Next Steps <br /> <br />1. Integrate with Mn/DOT and update the Transportation System Plan <br />with the following: <br />a.change the policy of the subregion's segment of I-35W from an im- <br />provement corridor to an expansion corridor; <br />b.initiate a scoping study and preliminary engineering for lane addi- . <br />tions to 35W; and <br />c. identify bridge requirements in relation to arterial changes, <br /> <br />20 <br />