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l�'�, Jy REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION Department Approval _l-�'�- Date: 12/21/09 Item No.: 7 j City Manager Approval Item Description: Order Feasibility Report for the Rice Street/ TH 36 Sridge Reconstruction BACKGROUND Ramsey County, Minnesota Department of Transportation, the City of Roseville and surrounding communities are working on a solution for improvements to the Rice Street/Highway 36 interchange to address existing and future safety and operational deficiencies. Trunk Highway (TH) 36 is an important statewide corridor designated as a principal arterial, high-priority interregional corridor. Rice Street (CSAH 49) is a minor arterial that serves as an important reliever to I-35E. The growth of the general area has resulted in additional traffic and development pressures in the communities along TH 36 and the various north/south roadways serving the trunk highway. This project (S.P. 6212-165) addresses issues at the intersection of TH 36 and Rice Street. It includes the reconstruction of the Highway 36 and Rice Street interchange, and also improvements to Rice Street between County Road S-2 on the north end, and County Road S on the south. The majority of this project resides in the city of Roseville and Little Canada, however a portion of the project also touches the city of Maplewood. Ramsey County is the lead agency for this project. Currently the project is in the Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Assessment phase. The project is currently at a 60% design level. Right of Way is being acquired with 95% plan set to be complete at the end of 2009. Ramsey County has currently secured 60% of the needed funding for this project. If the remaining funding is secured, this project could start as early as June 2010. POLICY OBJECTIVE The purpose of the proposed Rice Street/Highway 36 interchange improvements is to address existing and future safety and operational deficiencies. The need for the project is driven by: • Anticipated increase in traffic volumes on Rice Street from 20,000 vehicles per day to (existing) to 27,200 vehicles per day (2033) • Rice Street bridge over Highway 36 no longer meets current geometric standards • Rice Street bridge is in poor condition and eligible for federal bridge replacement funding. • Closely spaced intersections do not comply with current Mn/DOT access management standards and cause traffic flow issues • Pedestrian facilities are not continuous across TH 36 or Rice Street As traffic volumes increase, safety and traffic operations will continue to deteriorate if existing deficiencies are not addressed. Page 1 of 2