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Department Approval l�'�, Jy REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION Date: 4/13/09 Item No.: 10.a Acting City Manager Approval � �� Item Description: BACKGROUND Highway 36/Rice Street Interchange Design Presentation City staff has been working with Ramsey County, MnDot, Little Canada, and Maplewood as part of a project team for the preliminary design for the replacement of the Rice Street bridge over Highway 36. This project will include a total reconstruction of the interchange and a portion of Rice Street from south of County Road S to north of the County Road S-2 intersection. Funding is in place for final design of this project. The actual construction of this project is not funded at this time although Ramsey County is pursuing funding from a variety of potential sources. Representative Sev Scalze is leading an effort at the legislative level to seek funding sources. This project could be construction ready as early as Spring/Summer 2010. The attached layout (Attachment A) depicts the number of lanes and the configuration of intersections for the project area. The preferred alternative is an offset single point interchange that eliminates one intersection between County Road S and Minnesota Avenue allowing for considerably more turn movement stacking and superior operation as compared to what exists today and the other alternatives. Jim Tolaas, Project Manager from Ramsey County will present this project to the Council and ask for support of this design. He will also talk about schedule and funding challenges. The Public Works, Environment, and Transportation Commission discussed the preferred layout at it's March meeting. The concerns discussed were: � On street bike shoulders should be carried through the turn lanes and bridge deck area so as a � continuous on street facility exists. , Access will need to be provided to the parcels that will not be allowed access to Rice Street in the area , from Minnesota Ave. to the bridge. , A school bus waiting area should be established at Minnesota Ave. and Capitol View due to limited � access not entering the Caliber Ridge development. , Soulevard widths should consider ability to support vegetation and necessary signage as well as � supporting adequate pedestrian widths. , Adequate emergency vehicle access should be provided to the Capitol View properties and Caliber . Ridge development. . Median closures between Minnesota Ave. and Co. Rd. S-2 may direct more northbound traffic . through the residential area along Grandview Ave. Safety at the intersection at Grandview should be . studied further to identify whether an opening allowing left turns should be provided. Staff supports the concerns of PWETC and will work with the project team through the design process to see that these issues are adequately addressed. Page 1 of 2