04-16-07 Full Agenda Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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CP Rail Bridge 4/12/2007 Page 2 Both the County and CP Rail are willing to cooperate with the City on the proposed pathway project. However, both agencies indicated that all of the funding would be the City's responsibility. The CP Rail Bridge improvements were included in the adopted Capital Improvement Plan for 2007. The scope includes bridge improvements only; no pathway construction is proposed for 2007. The modifications to the rail bridge were estimated to cost $230,000. This includes $46,000 engineering and $184,000 in construction costs. These costs do not include pathway construction costs. $50,000 ofthe project costs are budgeted in the Special Revenue Parks Fund. The balance of the project is slated to be funded using the City's State Aid Funds. In the interest of moving the project forward in 2007, the City has conducted preliminary discussions with CP Rail officials and Ramsey County regarding this project. Both agencies have reaffirmed their willingness to work with the City. DISCUSSION The overall objective for the construction of pathways is to provide connections as well as increase safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. A number of trail connections have been identified that would connect to the Old Snelling/ Old Highway 10 regional trail. These other projects were part of the impetus for including the CP Rail bridge improvements in the 2007 CIP. . Countv Road E2 Pathwav: This project was submitted for Safe Routes to School grant funding and included the construction of an 8 foot wide bituminous pathway on the south side of County Road E2 from New Brighton Boulevard to Old Highway 10. Staff learned on April 9th that this project was not selected for grant funding. . Countv Road E Pathwav and Bridge improvements: This project was submitted last year to the State for Cooperative State Aid Funds and included the constrnction of an eight foot wide pathway on the north side of County Road E from Old Highway 10 to the Snelling Avenue ramps. Staffleamed in late January that this project was not funded. . Old Snelling Street Reconstruction: This project is proposed in 2010 and would consist of the reconstruction of Old Snelling between Snelling Ave and County Road E. A pathway could be constructed in conjunction with this road project. Since this road is on the City's Municipal State Aid system, the pathway construction costs could be funded through MSA. . Lake Johanna Boulevard Pathwav: The Tony Schmidt Park Master Plan has identified the need for a pathway along Lake Johanna Boulevard. This project is included in Ramsey County's Tony Schmidt Master Plan as Priority #3 with an estimated cost of $500,000. Funding for these improvements has not been identified and there is no timeJine for the proposed improvements. CONCLUSION Staff is seeking direction from the City Council regarding the CP Rail bridge project. The next step would be to prepare preliminary plans to submit to CP Rail for their review. If the City Council desires to continue work on this project, staff would contact URS to submit a proposal/ work order that would be brought to the next City Council meeting for approval.