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<br />, <br /> <br /> <br />NORTH METRO I-35W CORRIDOR COALITION <br />1000 Westgate Drive, Suite 252 SI. Paul, MN 55114 Phone: 651-203-7259 <br /> <br />COALITION PURPOSE: ACCELERATE DESIGN AND <br />IMPLEMENTATION OF SOLUTIONS TO I-35W DEFICIENCIES <br /> <br />IMMEDIATE ACTIONS NEEDED: <br /> <br />1. Resources are needed to develop and evaluate alternative design concepts for the reconstruction <br />ofI-35W between 1-694 in New Brighton and Lexington Avenue in Blaine, <br /> <br />2. Expansion of capacity on 1-35W north of 1-694 must be included in Mn/DOT and Metropolitan <br />Council Plans and Programs, <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: 1-35W Corridor Communities and Counties have been working with the <br />Metropolitan Council and Mn/DOT to identify transportation system investments needed to <br />accommodate growth and redevelopment projects in northern Ramsey and southern Anoka counties, <br />Work to date has identified inadequacies in the regional transportation network that must be addressed to <br />balance area mobility with needs for local access, Additional work is needed to identify the appropriate <br />solutions to the existing congestion and safety problems, New developments already underway and <br />planned will increase the need for remedial action. Resources are needed to identify feasible transit and <br />roadway design options, evaluate the operational characteristics of selected alternatives and to provide <br />for community involvement in the planning process, These resources are not now available due to the <br />severe shortage of transportation program funds. <br /> <br />CURRENT STATUS: 1-694 is part of the metro area 'beltway' that is in Mn/DOT's priority plan for <br />expansion to at least 6 lanes, Reconstruction of the Snelling Avenue Interchange at the southerly limits <br />of this project area has been delayed to after 2014 due to the lack of funding. Reconstruction of the 1- <br />694/1-35W interchange, the second busiest in the metro area, is not scheduled until after the Snelling <br />project. These schedule dates may accelerate if the Legislature provides new transportation funding and <br />the proposed MVST Constitutional Amendment passes, Mn/DOT is working on the design of these <br />projects, including a limited portion of 1-35W, Due to the length of time needed to bring plans to the <br />construction stage, design work on 1-35W north ofI-694 must begin now, <br /> <br />Both 1-35W and TH 10 are Inter Regional Corridor routes that merge together in the proposed study area <br />that includes four major redevelopment projects, In addition to the rapidly growing residential area in <br />Blaine and outer ring suburbs, Arden Hills, Mounds View, New Brighton and Blaine are advancing <br />projects that will return contaminated lands to the tax rolls, provide new homes and jobs and create <br />added economic vitality to the area in the process, These projects include: <br /> <br />ARDEN HILLS: Redevelopment of the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP) , Where <br />currently there are worn out munitions manufacturing facilities and contaminated lands, the City <br />envisions over the next 10 years: <br /> <br />. 2200 new homes housing 5000 plus new residents <br /> <br />. 3.2 Million Square Feet of commercial, retail and office space <br /> <br />. 9,000 new jobs <br /> <br />. $875 Million in tax base compared to current taxable value of $0, <br /> <br />MOUNDS VIEW: New Corporate Campus for Medtronic. Work is already under way on the initial two <br />phases on an accelerated schedule, When finished, the results will include: <br /> <br />. 3,000 jobs initial phases, ultimate 6,000 at build out <br />