2006_1204_Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Highway 49 �� CSAH Tnrnbaclz Sr�rnmary/Background Information November 15,2006 Jurisdiction Chan�e Trunk Highway 49 was tumcd back to Ramsey County from tl�e State of Minnesota as part of a cat�ntywide functional consolidation of roadways. The transfer occurred in two segments --1-694 to County Road J in November 1996 and University Avenue to 1-694 in 2002. The change added just over 11 miles to tl�e County State Aid Highway (CSAH) system. Portions of Highway 49, north of County Road .� �+�r� also turned bacic to Anoka County. Iiighway 49 functions as an A-minor Arterial providing a critical nor�h/south transportation link for both Counties and several cities. Traffic volumes of 10,000 to 21,000 vehicles per day continue to grow in response to land development, vehicles/trips per household and regional congestion. The impetus for Highway 49 anc� similar transfers was to selectively reassign roadways to the correct jurisdiction -- where decisions on aperatinns, maintenance, and improvements would be inac(� within an appropriate context. Roadways such as Highway 49, while extremely important locally, often slip to a low priority withi�� MnDOT's system of i��te►•-region/interstate highways. Under current funding constraints, MnDOT has had to focus on larger regional transportation issues, leaving many needs on low priority roadways unmet. Turning a Highway, such as TH 49 back to a County opens the door to evaluate maintenance and investment according to local priorities, where the highway may be of greater importance. The transfer of Highway 49 to the County also makes maintenance and improvements eligible for funding from the CSAH Turnbaeic Account. Fr�r��r�v��r��r.�•�� }�a: rr_,.x�rrrr.s The County did attempt to evaluate Highway 49 needs with input from affected camanu�aities. Early discussions identified a number of issues and concerrts but, aside from three specific problem areas, did not muster more than passive support for an aggressive reconstruction schedule. It was agreed immediate improvements should be sought in the Chippewa Middle School area north of Highway 96, and also in the interchange areas for Highway 36 and I-G94. The later areas, of course, requi�•e close coordination and cooperative funding with MnDOT. Otl�er improvements to Highway 49 were to follow a more flexible long-term approach utilizing a combination of maintenance and full reconstruction where and when warranted, with interchange improvements helping define some of those needs. Inznro�errxerzt/Plann�n� to Date Reconstruction of Highway 49 from Bridge Street to Birch Lane South was completed in 2002, resolving long standing safety issues at Chippewa Middle School, correcting traffic cot��licts/e�e�cie�cies in the commercial area surrounding the �-�igl�way 95/I-�iglzway 49 intersection and at Tanglewood Drive, as well as increasing traffic capacity along the segment. A mill and overlay has been completed in 2004 between Maryland Avenue and the Railroad Bridge just nortE� of Pennsylvania Avenue to extend pave�nent life. Similar maintenance is likely on other portions south of County Road B as pavement conditions degrade. Significant planning continues for ir�terchange i;nprovcE�enTs at 1-694 and TH 36. Heavy congestion in those areas clearly affects mainline flows for Highway 36 and �-694, anc� significantly affects service levels along Highway 49. It is generally agreed new interchanges would be a major benefit to the traveling public, and also provide key features of the framework for reconstructing Highway 49. Early � rir:.�v�,��,s. � r '.-.'��