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Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday,November 27, 2017 <br /> Page 23 <br /> ramps operate and how a pedestrian facility could be accommodated. This pro- <br /> posal is for building a separate facility off the line of the bridge but adjacent to it, <br /> thus the extreme cost due to the span from the bridge off Highway 36 and County <br /> Road B-2 to get up and down those ramps. <br /> Councilmember Etten stated that he would not be supportive of including this <br /> item at this time, but instead perhaps in the future when MnDOT has more pro- <br /> posals. Considering the price of this item, and the city's inability to match funds <br /> of$4 million, Councilmember Etten suggested it not be included to compete with <br /> the OVAL priority. Also, Councilmember Etten noted the improvements made <br /> with the A-line Bus Rapid Transit line now serving Snelling Avenue and adjacent <br /> areas, allowing for improved frequency of service in delivering to centers of ac- <br /> tion versus simply dumping bus riders in parking lots. Councilmember Etten <br /> questioned how this helped in connecting people without creating additional prob- <br /> lems and infrastructure needs unless as part of future MnDOT projects. <br /> Councilmember Willmus noted that historically the city had looked at a facility or <br /> infrastructure to get across Snelling Avenue in proximity to the A-line rather than <br /> accommodating how to get north or south of Highway 36. Councilmember <br /> Willmus opined that the need was how to connect people from south of restaurant <br /> row to Har Mar Mall and vise versa. <br /> Councilmember Laliberte concurred with Councilmember Etten, stating that she <br /> was a big believer in where the focus was is where the money went; and cau- <br /> tioned sending two messages for the bonding bill that may create problems. <br /> Councilmember McGehee agreed with Councilmember Willmus for a project to <br /> allow safe crossing across Snelling Avenue; citing some of the most populated ar- <br /> eas needing increased pathways (e.g. Roselawn to the U of MN) and other com- <br /> mon bike destinations. Councilmember McGehee suggested it may be more ap- <br /> propriate to have a crossing of Snelling at Roselawn versus at Har Mar, but stated <br /> her interest in making it a shovel-ready project. <br /> Mayor Roe agreed with the idea of not including this as a legislative priority at <br /> this time, but suggesting focusing on three crossing points at County Road B, <br /> Skillman and Roselawn Avenues; and how to improve those. Mayor Roe recog- <br /> nized them as safety issues at this point, and noted the need to address them for <br /> those having to run across Snelling Avenue to reach an A-line bus. <br /> Councilmember Willmus suggested that the city's Public Works, Environment <br /> and Transportation Commission (PWETC) review existing background infor- <br /> mation available and look to solutions to provide recommendations to the City <br /> Council as part of their ongoing work in the near future. <br />