ADMINISTRATION- Jon Haukaas, Director of Public Works
Title
APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE CITY CONTRIBUTION TO THE TRUNK HIGHWAY 65 ACCESS PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL CORRIDOR STUDY
Background
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is embarking on an important project to identify and prioritize corridor-wide improvements to enhance safety and mobility along TH 65. From CSAH 10 to Bunker Lake Boulevard, Trunk Highway (TH) 65 is a principal arterial carrying roughly 40,000 to 60,000 vehicles per day. The corridor’s volumes are highest near its interchange with TH 10 and its intersections with 105th/109th Street.
In 2017, the Principal Arterial Conversion Study completed by the Metropolitan Council and MnDOT identified TH 65 as a route with some of the worst mobility and safety performance measures in the entire metropolitan area. With the realization that funding for a full freeway conversion would be prohibitively expensive, it is necessary to revise the corridor vision by exploring safety and mobility improvements that consider low-cost, high-impact improvements. Improvements will need to work well together as a whole and be prioritized based on overall need.
The goals of this study are to identify alternatives to address the problems and needs along TH 65 from approximately County State Aide Highway (CSAH) 116 (Bunker Lake Boulevard) to CSAH 10. This includes an analysis of potential west frontage road alignments between 99th Ave NE and 109th Ave NE. The study will use public involvement to help determine purpose and need, develop objective evaluation criteria, and broadly define and vet alternatives.
Inclusion of the potential west frontage road alignments will provide a high direct benefit to the City and therefore we are being asked to help fund the study. We have negotiated a contribution of $100,000 toward the approximate $800,000 total study cost. Anoka County will be contributing an equal amount as their share.
Recommendation
By motion, appropriate $100,000 from the City’s internal State Aid Fund and authorize payment to the Anoka County Highway Department who in turn will transfer these funds to MnDOT under their Master Service Agreement and direct the Mayor and City Manager to execute the Joint Powers Agreement with Anoka County.
Body
WHEREAS, The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is embarking on an important project to identify and prioritize corridor-wide improvements to enhance safety and mobility along TH 65 from CSAH 10 to Bunker Lake Boulevard; and
WHEREAS, The City of Blaine has requested an analysis of potential west frontage road alignments between 99th Ave NE and 109th Ave NE; and
WHEREAS, MnDOT has agreed and included this work in the project Scope of Work; and
WHEREAS, the City of Blaine and the Anoka County Highway Department stand to gain significant direct benefit from the results of the study; and
WHEREAS, a contribution of $100,000 toward the total cost of the study has been requested from each the City and the County; and
WHEREAS, these funds are available in the internal State Aid fund;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of Blaine appropriates $100,000 from the internal State Aid fund, and authorizes the City Manager to pay these funds to the Anoka County Highway Department as the City of Blaine contribution to the TH65 Access Planning and Environmental Corridor Study.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Blaine authorizes and directs the Mayor and the City Manager to execute the Joint Powers Agreement with Anoka County for Local Cost Participation in the TH 65 Corridor Study from 81st Avenue in the City of Spring Lake Park to Bunker Lake Boulevard NW in the City of Ham Lake, and any amendments, and thereby assume for and on behalf of the City of Blaine all of the contractual obligations contained therein.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Blaine this 16th day of August 2018.