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REQUESTFOR COUNCILACTION DATE: 0$/12/02 ITEM NO.: V. B. Department Approval: 1�'Ianager Reviewed: Agenda Section: Reports/Recommendations � Item Description: Consideration of a Pathway on Larpenteur Avenue from O�ord Street to Reservoir Woods Trail Head, Just East of Dale Street. Background: In 1995 the Council directed staff to study improvements to the Larpenteur Avenue corridor adjacent to the City of St. Paul from Hamline Avenue to Dale Street. A streetscape framework manual was developed in 1997 by a task force of citizens and business owners working with staff and a consulting firm. Federal grant funds were applied for in a TEA 21 solicitation process. Funding subsequently was awarded for this corridor in the enhancement category, which includes sidewalks, trails and other streetscape elements. Ramsey County originally intended to reconstruct this corridor in two phases. Phase I from Hamline to O�ord was reconstructed in 1999. Phase II from O�ord to Dale Street now appears unlikely to be reconstructed in the ne�t 10 years due to lack of funding and a desire by the City of St. Paul to maintain on-street parking on the south side of Larpenteur Avenue. Ramsey County officials also rate the current condition of the concrete pavement as adequate and feel it has additional useful life. The project memo submitted and approved for the enhancement grant split the federal funding into two phases consistent with Ramsey County's intended phasing. The streetscape portion of Phase I was completed in 2001 by City project. City staff has had discussions with Mn/DOT regarding the status of the federal enhancement funding for Phase II of the awarded project. Mn/DOT has notified us that $300,000 of funding remains dedicated to this corridor. The funding is included in Mn/DOT's 2003 Surface Transportation Improvements Plan and will no longer be available if not used for an improvement project. Policy Discussion: This corridor is identified in the City's Pathway Plan as a priority for a connecting trail from Oxford to the Trailhead of Reservoir Woods, just east of Kent Street on Larpenteur Avenue. This would result in the closing of a major gap in the looping of major trails in the City. City staff has done preliminary estimates of the cost to construct a sidewalk/trail within exiting right- of-way along this corridor. Staff has also discussed potential funding for this segment and identified long term maintenance implications. A project in this corridor would implement a part of the framework manual adopted by the City Council for this corridor.