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4.6. SR 09-10-2001 Howard R, Green Qompany Item ~ 4.6. September 6, 2001 File: 811471J-0060 Honorable Mayor and City Council City of Elk River 13065 Orono Parkway P.O. Box 490 Elk River, MN 55330-0490 RE: 171ST AVENUE SIGNAL MODIFICATION Dear Council Members: This letter is intended to provide some clarification to a couple of issues that were raised by the City Council a few meetings ago when Mr. Scott Powell appeared before the Council to discuss the funding for the modification of the traffic signal at 171st Avenue to allow a fourth leg for his Mississippi Ridge development. During the discussion of that item, the City Council asked two questions. First, what was the percentage paid by MnDOT and the City of Elk River for the existing signal at 171st Avenue, and also what is the proposed payment plan for the anticipated signal at the intersection of VVaco Street and TH 107 The existing signal at 171st Avenue was constructed in 1999. It was justified due to the development of the Morrell and LeFebvre trucking operations on 171st Avenue. At the time the signal was installed, obviously there was a 3-legged intersection with MnDOT controlling the two legs of TH 10, and the City of Elk River controlling the leg of 171st Avenue. MnDOT's cost participation policy states that the cost of the signal is prorated based on the number of legs entedng the intersection. At the time of the odginal construction, MnDOT paid two-thirds of the cost and the City of Elk River paid one-third of the cost. The other question that was asked in the eadier discussion was about the funding scenario for the Waco Street/TH 10 signal project. At this point in time, MnDOT has not given final approval to the Signal Justification Report; therefore, the discussion of when to proceed with the signal and how to fund it has not occurred at the City Council level. We have bdefly discussed this item at a staff level because there are concerns about how the City will fund their 50% of that project. In the past, the City has used Municipal State Aid funds or developer contribution for their portion of signal installations. The City's Municipal State Aid fund currently has a zero balance due to advanced borrowing for improvements in East Elk River. We anticipate that funding for this signal will be an item for discussion before the City Council in the near future. It is not too late for the City Council to consider some type of assessment or cost participation from the developable land near the Waco Street/TH 10 intersection. Ltr 09-06-01 Co~ncil 1326 Energy Park Drive · St. Paul, MN 55108 · 651/644-4389 fax 651/644-9446 toll free 888/368-4389 Honorable Mayor and City Council September 6, 2001 Page Two I have attached to this letter a copy of my June 30th letter that was the background for the original discussion on this item. I will also be in attendance at your September 10, 2001, City Council meeting should you have any further questions. Sincerely, Howard R. Green Company erry J. Maurer, P.E. TJM:tw Ltr 09-06-01 Council Howard R. Green Company CONSULTING ENGINEERS Howard R, Green Company July 30, 2001 File: 811471J-0060 Ms. Lori Johnson Finance Director City of Elk River 13065 Orono Parkway P.O. Box 490 Elk River, Minnesota 55330-0490 RE: 171 ST AVENUE SIGNAL MODIFICATION Dear Ms. Johnson: I received a copy of the letter dated July 13, 2001, from Mr. Scott Powell to the Mayor and City Council. In that letter, Mr. Powell is requesting that the City pay for the modifications to the 171st signal system necessitated by his development of the Mississippi Ridge plat on the west side of the current intersection. As you are aware, the City staff's position is that Mr. Powell should bear the cost of adding the fourth leg to the existing signal system since it is necessitated by the development of his Mississippi Ridge subdivision. Staff's recommendation comes from the fact that, three times in the past, developers of commercial property were made to pay for either the modification of existing signal systems or the construction of new systems. The three recent examples are as follows: Elk River Crossing paid for the entire cost of the new signal system at the intersection of Zane Avenue and Main Street together and the modification of the existing signal at Trunk Highway 169 (TH 169) and Main Street. They also paid for road modifications to Main Street between Zane Avenue, extending across TH 169 to the west side of the intersection. These road modifications were necessitated by the anticipated increase in traffic caused by their development. Elk Park Center paid for the new signal systems installed at School Street and Freeport Avenue and School Street and Jackson Avenue. They also paid for modifications to the existing signals at TH 169 and School Street and TH 169 and Jackson Avenue. The existing TH 169 signal modifications were necessitated by the addition of a second left turn lane off of TH 169 at School Street and on to TH 169 at Jackson Avenue. Hillside Crossing paid for a portion of the City cost of the signal system at TH 169 and 197th Avenue. They were asked to and paid approximately one- quarter of the local cost for that signal system. This was based on their development occupying one-quarter of the local land. The other three comers of the intersection are currently either residential development or undeveloped. O:~PROJ~811471J TH10 171st Signal~0060-Plans~tr-073001-Johnson.doc 1326 Energy Park Drive · St. Paul, MN 55108 · 651/644-4389 fax 651/644-9446 toll free 888/368-4389 Ms. Johnson July 30, 2001 Page Two These examples provide a basis for the City staff opinion that it is appropriate to ask the developer of Mississippi Ridge to pay for the modification to add a fourth leg at the intersection of 171 st Avenue. If you have any questions or would like further information, please call. Sincerely, Howard R. Green Company Terry J. Maurer, P.E. TM:mw Howard R, Green Company O:~PROJ~811471J_TH10_171st Signal~006(~t~p_~j(~l~l~ERs