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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2B, I-694 TH 51 DiscussionAIQENHILLS Request for Council Review Prepared By: Terry Maurer, Public Works Director Worksession Date: January 18 2011 City Engineer 13 I -694 TH 51 Discussion Discussion Topic: Discussion of the 14 conditions, Resolution 2010 -0052, placed on the Municipal Consent for this project. Supporting Documents: 1. Memorandum dated January 28, 2011, from Terry Maurer. 2. Council packet from January 20, 2011, Council meeting. DATE: TO: FROM: SUBJECT: January 18, 2011 Background Discussion I- 694/TH 51 Discussion BEN HILLS MEMORANDUM Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers Patrick Klaers, City Administrator Terry Maurer, Public Works Director /City Engineer Attached is the I- 694/TH 51 packet information from the January 10, 2011, City Council meeting to continue the discussion of the 14 conditions, Resolution 2010 -052, placed on the Municipal Consent for the project. Joe Lux of Ramsey County will be present for issues dealing with the county road system (Jim Tolaas will be out of town at a conference). Former Mayor Stan Harpstead, the City appointee to the Appeal Board, will be unavailable for the discussion as he is out of the country next week. City Council Meeting P:\Admin \Council\Agendas Packet Information\2011 1 -18 -11 Worksession\Packet Information\ 1 -18 -11 I -694TH 51 Discussion.doc i AITT HILLS Request for Council Action Prepared By: Terry Maurer, Public Works Director /City Engineer Council Meeting Date: g January 10, 2011 Mn/DOT I -694 1 TH 51 Improvement Project Appeal Board Appointee Budgeted Amount: N/A Actual Amount: Funding Source: Recommendation: the formal City Appointee to the Mn/DOT Appeal Board for the I- 694/TH 51 is also requested to give staff any further comments and/or direction the City's 14 conditions_ The City Council is requested to make Improvement Project. The City Council regarding MnIDOT staff's position on Supporting Documents: 10, 2011, from Terry Maurer, Public Works Director. 2010, from Mark Lindeberg, North Area Engineer. 2010, from Commissioner Thomas Sorel. 1. Memorandum dated January 2. Letter dated November 29, 3. Letter dated December 13, HILLS MEMORANDUM DATE: January 10, 2011 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members Patrick Klaers, City Administrator FROM: Terry Maurer, Public Works Director City Engineer ippi( SUBJECT: Mn/DOT I -694 TH 51 Improvement Project Appeal Board Appointee Discussion Page 1 of 2 Background Mn/DOT is proposing an improvement project for the interchange of I- 694/TH51 in Arden Hills. In June, 2010, Mn/DOT submitted a Mn/DOT approved layout to the City, requesting City approval (Municipal Consent) of the layout. On August 9, 2010, the City Council held the public hearing for this project. On October 25, 2010, the City Council adopted Resolution 2010 -052 Disapproving the Final Layout of I- 694/TH 51 with Conditions. Resolution 2010 -052 was sent to Mn/DOT and on December 13, 2010, the City received a response. The response in the form of a letter dated December 13, 2010, from Thomas K. Sorel, Commissioner of Transportation, (copy attached) states that Mn/DOT will be initiating the Municipal Consent Appeal Process. Mn/DOT has appointed Mr. Greg Ous, Assistant Division Director for Operations Division, as their member to the three member panel. The letter asks the City to appoint their member as soon as possible. The City Council at the December 20 worksession briefly discussed appointing former Mayor Stan Harpstead. Once the City and Mn/DOT have appointed their members, the third member is appointed by mutual agreement between the City and Mn/DOT. If no agreement on the third member can be reached, the Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court will appoint the final member. The City may want a third member of the Appeal Board that is both technically orientated and familiar with the I -694 corridor. Two names staff would suggest are Mark Maloney, Public Works Director /City Engineer for Shoreview, or Mark Graham, Public Services Director /City Engineer for Vadnais Heights. City Council Meeting Metro- inet\ ardenhills \Admin \Council\Agendas Packet Information\2011 \1 -10 -11 Regular\Packet Information \8A 1 -694 Merno.doc After the three member Appeal Board is established, they have 30 days to hold a hearing. At the hearing both the City and Mn/DOT will be given an opportunity to present their case to the Board. After the hearing, the Board has 60 days to make its recommendation in a written report to the Commissioner and the City. Finally, since the adoption of Resolution 2010 -052 through late November, staff has been discussing with Mn/DOT staff the 14 conditions contained in the resolution. Attached is a letter dated November 29, 2010, from Mark Lindeberg, North Area Engineer, detailing Mn/DOT's position on each of the 14 conditions. Commissioner Sorel's letter states that MnJDOT will continue to work with the City to "narrow our differences and, I hope reach agreement on many issues prior to conclusion of the appeal process." Staff believes that conditions #1, 5, 8, 12 and 13 are adequately addressed in MnIDOT's November 29 letter. Conditions #2 and 10 staff believes are adequate answers from Mn/DOT but require a further commitment of funding from the City for the noise wall and/or concrete sidewalk. Finally, staff does not think conditions #3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 14 are adequately addressed by Mn/DOT's position. Council Action Requested Council is requested to formally name a City appointee to the Appeal Board. Staff would also request direction regarding the 14 conditions and the staff analysis of Mn/DOT's responses and/or direction regarding further negotiation with Mn/DOT staff prior to the appeal process beginning. City Council Meeting \\Metro-inet\ardenhills\Admin\Council\Agendas Packet Information\2011 1 -10 -11 Regular\Packet Information\8A 1 -694 Memo.doc Page 2 of 2 a 04 Es°14 4 Minnesota Department of Trans ortation ti a p g Metropolitan District a QF TA" 1 500 West County Road 8 -2 Roseville, MN 55113 November 29, 2010 Mayor Stan Harpstead City of Arden Hills 1245 West Highway 96 Arden Hills, MN 55112 RE: Conditions for Municipal Consent of I-694/TH 51 Layout Dear Mayor Harpstead: 1 am responding to the city of Arden Hills' letter of October 27, 2010, concerning the Arden Hills City Council resolution disapproving the final layout for the 1 -694 at TH 51 and TH 10 project that was submitted by Mn /DOT. In that letter, Arden Hills denied Municipal Consent with 14 conditions. Mn /DOT intends to continue working with you and Arden Hills city staff to at least narrow our differences and reach agreement on many issues. In doing so, 1 am going to address the 14 conditions to initiate the negotiation process. Conditions from Arden Hills: 1 The City requests that the revised traffic data outlined in the MnDOT letter dated September 14, 2010 be added to the approved layout. Mn /DOT response /statement MnIDOT has added the revised traffic data requested. Mn /DOT sees this condition as being met. 2 The City requests that MnDO T show the beginning and ending points of the possible noise wall on the proposed layout. MnDO T has estimated the construction cost at $1,525,000 with MnDOT funding $1,050,000 and the City funding $475,000. The City requests that MnDOT commit to paying any construction cost over the estimated $1,525,000. In the event that the construction cost is less than estimated the City requests that their share be prorated. Mn /DOT response Mn /DOT has shown the possible noise wall on our final layout. The funding of the noise wall can be established as a lump sum agreement where the city pays $475,000 towards the design and construction of the noise wall, or Mn /DOT and Arden Hills could agree to use a "Schedule 1" breakdown of costs for the noise wall. Arden Hills would then be responsible for An Equal Opportunity Employer whatever the costs are above and beyond the $3250 per decibel per benefiting resident. This option has much more uncertainty to the city than does the lump sum option. Please be aware that the installation of approximately 2000 feet of the 3000 foot noise wall will impact existing trees in the area. Some of these trees are mature Oak trees and other areas are very dense clusters of trees. So, the impacts will be very large. 3 The City requests that MnDOT commit that fill generated on the project will first stay on the project and be used for sound mitigation berming in all areas where noise walls are not proposed. Additional fill material, if it exists, should be used for berming along both sides of I -694 west of the project limits. Mn /DOT response Mn /DOT has investigated potential berming areas on the project. In looking at berming areas, it is necessary to look at areas that would allow berming within the existing R/W. The only area where berming can be constructed within the existing R/VV is on the south side of 1- 694 west of old TH 10. Mn /DOT is able to berm in this location while avoiding the area needed for ponding. The berm will be constructed meeting Mn /DOT design standards for clear zone setbacks, drainage requirements and wetland impacts. There will be impacts to mature trees with this berming. Mn /DOT will identify these impacts and requests that these impacts be discussed and agreed to by Arden Hills. 4 The City requests that MnDOT prove that the traffic modeling for the I- 694/TH 51 improvement considered the entire region and the effect the proposed grade separated intersection of TH 10 /CR 96 with the loss of some movements will have on the entire transportation system. Furthermore, the City wants MnDOT modeling to document that the proposed improvement veil cause no harm and actually provide benefit to the county and local road system beyond Hamline Avenue, County Road F, Lexington Avenue, County Road E and Lexington Bridge over 1-694. Mn /DOT response Mn /DOT can confirm that the traffic modeling for this project has considered the entire region and the effect the proposed grade separated intersection of TH 10 /CR 96 has on it. In addition, Mn /DOT will prepare an exhibit showing the 2010 traffic counts for the local roadway system for both the no build and the build condition. This exhibit will show the local traffic conditions resulting from both projects. 6 The City requests that MnDO T commit that there are no city costs associated with the proposed improvements necessary on interstate, county or local system (including changes that might be required on County Roads E, F, Hamline Avenue, Lexington Avenue or the junctions An Equal Opportunity Employer between) to construct the 1- 694/TH 51 interchange shown on the proposed layout with the exception of noise walls. Mn /DOT response Based on the Mn /DOT construction project, the costs that will be associated to Arden Hills will be due to requests made by the city. The city, in addition to the noise wall costs, will be responsible for paying for the cost of construction of the 6' concrete sidewalk from Floral Drive to County Road F. The signal that is being constructed at Hamline Avenue and County Road F will have county cost participation. Mn /DOT is unable to state what the Ramsey County cost participation is. There may be city participation in the signal. Also, Ramsey County will be looking at future roadway improvement projects in the area. The county cost participation policy will be implemented on these projects. Ramsey County should be consulted on their cost participation policy. 6 The City requests that MnDOT work with Ramsey County staff to identify necessary improvements to the Lexington Avenue /County Road F intersection, assist in estimating the costs of such improvements and encumber funding from the Cooperative Agreement funds or other appropriate fund source in a year agreed to by the County in consultation with the cities of Arden Hills and Shoreview. Mn1DOT response Mn /DOT has already met with Ramsey County to discuss this area and the possible improvements. It has been agreed upon that Mn /DOT will continue to work with Ramsey County in assessing possible improvements. Mn /DOT will work with the county in the submittal of a Cooperative Agreement project. The Cooperative Agreement process is a very timely process that allocates money within the same year as the application. If successful, this may allow for a project to be completed shortly after the completion of the I- 694/TH 51 project. The City requests that MnDOT agree to work with Ramsey County to identify any potential changes that could be made to the Lexington Avenue Bridge and adjoining intersections that would improve their operation and make such improvements prior to the completion of the 1 -694 interchange. Mn /DOT response Mn /DOT has already discussed this issue with Ramsey County. Mn /DOT has continued to provide data to Ramsey County as they look at the possible improvements for the area. This would be a county lead project with Mn /DOT providing assistance in any way possible. Potential construction would occur some time after completion of the 1 -694 bridge replacement project. An Equal Opportunity Employer 8 The City requests that MnDOT change the layout as necessary to provide the required spacing and appropriate (barrier) separation for a 10 foot wide bituminous trail on the west side of old Snelling Avenue/old TH 10 as it passes under 1 -694. Mn /DOT response -In the development of the layout, Mn /DOT work with the Minnesota Rules to design the appropriate trail crossing under a bridge. 9 The City requests that MnDOT construct a non- motorized /pedestrian bridge across TH 10 to connect North Snelling Avenue to the trail connection under 1 -694 identified in #8 above. Mn /DOT response The development of a TH 10 non motorized /pedestrian bridge crossing is a project that should be developed using the Federal STP process. This project would compete with other projects in the region with the best projects being selected for funding. Building connecting facilities to the project would benefit the City by enhancing the proposed pedestrian bridge project submittal. 10 The City requests that MnDOT show on the approved layout a 6 foot wide concrete sidewalk on the west side of Hamline Avenue from Floral Drive to County Road F and on the south side of County Road F towards Lexington Avenue to the existing and /or planned sidewalk Mn /DOT response Mn /DOT is showing the 6' wide concrete sidewalk along Hamline Avenue from Floral Drive to County Road F. Mn /DOT is willing to construct any additional sidewalks that the City requests, but Arden Hills is responsible for the costs of the sidewalks, and Arden Hills will need to provide the required RIW. 11 The City requests that MnDOT include as part of the proposed bridge structure crossing 1 -694 a non motorized /pedestrian facility that will provide for movements from the west side of Hamline Avenue to the west side of TH 51. Mn /DOT response First, the bridges that are being constructed will be able to be widened in the future to accommodate a trail. The development of an 1 -694 non motorized /pedestrian bridge crossing is a project that should be developed using the Federal STP process. This project would compete with other projects in the region with the best projects being selected for funding. Part of the project development should include working with the 1 -694 pedestrian crossing committee that will be formed to analyze pedestrian crossings of 1 -694 from 1 -35W to 1 -35E. The committee may include representatives from Arden Hills, Shoreview, Ramsey County, Mn /DOT, FHWA and the Met Council, but not limited to this group. An Equal Opportunity Employer rte Est 12 The City requests MnDOT clearly state that the existing area on TH 5lavailable for non motorized/pedestrian movements will not be lessened in the future with the proposed improvements. Mn /DOT response The existing bridge structures have less width for non-motorized/pedestrian movements than the proposed bridge structures. 13 The City requests that MnDO T commit to including the design standards laid out in the Architectural and Aesthetic Design Guidelines for the 1 -694 Corridor from the Mississippi River Crossing in Fridley to the 1 -694 Interchange in Oakdale, July 2002. Mn /DOT response Mn /DOT commits to using the Architectural and Aesthetic Design Guidelines for the 1 -694 Corridor from the Mississippi River Crossing in Fridley to the 1 -694 Interchange in Oakdale, July 2002. This document has been given to the bridge design consultants and is being used by the Mn /DOT bridge design unit in the development of the bridges for the project. 14 The City requests that MnDO T affirm the intentions for 2015 reconstruction of County Road E bridge over TH 51 and consider the possibility of moving this construction up in time to match the balance of the regional construction (for bid economies of scale and logistics). The City may be able to advance the funds necessary for this construction given a firm repayment in 2015. Mn /DOT response Mn /DOT will continue the development of the CR E bridge project in partnership with the County and City. The current Mn /DOT scoping document has been shared with Arden Hills and Ramsey County. This proposed project could move up if a funding source can be found. Mn /DOT appreciates Arden Hills' continued involvement with this project. Please let me know if you have any questions. 1 am available at 651 -234 -7722. Sincerely, ark J. Linde erg North Area Engineer Minnesota Department of Transportation An Equal Opportunity Employer cc: Thomas O'Keefe Wayne Norris Patrick Klaers Terry Maurer Jim Tolaas An Equal Opportunity Employer 4NNES0.. Minnesota Department of Transportation Transportation Building 395 John Ireland Boulevard oFT 0, 4 Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155 -1899 December 13, 2010 Mayor Stan Harpstead City of Arden Hills 1245 West Highway 96 Arden Hills, MN 55112 RE: Municipal Consent for Interstate 694 at TH 10 Snelling Ave Dear Mayor Harpstead: 1 am responding to the city of Arden Hills' letter of October 27, 2010, concerning the Arden Hills City Council resolution disapproving the final layout for the 1 -694 at TH 51 and TH 10 project that was submitted by Mn /DOT to the city for municipal consent under Minnesota Statutes, sections 161.162 161.165. Mn /DOT appreciates Arden Hills' participation in the proposed 1-694 bridge replacement project. Arden Hills has cooperated with and assisted Mn /DOT in the development of the geometric layout. The city's contribution has improved the project to its current design. The proposed 1 -694 at TH 51 and TH 10 project is critical to future mobility in one of the state's busiest interstate corridors. The project will eliminate one of the region's most notorious traffic bottlenecks; improve traffic flow and safety; eliminate mainline weaving movements and provide system continuity on 1 -694, TH 51 and TH 10. This project will reconstruct nine bridges on 1-694 from west of Victoria Street to west of CSAH 76 in Arden Hills. Given the importance of the 1 -694 project to the region and the state, Mn /DOT will pursue actions necessary to keep the project on schedule for beginning construction in 2011. With this letter, Mn /DOT initiates the municipal consent appeal process as outlined in state law, by submitting to the city Mn /DOT's appointee, Mr. Greg Ous, Assistant Division Director for Operations Division, to the three member municipal consent appeal board. Please identify your appointee so the appeal process can move forward as quickly as possible. Consistent with Minnesota Statutes, section 161.164, we intend to focus the appeal process on the city's specific requests for modifications to the project's final layout. The law provides that the third member of the Appeal Board will be selected by mutual agreement between the city and Mn/DOT. If we cannot agree, Mn/DOT will ask the Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court to appoint the third member. The law requires that the Chief Justice An Equal Opportunity Employer appoint the third member within 14 days of that request. Once the Appeal Board is established, Mn/DOT will refer the final layout to the Board. The Board must hold a hearing within 30 days after referral of the final layout. The law provides that the city and Mn/DOT may each present its case to the Board. The Board must make its recommendation in a written report to the Commissioner and to the city within 60 days of the hearing. In initiating the appeal process, 1 want to stress to the city and the region that 1 believe our common interests and goals for the 1 -694 corridor are greater than our differences_ 1 am hopeful that, with mutual cooperation, resolution of all issues wilt be achieved quickly. As with any municipality raising concerns relevant to municipal consent, Mn /DOT will continue to work with Arden Hills to narrow our differences and, 1 hope, reach agreement on many issues prior to conclusion of the appeal process. 1 am encouraged by progress already made by our_ respective staffs to better define, scope and address many of the city's requested layout modifications. Mn/DOT stands ready to continue these discussions. Mn /DOT appreciates Arden Hills' continued involvement with this project. If you have any project specific questions, please continue to work with Mark Lindeberg, the project manager or Wayne Norris, the North Area Manager. Please let me know how 1 can assist you at any point in this process. Sincerely, Thomas K. Sorel Commissioner Minnesota Department of Transportation cc: Khani Sahebjam Scott McBride Betsy Parker Sue Mulvihill Greg Ous Tom O'Keefe Wayne Norris Mark Lindeberg Steve Ryan An Equal Opportunity Employer w:.