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Discussions ensued regarding various options and rationale for including or <br /> excluding those options, including the pathway on the northwest/east side from <br /> Roselawn into the park. Ms. Bloom noted that one concern was the blind side of <br /> the curve with trees impacting visibility; which would make the overall safety <br /> better on the east side. Discussions continued defining the various maps and their <br /> origination and/or intent (e.g., Natural Resources and Trails Subcommittee, <br /> (NRATS) as part of the Parks Renewal Program, or initially with the Parks Master <br /> Plan); map discrepancies and scoring over or under 90; upcoming value <br /> engineering discussions with Ramsey County as to whether four(4) lanes are <br /> necessary from County Road B crossing over Highway 36 as part of an overall <br /> planned pathway discussion; and challenges in slopes for sidewalks, existing <br /> fences, trees and drainage issues. <br /> Rice Street; County Roads B and C; Victoria Street <br /> Discussion included the challenges along County Road C due to lane restrictions; <br /> potential for a 3-lane and/or widening; areas with significant crossings to access <br /> ball fields or disc golf facilities; bus commuters and retail options in those <br /> heavily-trafficked areas; reality versus ideal locations and restrictions. <br /> Further discussions included; safety concerns with the County Road C bridge <br /> between Victoria Street and Lexington Avenue due to vehicle speeds, weather <br /> conditions, and poor sight lines; complications on the narrow pathway adjacent to <br /> the railroad in Central Park for pedestrian and bicycle sharing; and added <br /> challenges when users ignore directional signage to facilitate all user groups. <br /> Further discussion included the current width of the Central Park trail between 8 <br /> ft and 10 ft and whether it would be more cost feasible to add an additional 2 ft to <br /> segments to facilitate more off-road traffic. Ms. Bloom noted that the possibility <br /> of a lane reduction on the County Road C bridge to allow an on-road bicycle <br /> facility would require further discussion with the County. Duane highlighted <br /> frequent concerns received by staff about pedestrian safety in accessing Acorn <br /> Park from County Road C due to crossing four (4)lanes of vehicle traffic and <br /> rationale for providing a sidewalk option on the north side in that vicinity while <br /> also addressing some type of refuge in the middle of those four (4) lanes of traffic, <br /> with the current crosswalk signs insufficient to protect those crossings. Since the <br /> traffic counts are not that high in that area, Mr. Schwartz suggested additional <br /> discussion with Ramsey County to determine if County Road C could function as <br /> a three (3) lane roadway at that point; while recognizing that the intersections <br /> were the main issues, and options for widening the roads to four(4)lanes at <br /> intersections. <br /> At the request of Chair Vanderwall, Ms. Bloom estimated that the cost for striping <br /> a roadway was $.08 per linear foot or approximately $5,000 per mile, depending <br /> on the roadway and other amenities; with Chair Vanderwall suggesting that the <br /> City pay for that striping if it was reasonable and Ramsey County was in <br /> agreement. <br /> Page 6 of 14 <br />