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6.0 Transportation Plan <br />Most Gem Lake residents work, shop and obtain <br />entertainment and educational services outside Gem Lake <br />city limits. Therefore, the quality of the transportation <br />system is key to quality of life for residents. It will be <br />especially important as the city grows, and will require <br />close cooperation with other governmental bodies. <br />With this in mind, the City of Gem Lake recognizes the <br />importance of the I-35E corridor, and remains active as part <br />of the 1-35E "Unweave the Weave" Management Team. <br />The transportation plan of Gem Lake is also intended to <br />enhance the natural and man-made environments within, <br />and bordering, the City limits. <br />The Existing Roadway System <br />The most important component of the transportation system <br />within Gem Lake for the foreseeable future will be the <br />street and highway network. This network accommodates <br />both private and public motor vehicles. The functional <br />classification and jurisdictional responsibility for <br />maintaining this system is summarized in Tables 6 and 7. <br />Arterials <br />The most heavily traveled arterial route through the <br />community is U.S. Highway 61 which serves as a major <br />artery connecting Gem Lake with White Bear Lake and the <br />more intensively developed portions of the metropolitan <br />area to the south. The highway connects with the Interstate <br />beltway loop (1-494, 1-694) around the Twin cities at a <br />point approximately one mile south of City limits. The only <br />other arterial within the community is County Road E, <br />which forms part of Gem Lake's southern boundary. <br />County Road E intersects with U.S. Highway 61 in the <br />southeast portion of Gem Lake, serves the southern portion <br />of White Bear Lake to the east, and connects with I-35E <br />approximately 1 west of the western boundary of Gem <br />Lake. This interstate highway is the only "principal" arterial <br />near the City. <br />Collectors <br />Collector streets include Labore Road on the western <br />boundary, Goose Lake Road, located in a southwestern - <br />northeastern orientation near the northern boundary of the <br />community, and Otter Lake Road located in the <br />northeastern portion of the community. <br />City of Gem Lake Comprehensive Plan j page 6-1 <br />