HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-049
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CITY OF STILLWATER
WASHINGTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION NO. 92-49
A RESOlUTION OF THE CITY OF STILLWATER DESCRIBING
THE IMPACT OF TRUNK HIGHWAY 36 TRAFFIC ON THE CITY OF STILLWATER AND
STATING ITS POSITION ON A NEW BRIDGE ACROSS THE ST. CROIX RIVER
AND TRUNK HIGHWAY 36 IMPROVEMENTS.
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Department of Transportation is responsible to plan for
and make improvements to the State Highway System to provide for existing and
projected highway traffic; and
WHEREAS, both the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Wisconsin
Department of Transportation based on existing traffic conditions and
projected future travel demand identified the Highway 36 Interstate Bridge as
a critical problem and constraint to movement in the region; and
WHEREAS, two-thirds of the traffic on Highway 36 that goes through Downtown
Stillwater over the existing lift bridge does not have a downtown destination;
and
WHEREAS, over the past thirty years, Stillwater's population has grown by
sixty five percent while traffic through Downtown Stillwater on Trunk Highway
36 has increased by two hundred and fifty percent; and
r-' WHEREAS, Trunk Highway 36 and the Interstate Bridge is undersized, hazardous,
dangerous, congested and economically detrimental to the City of Stillwater
for the following reasons:
1. The existing sixty year old, two lane, lift bridge and approach
roadway does not provide sufficient capacity to accommodate current
traffi c; and
2. The roadway is narrow, intersections congested and hazardous, while
pedestrian movements conflict with car and truck traffic; and
3. Most recently a car/truck accident on Highway 36 claimed four lives
and the intersection of Main Street, Highway 36, and Chestnut Street
is identified, based on accidents, as the most hazardous intersection
in the St. Croix Valley; and
4. Severe congestion is experienced five to six hours per day in
Downtown Stillwater and along Highway 36 at Frontage Road
intersections; and
5. Local residents and visitors to Stillwater avoid the downtown because
of traffic conditions negatively impacting local business; and
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6. Because of congestion and traffic del ays, highway traffic is being
diverted to neighborhood City streets causing hazardous conditions
around elementary schools and in residential areas.
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WHEREAS, clogged downtown streets result in stalled cars, wasted energy
~ consumption, excessive noise and air pollution; and
WHEREAS, the construction of a new river crossing will improve the river
pollution problem by catching and filtering road runoff from TH36 corridor
before entering the St. Croix River.
WHEREAS, traffic in the Highway 36 travel corridor is projected to more than
double in the next twenty years from 12,500 to 28,200 ADTS on the existing
bridge and from 14,000 to 35,350 ADT on Main Street; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council, the regional planning agency, has
recognized the need for a new bridge in their Transportation Policy Plan,
MaJor River Crossing Study, 1989, which rates the Highway 36 Stillwater Bridge
thlrd highest out of the twenty worst bridges needing repair or reconstruction
in the metropolitan area (Blooming Ferry #l rated bridge and Anoka-Champlin 112
rated bridge are funded and under construction); and
WHEREAS, pl anning for a new Highway 36 Bridge has been studied by MnDOT for
over twenty years, since the early 70's with public awareness of the general
bridge location and community support for the project; and
WHEREAS, the City of Stillwater's Comprehensive Plan and Specific Stillwater
Downtown Plan, consistent with the Metropolitan Council's Re~ional Development
and Investment Framework identifies the need for a new brldge across the St.
Croix River in a southern corridor location; and
r-" WHEREAS, the Minnesota Historical Society nominated the Downtown Stillwater
commercial Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places on
November 21, 1991; and
WHEREAS, the Downtown Stillwater Commercial Historic District is threatened by
the no-build option under criteria of effect for evaluation published in the
Federal Register (September 2, 19B6, 36, CRF, Part 800). The adverse impact is
noise, air pollution, congestion and the increasingly high volumes of traffic
through Downtown; and
WHEREAS, according to Dr. Norene Roberts, author of Historic Reconstruction of
the Riverfront: Stillwater, Minnesota and Intensive National Register Survey
of Downtown Sti llwater Minnesota, 1989, stated in the recommendations lithe
most presslng problem and largest threat to the historic buildings in Downtown
Stillwater is the constant and steady through traffic on South Main". A
majority of the buildings along Main Street in the Historic Commercial
District were built during the 1860's, 1870's and 18BO's. The large
semi-tractor-trailers rumbling through the downtown area are a danger to the
older stone and brick buildings over one hundred years old, some of which are
1 ean i ng aga ins t adjacent bu i1 dings; and
WHEREAS, over the years the City of Stillwater has worked with MnDOT to
increase through highway traffic to the detriment of the City of Stillwater
and Downtown bus iness by:
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1. Removing over fifty prime Main Street parking spaces between Olive
Street and Myrtle Street and Chestnut Street from Union Alley to the
bridge to accommodate more cars and truck turning; and
2. Prohibiting left turns to accommodate pass through traffic making it
more difficult to get around downtown.
WHEREAS, the City of Stillwater and MnDOT has studied in detail other
Transportation System Management (TSM) options, including one-way streets,
widening of Main Street and construction of new north-south roadways along the
river and concluded that the options area not practical because street widths
are narrow, (thirty to sixty feet, including sidewalks). Existing historic
buildings are located at front property lines and would require demolition for
widenings and the existing limited street system can not easily accommodate a
one-way street without major demolition and reconstruction; and
WHEREAS, MnDOT has studied the need for, and alternative locations for, a new
river bridge for the past five years with more than adequate opportunities for
local government, resource agencies, community groups and resident
participation and input into the study process; and
WHEREAS, MnDOT has conducted a detailed Environmental Impact Study of Bridge
Corridor Locations and concluded that the new south corridor "provided the
best balance of safe, efficient transportation and both positive and negative
social, economic and environmental impacts. "; and
WHEREAS, the central bridge corridor location in Downtown Stillwater would
degrade the natural and historic character and economic vitality of Downtown
Stillwater the birthplace of Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, a central corridor bridge would demolish the existing lift bridge, a
nationally recognized resource on the National Register of Historic Places,
and an asset to the historic, cultural and visual integrity of Downtown
Stillwater; and
WHEREAS, the central corridor bridge would have an adverse effect under
criteria of effect for evaluation published in the Federal Register (September
2, 1986, 36, FR, Part BOO). A new bridge introduces a visual, audible or
atmospheric elements that are out of character with the historic integrity of
Downtown Stillwater and alters its setting; and
WHEREAS, a central bridge location would destroy the visual quality of the
river and Wisconsin bluffline, as viewed from the Downtown, result in high
noise levels generated by 32,000 ADT, concentrate air pollution and degrade
one mile of City river open space and park lands; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Stillwater has held several public
hearings on the need for a new bridge and locations of a new bridge; and
WHEREAS, the vast majority of local business owners, property owners,
community groups, Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Association and residents
support the need for a new river bridge in the south corridor; and
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Stillwater
that based on the forgoing preponderance of information; facts, findings and
recommendations that:
1. The Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation and
other Wisconsin and Federal decision makers should finally decide
that a new south corridor bridge is necessary to address regional as
\lie 11 as 1 oca 1 traffi c needs; and
2. That the Environmental Impact Statement preparation process was
complete and provided more than adequate opportunity for public and
City participation; and
3. That the City of Stillwater has participated in the review of studies
and plans for Trunk Highway 36 corridor improvements and will
continue to work with MnDOT, Washington County and Oak Park Heights
in the final bridge and Highway 36 roadway and interchange design and
development process; and
4. That the City of Stillwater officially recommends approval of the
plans for a new southern corridor Interstate Bridge and
reconstruction of Highway 36 from County Road 5 to Highway 95.
Adopted by the Stillwater City Council on March 17, 1992.
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Mayor
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Attest: ~#cit~~
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