05-29-07 Item 7D, Resolution 07-61 Concept Plan for Highway 10 and County Highway 96

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. Council held additional work sessions in April and May to continue discussing the project, and requested the development of another concept option; one of the primary goals of the new concept was to limit as much as possible impacts on the "triangle" bordered by Highway 10, Highway 96, and I-35W (including several single family homes, the Arden Manor development, and a few businesses.) . The Mayor and City Councilmember Holden attended a meeting with MnDOT to explore the possibility of Highway 10 being downgraded to a local road, without connection to 1- 694 and I-35W; . The new concept for Highway 10 and 96, along with a proposed Resolution, were discussed at a May 14 work session; Council requested additional changes to the concept; Council also requested changes to the proposed Resolution in support of the project; . Council received a letter from MnDOT Area Manager Chris Roy, explaining the MnDOT position that Trunk Highway 10 remain a connector between 1-694 and I-35W; . SEH made requested changes to the concept; drafts were forwarded to Council May 21. City staff met with representatives of Scherer Brothers and reviewed the most recent concept plan. They seemed comfortable with the access provided to their business. We also shared the concept with representatives of All Parks Alliance for Change (AP AC), in our on-going efforts to share information with the Arden Manor community. The goal of the May 29 agenda item discussion is to determine whether Council approves a Resolution in support of a preferred concept for the Highway 10 and 96 improvement project. If Council formally approves a preferred concept, it would allow the State, County, RRLD, and consultants to begin pre-design engineering for the project. The developer, RRLD, is willing to fund the pre-design engineering costs if the City approves an amendment to the Preliminary Development Agreement and a Resolution regarding reimbursement of funds, similar to the steps the Council took in relation to the County Road H interchange improvement project. Those items follow this item on the May 29 agenda; if the Council does not approve a preferred concept, then those two agenda items would likely be tabled. There are several reasons why the request for support of a preferred concept is important at this time: . The project has been discussed for many years and would allow Ramsey County to complete additional Highway 96 improvements that have been progressing for many years; . Safety concerns would be addressed with the construction of a grade-separated interchange at the intersection ofthe two highways; . Uncertainty has been difficult for the homeowners and businesses in the area; selection of a preferred concept will decrease uncertainty of the impacts of the proj ects, allowing pre- design to proceed which will further illustrate the impacts; . Pursuit of funding is difficult if not impossible without a preferred plan as the basis for estimated project costs; (for example, the application for bonding bill requires a cost estimate) ; . These improvements are critical to traffic management for the TCAAP project, supporting the proposed redevelopment of the project, and limiting increased traffic impacts on our local roads.