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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - JULY 23, 2007 4 Chris Roy responded that 2015 and 2030 is the timeline for 1-694, but it is a project under advance design so as additional transportation dollars become available, it can proceed more quickly. He further stated that Highway 10 corridor is a top priority part of the project. Mr. Roy said that removing truck traffic and reducing the speed limit would take a change in law. The only instance of an interstate freeway with those restrictions was the result of a federal court case. Speed limits are set by doing a speed study, with the limit set as a percentage of average speeds. Reducing speed can actually be counterproductive and create more safety concerns. The issue is differential of speeds. Mayor Harpstead asked, can you post a recommended truck route? Mr. Roy said that could be investigated. Ms. Poucher asked about safety if fixing Highway 10 and 96 is completed long before 1-694 is completed. Resident George Grenander asked if the speed limit would increase. Mr. Roy stated that he did not know. A resident asked about the process for changing the law and noted a concern about impact on property values. Mark Goess (Mn/DOT) mentioned that as he recalled with I-35E, residents funded their own lawsuit. It took many years to go through the court system. He stated that it would be possible to try and get state legislation to approve a lower speed limit, but he couldn't be sure how the federal government would react to that. A resident asked why Highway 10 couldn't become part of the County system. Mayor Harpstead stated that the volumes are probably too high. Another resident suggested closing Highway 10. Mr. Roy stated that it may seem like a simple solution, but cars will end up on other County and local roads. Mayor Harpstead indicated that the concept of moving Highway 10 to the east has been studied. In addition to increased costs, there is the impact on the wells and other complications, including that the traffic would be brought closer to the Briarknoll neighborhood. Resident David Boldt asked, what would we have to do to get a sound barrier? He continued that Mn/DOT said that because they wouldn't be touching the road down by Briarknoll, they wouldn't do an environmental study. Mayor Harpstead suggested the possibility of looking for grant opportunities and other options, but that the City by itself couldn't build one. Mr. Grenander stated that Shoreview had built one. Mr. Tolaas responded that it was part of a County proj ect. A resident asked for more information about noise walls. Another resident asked about 'jake braking", and whether signs could be posted. Mr. Roy responded that there are two ways noise walls are constructed. One way is that they are built along with major road projects. They study the need for the walls as part of a project, but only study to the project limits (where construction ends). The second category is that they conduct a noise analysis of neighborhoods by highways and create a priority list. Approximately two projects per years are constructed from this category. Ms. Bloom stated that only one Arden Hills neighborhood is in the top 50 on that list; another neighborhood is 185th.