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REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION Department Approval Date: Item No.: 7/11/11 7.f City Manager Approval Item Description: Approve resolution of support for Surface Transportation Program (STP)- Urban Guarantee application for Twin Lakes Infrastructure 2 The Metropolitan Council and the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) have released the 2011 3 regional solicitation — the eleventh regional solicitation for federal transportation funds since the 4, passage of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act in 199 1. The solicitation 5 includes the Surface Transportation Program (STP)- Urban Guarantee. 6 Congress has extended the current transportation funding act (the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, "7 and Efficient Transportation Equity Act — A Legacy for Users, abbreviated to SAFETEA-LU) 8 through the end of the federal fiscal year on September 30, 2011. Congress and President 9 Obama are expected to pass a new federal transportation funding act before the extension 110 expires. At this time, the TAB does not know how much funding will be available in the new 11 act, nor does the TAB know whether all of the projects traditionally funded through the regional 12 solicitation process will be eligible for federal funds in the new act. 13 In accordance with Metropolitan Council policy, these funds are to be invested to help 14, implement the Regional Development Framework and the regional growth strategy, as well as to 15 support the region's economic vitality and quality of life. Any public entity is eligible to submit 116 an application for this funding. 1 ��7 The 1-35W/Cleveland Avenue Ramp Terminal Improvements are proposed at the northbound 11 111",,'11 entrance and exit ramps and County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 46 (Cleveland Avenue) 119 adjacent to the Twin Lakes Redevelopment Area. 2o The improvements would include: 2 1 e Adding two through lanes at the northbound 1-35W/Cleveland Avenue exit ramp 22 terminal. This will provide a connection to the newly constructed Twin Lakes Parkway, the 23 east-west segment of the Twin Lakes Business Park development roadway system. 24, The two additional through lanes reduce the large southbound left -turn traffic volume demand at 25 Cleveland Avenue/County Road C intersection to the south) resulting from the new vehicle trips 26 associated with the Twin Lakes redevelopment. 27 e Adding a lane to the northbound 1-35W/Cleveland Avenue entrance ramp. The 2,,, additional lane will allow for two new westbound through lanes at the 1-35W ramp/Cleveland 29 Avenue intersection, which is consistent with the new Twin Lakes Parkway roadway section. 3o At this location, the two through lanes are necessary from Twin Lakes Parkway due to the 3 1 increased trip generation from the Twin Lakes development area destined for I-35W. Without 32 the additional lane, the intersection delay would be beyond thresholds that are considered Page I of 2