4.6. SR 03-15-2021
Request for Action
To Item Number
Mayor and City Council 4.6
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
Consent March 15, 2021 Justin Femrite, P.E., Public Works Director
Item Description Reviewed by
Sherburne County Letter of Support Cal Portner, City Administrator
Reviewed by
Action Requested
Approve, by motion, a letter of support for Federal INFRA Grant Funding for U.S. Highway 169 and CSAH 4
intersection improvements.
Background/Discussion
Sherburne County and the City of Zimmerman proceed forward with a solution to the intersection of US169 and
CSAH 4. They are graciously requesting your support they seek construction funding through the Federal INFRA
Grant Solicitation.
A brief information brochure about their funding request is attached.
Financial Impact
NA
Mission/Policy/Goal
Reflect the culture of citizens and what is important to majority
Attachments
Letter of Support
Project Brochure
The Elk River Vision
A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional
service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity.
Updated: August 2020
March 15, 2021
The Honorable Pete Buttigieg
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20590
RE: Letter of Support for the 2021 INFRA Discretionary Grant: US Highway 169/County Road (CR 4) Rural
Safety and Mobility Interchange Project
Dear Secretary Buttigieg:
I am writing on behalf of the Elk River, Minnesota City Council to express our support for Sherburne County,
Minnesota’s request for a 2021 DOT INFRA Discretionary grant to improve the safe and efficient operations of
the US Highway 169/County Road (CR 4) Interchange.
The project will consolidate and improve 18 local roadway access and 26 private access points on US 169 with a
hybrid diamond interchange at CR 4. And will replace the last remaining at-grade signalized intersection for a 75-
mile section of US 169. The interchange includes a tight ramp configuration west of US 169 and a loop in the
southeast quadrant of the interchange. The proposed design minimizes wetland resources and right-of-way impacts
to lands adjacent to US 169 and constructs a safe multimodal pedestrian and bicycle trail facility connection on
the proposed CR 4 bridge crossing over US 169.
Construction of the US Highway 169/County Road (CR 4) Interchange Project will greatly benefit the entire region
served by the US 169 corridor which is why we express our support for this much needed project.
Please give this 2021 INFRA Discretionary Grant proposal your full consideration and if I can answer anything
further please let me know.
Sincerely,
John J. Dietz
Mayor
City of Elk River
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River, MN 55330
763.635.1000
ElkRiverMN.gov
Highway
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Existing Corridor Issues Benefits of a New Interchange
Highway 169 is a major route for local and statewide travel and accommodates commuter, tourist and freight
trac. In Zimmerman, a trac signal at County Road 4 and unrestricted highway access cause frequent trac
congestion, causing loss of freight revenue, user frustration and an increase in the number of crashes.
Over the next 20 years, trac volume is
expected to increase by 40%, which will
amplify existing issues. Tra c counts completed
in 2018 show 27,000 cars per day (AADT) use Highway 169
south of the County Road 4 intersection and 21,200 north of
the intersection. The City of Zimmerman and Sherburne
County need to be prepared to plan and construct a solution
that addresses the mobility and safety of its residents,
businesses and visitors.
$2 million is requested to re-evaluate MnDOT interchange
concepts from 10 years ago, update environmental
documents, and develop nal plans and speci cations.
SUPPORTED ECONOMIC GROWTH:
An ecient road network would
support Sherburne County’s
economic vitality for existing
commerce and planned commercial
and industrial growth. Controlled
and safe access on and o Hwy 169
would support future development
of 140 acres adjacent to the highway.
TRAFFIC DELAYS: Mile-long
backups are common during
peak travel times. Drivers often
wait through multiple signal
cycles before making it through
the intersection.
FREQUENT CRASHES:
92 crashes (1 fatality) reported
in the last 5 years equaled
$15.9 million in damages, the
2nd highest in the state for similar
intersections. Both the crash rate
(1.72) and crash severity (2.41) are
almost 4 times above state
averages for similar intersections,
0.45 and 0.63 respectively.
OBSTACLES TO
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
The uncertain future of the
intersection and poor access
greatly hinder the sale of existing
commercial properties. On the
west side of Hwy 169, a lack of
highway access is a major barrier
to the development of large
vacant properties.
SIGNAL-FREE TRAFFIC CORRIDOR:
Converting the intersection to an
interchange would eliminate the
last remaining trac signal on
the 75-mile stretch of Hwy 169
between Rogers and Lake Mille Lacs.
PEDESTRIAN & BICYCLE CONNECTIVITY:
Conversion to an interchange would create
opportunity to connect existing and
proposed trails, greatly improving access
to parks and other scenic and natural
amenities throughout the county.
MEET FUTURE TRAFFIC NEEDS:
Constructing a highway interchange
now will alleviate current issues and
will accommodate the expected future
increase in trac volumes .
HIGHWAY HURDLE: All the
trac freed up by the Hwy 169
Redene project in Elk River may
have to stop at the trac signal
in Zimmerman.
Zimmerman
Fix It, 4/169
Onamia
Zimmerman
Mille Lacs
Kathio
State Park
Rum River
State Forest
Sherburne
National
Wildlife
Refuge
Milaca
Mille
Lacs
Rogers
Princeton
Elk River
169
4