08-15-2006 _2_ - Laserfiche WebLink

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Approved projected to grow up to 20,700 vehicles by the year 2030, and it's road classification as an A Minor Arterial. Schiferl stated that in front of the post office the speed limit is 30 miles going one way and 40 miles going the other way and asked what area will be in the 40 miles per hour zone. Horn replied that the entire length of the remodel is intended to be 40 miles per hour. One of thing that they have tried to accomplish thru the design process is calm traffic through landscaping and design elements. There are two design options. Option 1 has parallel parking on both sides of Old Hwy 8, an on street bike lane on both sides, there would be an additional 34 feet of right of way required for the road way design and the center median would be landscaped. There will be a seven foot boulevard to accommodate the landscaping and a nine foot wide sidewalk. There would only be an 11 foot setback to the housing on the west side, which concerns the Developers. O'Keefe inquired if there will be signal lights at the intersections. Horn replied that the traffic study showed potential lights at all the intersections, however the County was concerned about three signals lights so close together. He recommends that as the project moves forward it should be evaluated in terms of where and when the signals would go in. Wyffels added that the City is planning on putting in the conduit as part of this project,but it won't be warranted for two or three years. Option 2 is very similar to Option 1, the biggest exception is that the on road bike lane has been eliminated which provides for additional green space in the boulevard areas, only 18 feet of additional right of way is required and the fifteen foot set back is met on the west side. Horn stated that the other Commissions have had some questions on how the trail system will be incorporated within the development, the consensus being that there should be a continuous trail system along Old Hwy 8. The Strategic Park and Trail Plan has identified a need for a trail to run along the east side of Old Hwy 8 up to the Hwy 96, trails within the development that will connect directly to the existing County park trails, and an on road or off road trail running along Old Hwy 8. The issue with the on road trail is that there is no on road trail connection outside of the area that is being reconstructed. O'Keefe inquired if Ramsey County has access spacing guidelines for A Minor Arterials and if they are planning for signal interconnects. Horn replied that the County has stated that they will accept the spacing of the three intersections. He added that if those intersections were to get signals, they would have to be interconnected because of their close proximity to each other. O'Keefe inquired to the estimated cost of the project. Horn replied that once the Council decides on a final lay out design, the next step would be to do a final cost estimate. The question is what type of reconstruction the City should do, a full reconstruction or to utilize as much of the existing road as possible and do a mill and overlay, which is the approach the County is suggesting. Wyffels added that the original cost estimates for the road reconstruction by using a mill and overlay scenario came in at $1.5 million, however as the road becomes wider and other components are C:`,Documcnts and Scmngs`,igoepcAI oval Settings Temporary Internet Fi1es\01 K28 08-15-2006(2).doc Page 12 of 14