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REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION DATE: 06/ 12/06 ITEM: 8. ]?��ar#r�� nt A pp rr��I: Manager Reviewed: Agenda Section: Item Description: Discussion of City-wide Traffic Model and AuthorizingRequest for Proposals Background: As a part of the 2006 budget process, staff requested funding for a city-wide traffic model. This model would be a useful tool in identifying the impacts of redevelopment and normal growth in our transportation system. As funding for transportation improvements becomes more difficult to secure and is competitive in nature due to shortfalls at other jurisdictional levels, it becomes more apparent that having well defined and identified project needs is imperative. The city has not done any significanttraffic modeling since 1992 other than requiring modeling and analysis �'o� some of the larger development and redevelopment projects. The modeling done in 1992 utilized 1990 traffic data and forecasted 2010 and 2020 traffic volumes. It was based on existing land uses and anticipatedprojects. Traffic growth exceededthe 2010 forecasts in some areas in 2001. The model only studied major roadways and did not include any intersection analysis. The modeling we are proposing would be consistent with regional traffic models utilizing this information on a macro basis and would analyze local data to create micro model information for the higher volume areas of our local transportation network. We will gather as much existing recent modeling data from Mndot and Ramsey County as possible. The model will be based on current land use and would be updated as parcels redevelop. Having this information in a city wide model will show system wide impacts and allow staff to identify future needs for street and roadway improvements. Currently, the City requires developers to provide traffic analysis on a project-by-project basis to identify any necessary mitigation needs. In this piecemeal approach, little is understood about impacts outside of the immediate development project. These impacts aggregate over time until problem areas develop with excessive congestion or intersections that do not function well. Due to difficulty mentioned earlier in securing funding for improvements, it can be years before solutions are implemented. This is also an inefficient use of developer dollars in that they own the data gained from their study rather than the city for future use. The City also requires the developer to pay the cost of a consultant the City selects to review their consultants work. Under the proposed citywide model these roles would be reversed and the city's consultant would do the modeling and mitigation recommendations and it would be the developers choice as to whether to hire an independent consultant to review the results of the modeling for their proposed development. We will discuss this concept further with the Council and will present additional details about the proposed modeling and how a funding mechanism could be put in place to keep it up to date.