5.7. SR 08-21-2006
City of Elk River
REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
Agenda Section Meeting Date
En ineerin Au ust 21, 2006
Item Description
TH 169 Geometric and Environmental Study
Item Number
5.7.
Prepared by
Terr i Ivlaurer, Ci
Reviewed by
Introduction
TIlls is a follo\v-up to tlle se"veral previous discussions staff llas had \v-idl tlle City Council
regarding potentially funding the I:vlnDOT Geometric and En\rironmental Study on TH 169
tlltough Elk River.
Discussion
I\{nDOT has committed to \vriting responses to our questions regarding the potential funding of
tlle TH 169 Study. In general, tile Wee main points are as follo\vs:
1. Tile estimated cost of tlle study is approximately $1 million dollars, llo\vever, if tile study
requires an En\Tironmental Ilnpact Statement .versus an En\Tll:onmental.L\ssessment, the
cost could rise substantially. _A.ltllougll :i\lnDOT belie'ves dlat an En'rllonmental
.t\ssessment \vill be sufficient, the final determination cannot be made until the study is
\vell under\vay. The only safety net pro\Tided relative to tlle $1 million dollar cost is tllat
tlle City can cancel tile contract at any time \vitll 30 days notice. So, if in fact an
Environmental Ilnpact Statelnent is required, tlle City could decide to cease funding of
the study so as not to incur substantially lligller costs.
2. IvInDOT llas determined tllat tile funding of tlle study by tlle City can utilize ivIuni<;ipal
State Aid dollars. Ho\ve\Ter, it sIlould be noted that \vitll the \Vaco Street and Highland
Road projects in 2006, the City's NIunicipal State Aid fund is essentially depleted. In the
near future, tile City \v.ill be expending ~lunicipal State Funds for land acquisition and
partial funding for tlle 193rd Avenue corridor extension. If the City'\vishes to commit $1
lnillion dollars from 1:furucipal State ..L'\id Funds for tile TH 169 Study, they \vill be
committing approximately 1 1/2 years allottnent into tile future for tlus study.
3. IvlnDOT 11as no \vay internally of prov'iding assurances tllat a credit \vould be given for
tlle City's expenditure in the future \vllen cost participation is asked of tlle City for
construction along TH 169.
...Also attached is information from Craig Robinson, 1JnDOT's Project tvfanager for
TH 169 tllat summarizes tlle project schedule and steps for conducting the study, and a
sUlnmary of tlle deli'Terables required by tile contract '\Vitll SRF.
S:\EnbrinecrImprovProj\2006 Improvement Projccts\TH 169 Study\07 31 06 CC memo. doc
Financial Impact
The financial impact to the City is estllnated at $11nillion dollars. It is proposed to be funded
\vidl 1vrunicipal State Aid dollars, \vhicI1 \vould conunit approximately 1 Yz years' annual allotment
to the TH 169 Study.
Attachments
. July 11, 2006 Letter from Craig Robinson
. July 28, 2006 Letter from Craig Robinson \vitl1 attachments relati\Te to project sclledule
and deliverables
Action Requested
Discussion by tlle City Council and direction to staff as to ho\v~ to proceed \vith this issue.
Council Action
}\lotion by
Second by _
'lote
Follow Up
S:\EngincerImprovProj\2006 Improvement Projects\TH 169 Study\07 31 06 CC memo.doc
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1. \~Ldu[j
(~\l\NESo,;_"1 Minnesota Department of Transportation
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~ ~ District 3 ... Transportation
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OF Tfl.~ St. Cloud, MN 56303
Office Tel: 1/800/657-3961/320-223-6526
Fax: 320-223-6580
July 11, 2006
Mr. Terry Mauer, City Engineer
City of Elk River
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River, MN 55330
Re: TH 169 Study
Dear Mr. Mauer:
As you know, Mn/DOT had intended to begin a study this Spring of TH 169 Corridor from TH
10 in Elk River to TH 95 in Princeton. Unfortunately, before the study began funding was
pulled and the study was reduced in scope to looking at the Zimmerman area as Federal HPP
monies were available for the portion of the study. In meetings with City Staff, the question of
the City funding the portion of the study through Elk River was discussed. I have done some
investigating and here is what I found:
1. From Mn/DOT's standpoint, it is certainly possible.
2. The estimated cost of this portion of the study is $1 Million.
3. This estimated cost is assuming an Environmental Assessment will suffice. If an
Environmental Impact Statement is required, the cost will be higher.
4. Mn/DOT will not front-end any monies, so the City must be prepared to pay the bills
as they arrive. The Study will most likely be completed by the end of 2007.
5. State Aid monies may be used for the study.
6. A grant from State Aid is possible, but the request must be made and must compete
with other requests.
7. Mn/DOT will not allow future credits for any monies expended by the City.
8. If the City decides to fund this, Mn/DOT1s existing contract with SRF covers this area
so work could begin immediately.
9. The Contract can be cancelled at any time with 30 days notice, so if the study was
getting too expensive, the City could withdraw.
As we discussed previously, the anticipated outcome of the Study would be an approved
Environmental Document and a Mn/DOT Staff Approved Layout ready for approval by the
City. Unfortunately, there is still no time table for construction. I hope this answers the
questions you had. If you want to discuss this more, please call me at 320-223-6526.
Sin/!cereIY, d1:2
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L-:t/v--c:; /-<',' .. .,..
Craig ~s'on, PE
Project' Development Engineer - 03
CR:cas
c: Jim Povich - 81. Cloud DOT
Kelvin Howieson - Baxter DOT
File
O(~\~N.EISo14 "k Minnesota Department of Transportation
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\ I District 3 - Transportation
4-}-o~ 11\~~c; 3725-12th 81. North Office Tel: 1/800/657- 3961 /320-255-4181
81. Cloud, MN 56303 Fax: 320-255-3257
July 28, 2006
Terry Maurer, P.E.
Elk River City Engineer
13065 Orono Parkway
P.O. Box 490
Elk River, MN 55330-0490
RE: Trunk Highway 169 (TH 169) Interchange Study - Elk River to Princeton
Dear Mr. Maurer:
Per your request to Dave Montebello at SRF, I am sending background information for
the TH 169 Interchange Study from Elk River to Princeton. This packet is intended to
provide additional information for the City Council as they deliberate their major financial
contribution to this study. The latter portion of this letter includes problem and study
purpose statements. A copy of the original study schedule and the original list of
deliverables are also enclosed with this letter. Please share these materials with your
City Council.
As you share and review these materials, note the following:
· Schedule and deliverable dates will be revised if the Elk River City Council
chooses to move forward with this study.
· The schedule includes planned meetings and stakeholder and public
involvement opportunities. The study would include participation in a Local
Advisory Committee (Le., City Engineer and/or Planner, others may be
appointed if needed) that serves as the study steering committee, along with
a number of agency and pu blic meetings.
· A portion of the original study, the portion in the Zimmerman area (TH 169
from County State Aid Highway 25/19 to 273rd Avenue), has been underway
since March 2006. If the Elk River City Council chooses to move forward
with this study, the added portions of the study will need to be brought
together with the Zimmerman piece so that the study produces one
environmental document for the entire study area. This synthesizing process
can be accomplished but will require some additional effort and resources.
The remainder of this letter provides key background information for the TH 169
Interchange Study from Elk River to Princeton.
STUDY PROBLEM STATEMENT
The TH 169 corridor is an important north-south principal arterial route in central
Minnesota. This route connects Minnesota's central lakes region with the greater Twin
Terry Maurer, P.E.
-Page 2-
July 28, 2006
Cities metropolitan area as well as the growing trade centers of Princeton, Zimmerman,
and Elk River. Currently this facility is a four-lane divided expressway with signals at
major intersections and some limited frontage and backage road systems. As growth
has extended out from the Twin Cities into Sherburne County, commuter traffic has
significantly increased. This has caused safety and congestion issues on TH 169 and at
many local road intersections. In addition, because the corridor is one of the primary
recreational links to the central lakes region, it has significant recreational volumes and
a greater percentage of vehicles pulling trailers, which affects roadway operations.
Furthermore, Sherburne County has significant aggregate resources, and many of these
resources are located along TH 169 between Elk River and Zimmerman. These facilities
generate a significant amount of truck traffic on TH 169. The use of these aggregate
resources is likely to increase as aggregate sources in and around the Twin Cities area
become depleted. These large trucks affect the operations of TH 169 and create safety
concerns.
STUDY PURPOSE
The purpose of the TH 169 Interchange Study from Elk River to Princeton is to develop
a detailed, long-term access strategy for TH 169 that transitions TH 169 from an 8t-
grade expressway facility to 8 limited access, grade-separated freeway facility. The
study will produce staff approved layouts and environmental documentation that include
the following three components:
1. Future TH 169 interchange locations
2. Preferred Alternatives for interchange designs
3. Frontage and backage road system that replaces direct access eliminated as
part of the freeway conversion.
The study will analyze the need for the transition to a limited access, grade-separated
freeway facility and propose a roadway system that meets current and future
transportation needs in the TH 169 corridor. The selection of a preferred TH 169
alternative will provide greater clarity for Elk River in planning future infrastructure and
land use in the T H 169 corridor.
Please contact me at (320) 223-6526 if you or the Counci I have any questions.
Sincerely,
a-,~
('
/tr
Craig Robinson, P.E.
Project Development Engineer
Cc: Dave Montebello, SRF
Enclosures
H:\Projects\5669\TP\Admin\Elk River Mat'ls\Cover letter.doc
Project Schedule
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August 2006
Project Evaluation
Mar - Apr 2006
Preliminary Scoping/ Alternative
Identification Innovations
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Jan - Feb 2006
Project Mobilization &
Preliminary Analysis
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CoordinDt ion
Meetings*
Meetings
Web Updates
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5 = Scoping Meeting
>I< Final number of meetings to be determined in scoping process
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PH = Public Hearing
F = Field Wall{s
K = Kickof
TH 169 Elk River to Princeton
Estimated SRF Deliverable Dates
~ Project Management deliverables as identified in include meeting agendas,
meeting minutes, project status reports, presentation materials, handouts and
follow-up correspondence to coordinate work activities. (These will be
delivered on an ongoing basis throughout the study process).
~ Assembly of background information for corridor, development of GIS base
map showing existing issues, constraints and opportunities in the study area,
assembly of historic traffic and crash information, water resources overview map,
water resources regulatory matrix. Estimated deliverable date (April 2006).
62- SRF to document changes in layouts and rationale for changes; conduct
traffic analysis of alternatives, and document transportation purpose and need.
Information to be developed throughout 2006 with final traffic
memorandum delivered by December 2006.
2.3 Alternatives evaluation report documenting process, analysis, alternative
modifications, evaluation matrix and recommendations (January 2007). Seoping
meeting materials and follow-up meeting documentation (February 2007).
Benefit-cost memorandum (December 2006).
3.0 Draft/Final Noise Analysis, Tech Memo (September 2007), Noise
Exemption Request (October 2007), Draft /Final Wetlands Tech Memo
(September 2007); AD 1006 form, draft EA/EAW (November 2007), Final
EA/EAW, draft/final responses to comments (December 2007), Draft/Final
FONSI (May 2008).
4.0 Hydraulics letter, formulating ponding stage, locations and special water
quality treatment requirements (June 2007).
5.0 Coordination through meetings, emails, phone-calls and/or drawings for
preliminary design task (These to be delivered on an ongoing basis
throughout the study process). Final geometric staff approved layouts for
entire corridor (August 2007). Assistance and attendance at meetings with local
agencies to obtain municipal consent (September to December 2007).
6.0 Documentation of utility correspondence and contact list, placement of
utility information on geometric layouts (August 2006).
7.0 Public Involvement deliverables include meeting notices, materials, boards,
presentation materials, and meeting summaries for up to 22 LAC meetings and
one open house meeting. It also includes establishment of web site with up to six
web updates (These to be delivered on an ongoing basis throughout the
study process).
9.0 Design memorandum (Estimated delivery date January 2008)
10.0 Document traffic and safety analysis methodology and results for TH 169
corridor from Elk River to Princeton. Analysis to include LOS at key intersections,
travel time comparisons in the Elk River area) Merge/Diverge analysis of ramp
locations for freeway alternatives. Results to be documented in technical
memorandum (December 2006).