INFORMATION #2 03-20-2006
Trunk Highway 10
Historic Downtown
Revitalization Project
Proiect Overview
The City of Elk River's close proximity to the
Twin Cities metropolitan area and location along
a major transportation corridor offers residents a
desirable location to live and work. Rapid
growth along the THIO corridor however, has
resulted in the need for transportation
improvements that will impact local businesses,
neighborhoods and the region as a whole. The
future economic vitality of the historic
downtown district in Elk River, which is located
along THIO, is already experiencing significant
traffic and economic impacts as a result of
increasing growth and congestion along the
corridor.
The THIO Corridor from 8t. Cloud to the Twin
Cities is one of the fastest growing corridors in
the country and considered a primary
thoroughfare for commuters, freight movements
and recreational travel to central and northern
Minnesota. Over the next twenty years, the
average daily traffic counts on THIO through
downtown Elk: River are expected to double.
The City of Elk River's 2004 Comprehensive
Plan calls for an expansion of the downtown
area through an Old Town zoning district on
both the north and south sides of THIO. The
City, in conjunction with a private developer, is
initiating a $20 million redevelopment project
consisting of three-level, multi-use buildings
within a two block area of the downtown.
As a means to support redevelopment efforts and
address the associated traffic issues and
concerns, the City of Elk River has developed
the Downtown Revitalization Project. The
primary goal of the project is to assure the long-
term viability of the historic downtown by
creating a connection to the rest of the
community, and by utilizing the riverfront
location. Redevelopment of this area will
enhance downtown Elk River's role as a
residential, retail and commercial area , as well
as revitalize its' investment in the downtown
business district.
A public/private sector initiative has been
developed as part of the project which focuses
on the historic context of the downtown by
combining retail and residential mixed-use
developments, improving pedestrian
connections, developing more practical ways to
support the efficient movement of local traffic,
and the enhancing the potential for better access
to transit alternatives for residents of the
community.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation's
(Mn/DOT) Interregional Corridor Management
Plan identifies a general design alternative for
THI0 through the historic downtown district.
To accommodate safe access and improve traffic
flow, the plan proposes to elevate the highway
approximately 20 feet through the downtown
area. The City's Comprehensive Plan calls for
an expansion of the downtown area through an
Old Town zoning district on both the north and
south sides of TH 10. The elevated roadway
alternative would effectively act as a barrier,
consume potential redevelopment property and
provide an impediment to important growth and
redevelopment opportunities. To that end, the
City is pursuing alternative strategies to address
needed improvements.
Reauest Summary
The City of Elk River is requesting $500,000 to
complete an alternatives analysis for roadway
and access management improvements on the
segment of TH10 between TH169 to the east,
and Upland Avenue, west of the historic
downtown district. The alternatives . analysis
will not only look at options for TH10 through
the core of Elk River, but also the effect on
economic development in the downtown area.
As part the analysis, the City will initiate an
aggressive public involvement process to build
community support for the THIO project that is
consistent with the City's redevelopment goals.
In addition, the City will study options for
pedestrian movements throughout the historic
district and identify multi modal opportunities in
the downtown area in conjunction with the
proposed Northstar Corridor commuter rail
semce.
Next Steps
With a federal transportation program
appropriation, the City will move forward with
the alternatives analysis, coordinating the
process with ongoing redevelopment efforts in
the downtown area. The analysis process will
also include a public involvement component
directed toward building support for a preferred
alternative, as well as the identification of safety
improvements for pedestrians, and multi-modal
opportunities in the downtown area.
The alternatives analysis process will begin as
soon as federal funding is identified and made
available to the City. MnDOT's District 3
fiscally constrained 2030 plan has no funding
allocated for TH10 improvements in Elk River.
The IRC Plan states that by 2025 with no
improvements, TH10 through Elk River will
operate at Level of Service (LOS), which is the
worst congestion on the LOS scale.
Downtown redevelopment activities. cannot be
subject to MnDOT's schedule. The preferred
design alternative selected by the city will be
completed in partnership with MnDOT to ensUre
compatibility with the IRC Management Plan.
Contact Persons
Terry Maurer, City Engineer
763/635-1051
tmaurer@ci.elk-river.mn.us
Elwyn Tinklenberg, The Tinklenberg Group
763/783-1288
elwvntinklenberg@tinklenberg:group.com
III 02/06
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Elk River Historic Downtown
District Study Area
Main Street/TH 10
Jackson Ave./TH10
The Tinklenberg Group
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