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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION--OCTOBER 11, 2010 2 2.A Mn/DOT I-694 Improvement Project—Municipal Consent Discussion (continued) Public Works Director Maurer indicated the model includes proposed changes for Highway 10 and Highway 96. He explained he has stated clearly that the City wants to know the proposed changes for all surrounding streets as well. Councilmember Holden stated a model would greatly benefit the Council to see the far-reaching impacts of the proposed changes planned for the interchange. This would assist with predicting new traffic patterns. Public Works Director Maurer stated a model could be requested and reviewed by the City's consultant. Councilmember Holden asked how the City would proceed if, after reviewing the model, the response from Council was not favorable. Public Works Director Maurer explained the Municipal Consent process calls for the denial with conditions. Once those conditions are met by Mn/DOT approval would be deemed to be granted and Mn/DOT could proceed with the project. Mayor Harpstead requested staff review the eight proposed conditions. Public Works Director Maurer summarized the conditions with the Council. Councilmember McClung felt this list was a good starting point. He would like to see pedestrian access along Highway 51 addressed further, as well as local access improvements to make up for the lost access at Hamlin and County Road F. He suggested a condition be added and funding provided within the plan for additional improvements at these locations. Sound mitigation should be further addressed for this project as well. Councilmember Holmes requested staff to review which of the local accesses would be lost through the proposed plans. Public Works Director Maurer stated the ability to go east on 1-694 from Hamline Avenue would be lost, along with the exit westbound I-694 onto Hamline Avenue. Mayor Harpstead added that traffic would no longer be able to go from northbound TH 10 to Highway 96,west or east. Councilmember Grant indicated the project as proposed cuts off access northbound Hamline Avenue to I-694. With this plan completed as proposed, if there were a bottleneck on Lexington Avenue, the only way to get back to Colleen would be to go down to 35W, up to Highway 96 and across Highway 96. This was a burden on Lexington Avenue and could become a choke point. He felt Mn/DOT needed to review the new traffic patterns further and how the plans would affect traffic through the City.