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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-02-26 CC MIN Joint Meeting with OPH T.H. 36 Partnership Study Joint Planning Commission/City Council Workshop Minutes February 26, 2003 Mayor Kimble called the Stillwater City Council meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Present: Mayor Jay Kimble, Councilmembers Gary Kriesel, Wally Milbrandt, and John Rheinberger. Absent Councilmember David Junker. Mayor Beaudet called the Oak Park Heights City Council meeting to order. Present: Mayor David Beaudet, Councilmembers Les Abrahamson, Jack Doerr, Mary McComber, and Mark Swenson. Mayor Kimble turned the meeting over to PAC Co-Chairs Mary McComber and Russell Hultman for welcoming and introductions. Present were Stillwater Planning Commissioners Russell Hultman, David Middleton, Paul Teske, and David Peroceschi, Stillwater Community Development Director Steve Russell, Stillwater Engineer Klayton Eckles, Oak Park Heights Planning Commissioners Mike Liljegren and Mike Runk, Acting Administrator Judy Holst, Oak Park Heights Attorney Mark Vierling, Oak Park Heights PAC representative Mary Ellen Huss, Washington County representatives Joe Lux and Mike Rodgers, MNDOT representatives Rick Arnebeck, Todd Sherman, and Todd Clarkowski, representatives from SRF Beth Bartz, Ken Hulte, and Jeff Bednar. Rick Arnebeck gave a brief synopsis of what MNDOT sees as the next steps in the process for determining the upgrades to the Highway 36 corridor. MNDOT would like to have official mapping after the outcome of this study or at least a recommendation of what the municipalities would like to have for upgrades. Beth Bartz from SRF presented an overview of the Trunk Highway 36 Partnership Study. In 1999/2000 discussions were held on the St. Croix River Crossing which resulted in a TH IRC Corridor Management Plan. The St. Croix River Crossing committee was reactivated in 2002 and hopes to open the new bridge in 2010. The TH 36 PAC committee consisted of 9 representatives from Stillwater, 9 representatives from Oak Park Heights, 2 representatives from Washington County, representatives from MNDOT and consultants. Staff from Oak Park Heights and Stillwater, Washington County, MNDOT, and SRF comprised a Technical Advisory Committee which provided informl;ition for the study. The TH 36 PAC committee's task was to determine, in conceptual terms, what should be done with the corridor. The committee began the process by establishing values. The top three values were determined to be safety, geometric improvements and diversion to local streets. They then identified the traffic issues - diversion routes, cut- through routes, continuous east west traffic flows through Oak Park Heights and east west traffic flows in Stillwater between Greeley Street and Osgood Avenue. Other issues identified were safety at intersections, pedestrian crossings, community connectivity, significant planned development, aesthetics, IRC goals, increase in traffic volumes, and lack of sufficient roadway connections. Joint Planning Commission/ City Council Workshop Minutes February 26, 2003 Page 2 of 3 The committee explored the no-build analysis and determined there would be unacceptable levels of delays at intersections, increased travel times through the corridor, diversion routes would be used to avoid delays on the TH 36/TH 95 route, and there would be increased safety issues/concerns for both vehicle and pedestrian traffic. The committee's findings resulted in 7 concept alternatives: 1. At Grade Concepts A. Expand to 6 lanes with 3 pulled back intersections. 8. Expand to 6 lanes with only Osgood Avenue and Oakgreen/Greeley Avenue open intersections, Norell Avenue an overpass. C. Parkway with 4 lanes, speed reduced to 45 mph with 3 pulled back intersections. D. Grade-separated with a single interchange at Osgood Avenue and an overpass at Oakgreen/Greeley Avenue and NorelllWashington Avenue. E. Grade-separated with a single interchange at Oakgreen/Greeley Avenue and an overpass at Osgood Avenue and NorelllWashington Avenue. F. Grade-separated with buttonhook interchanges at Osgood Avenue and NorelllWashington Avenue, overpass at Oakgreen/Greeley Avenue. G. Grade-separated with a split diamond interchange, 2 ramps at Osgood Avenue, 2 ramps at Oakgreen/Greeley Avenue, overpass at NorelllWashington Avenue. Public involvement included open houses, meeting with stakeholders in the corridor and public attendance of the PAC meetings. An alternative analysis was conducted of all 7 concepts (A - G) of which the PAC committee chose 3 for a detailed traffic operations analysis, concepts B, E, and F. The committee looked at a travel time analysis, illustrative cross sections, prospective sketches, and a bike/pedestrian analysis. During this process an additional two- interchange alternative, Concept H, folded diamond at Oakgreen/Greeley and buttonhook at Osgood was presented to the PAC Committee for consideration. The results of the analysis determined the best alternative was F, grade-separated with button hook interchanges and the poorest B, at grade with 2 open intersections. The PAC Committee then adopted their findings and recommendations. The next steps in the process are: 1. Acceptance of the partnership study by the Cities 2. Concurrence with the PAC recommendations 3. Selection of alternative F or H 4. Preliminary design determination of specific interchanges and frontage road locations 5. Environmental review/layout approval Joint Planning Commissionl City Council Workshop Minutes February 26,2003 Page 3 of 3 SRF presented modeling of various traffic scenarios for the year 2020. The impact of alternative F, buttonhooks, would result in the loss of approximately 9 commercial properties and one residential property. The impact of alternative H, folded diamond, would result in the loss of approximately 15 commercial properties and one residential property. The impact of no-build, with pulled back intersections, would result in the loss of approximately 5 commercial properties and 3 residential properties. The meeting was then opened for discussion and questions. MNDOT does not anticipate major reconstruction of the corridor within the next 5 years. The frontage roads would be reconstructed no sooner than 5 years. If the bridge opens in 2020 there is the possibility the highway could be upgraded at the same time if all parties can agree on the alternative for the corridor and funding is available. Federal funding will probably be the best option. The study will be incorporated into the EIS for the St. Croix River Bridge Crossing. MNDOT suggests the issues should be addressed soon to maintain momentum in order to secure funding. Stillwater and Oak Park Heights Planning Commissions were directed to meet to discuss the issue. Both councils will meet after Planning Commissions have met on the issue. Adjourn at 8:38 p.m. Judy Holst Oak Park Heights Acting Administrator