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<br />ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - JULY 23, 2007 <br /> <br />5 <br /> <br />Resident Dorothy McClung stated her concern that the focus on Highway 10 and 96 simply <br />moves traffic to Highway 96. Since traffic cannot go south on Highway 10, the traffic will be on <br />Snelling and other streets. She added that you cannot turn on Hamline now at certain times of <br />the day. She stated her concern that we are trying to fix one problem only instead of looking at <br />the whole area. She stated that the City of North St. Paul delayed the Highway 36 project for <br />years until issues were worked out. She asked for the County to comment on how many mobile <br />homes will be affected. <br /> <br />Mr. Tolaas responded that 13 to 17 homes would be affected by the Highway 96 project. He <br />suggested that they may be able to replace some of them. <br /> <br />Ms. McClung stated that there will be no improvement to the bridge over I-35W, which is also a <br />problem area. She stated that you cannot build a highway to prevent a car from hitting a truck <br />that is parked (referencing a fatal accident that had recently occurred.) Accidents will not change <br />with redesign. She suggested trying the idea of flashing lights. <br /> <br />Mr. Roy responded that Mn/DOT looks at crash rates. Typically, they see a 40% decrease in <br />crash rates when changing from a signalized intersection to a grade separation. Ms. McClung <br />asked ifMn/DOT and Ramsey County have the money for the project. Mr. Roy stated, not at this <br />time. Mr. Tolaas stated, they have turn-back funds available, and the County is in the process of <br />applying for federal funds. Mayor Harpstead added that we don't have funding yet. The goal is <br />to begin acquiring land first, perhaps in 2008, with construction beginning in 2009. <br /> <br />Mayor Harpstead asked about the possibility of a signal at Snelling. Mr. Tolaas responded is that <br />the County's goal is to have signals every half mile. He added that they are trying to protect <br />Snelling by lining up the TCAAP entrance with the church. Ms. McClung indicated that she <br />doesn't want a signal at Snelling. <br /> <br />Mr. Tolaas stated that support is needed from the City, County, and State, or there will not be <br />much of a chance for funding. <br /> <br />A resident from Arden View Drive stated that he believes traffic will get pushed on to the I-35W <br />ramps at Highway 96, and asked what will be done about those? Mr. Roy stated that Mn/DOT <br />has been studying that issue and that it is rising in priority. He mentioned the possibility of <br />round-a-bouts. He stated they will look at this in conjunction with the Highway 10 and 96 <br />projects. <br /> <br />Mayor Harpstead asked, would it be possible to put up directional signs to encourage people to <br />use 1-35W instead of Highway 10? Mr. Roy responded they could look at it with the traffic <br />department but he was not sure it would work. Mayor Harpstead asked if more evergreen trees <br />could be planted along Highway 10 for noise control. Mr. Roy stated that every year, Mn/DOT <br />tries to work with cities and neighborhoods to identifY projects. Mn/DOT will create a plan, and <br />cities or private groups provide the labor. Mn/DOT doesn't maintain projects along the <br />interstate. A resident noted that trees were planted 20 years ago and it helped. Ms. Bloom stated <br />