Adopt Resolution #21-222 Approving Joint Powers Agreement with Anoka County for Interim Bunker Lake Boulevard/County Road 116 Improvements

Purpose:
The purpose of this case is to adopt Resolution #21-222 approving Joint Powers Agreement with Anoka County for Interim Bunker Lake Boulevard/County Road 116 Improvements.

Background:
Numerous major improvement projects are proposed along U.S. Highway 10/169 through the cities of Anoka and Ramsey between 2022 and 2025.

In 2022 and 2023, proposed Highway 10 improvements include replacing the Highway 10 bridges over the Rum River, reconstructing the grade-separated interchange at Highway 10/169 & Trunk Highway 47, reconstructing the grade-separated interchange at Highway 10/169 & Main Street, grade-separating Fairoak Avenue from Highway 10/169, and constructing a new grade-separated interchange at Highway 10/169 & Thurston Avenue.

In 2024 and 2025, proposed Highway 10 improvements include replacing the at-grade intersections at Highway 10/169 & Sunfish Lake Boulevard/CSAH 57 and Highway 10/169 & Ramsey Boulevard/CSAH 56 with grade-separated interchanges, along with replacing the adjacent at-grade BNSF Railway crossings on Sunfish Lake Boulevard and Ramsey Boulevard with grade-separated rail crossings.

During these proposed improvement projects, traffic is proposed to be reduced to one lane in each direction at times during non-winter months. This will result in delays for drivers, which will cause many of these drivers to look for alternate routes to take until the project is complete.
 
Bunker Lake Boulevard is expected to be the primary alternate route used by drivers as determined by a study commissioned by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), in which SRF Consulting Group studied potential traffic impacts to nearby roadways. It was determined that Bunker Lake Boulevard will be the most commonly used alternate route since it runs parallel to and acts as a reliever route to Highway 10. It was also determined that traffic volumes on Bunker Lake Boulevard between 7^th Avenue/CSAH 7 and Armstrong Boulevard/CSAH 83 will double from 2022 through 2025, and that Bunker Lake Boulevard requires improvements to safely accommodate the added traffic.

Anoka County is leading the Interim Bunker Lake Boulevard Improvements project, which will allow the improvements to remain in place after the Highway 10 improvements are complete for up to 15 years or more. This will allow construction of the permanent improvements to Bunker Lake Boulevard as required by the Ramsey Town Center (RTC) Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) to be delayed for many years or even decades.
 
Attached is a copy of the RTC JPA, which was executed on April 12, 2005, by and between the County of Anoka and the City of Ramsey. This JPA defines various public works improvements required to support development of RTC (now The COR), along with the required processes and cost-shares associated with the improvements. As noted in the JPA, the City is ultimately required to reconstruct Bunker Lake Boulevard to a 4-lane divided section between Armstrong Boulevard and Ramsey Boulevard. This work is included in the City’s 10-year Capital Improvement Program, but will now be removed as a result of this JPA.

In summary, the interim improvements to Bunker Lake Boulevard are proposed to include turn lane improvements between Armstrong Boulevard and Ramsey Boulevard at intersections with City Streets, which will benefit local traffic.

The segment of Bunker Lake Boulevard between Ramsey Boulevard and Sunwood Drive is proposed to receive a new protected right turn lane for Connexus Energy’s access.   

A signal system is proposed to be constructed at the intersection of Bunker Lake Boulevard and Sunwood Drive, along with widening of Sunwood Drive west of Bunker Lake Boulevard to accommodate protected left and right turn lanes. A protected left turn lane is also proposed east of Bunker Lake Boulevard. The addition of these left turn lanes on Sunwood Drive allows for flashing yellow arrow operations at this intersection.
 
The segment of Bunker Lake Boulevard between Sunwood Drive and Sunfish Lake Boulevard is proposed to include a new concrete median island to restrict left turns into and out of the north driveway for ALTRON, as well as Basalt Street. However, protected left and right turn lanes are proposed on Bunker Lake Boulevard at 143^rd Avenue to provide full protected turning movements at that intersection.
 
Exhibit A (attached) shows the proposed improvements along the entire corridor. Staff will review the proposed improvements in more detail while presenting this case.
 
The purpose of this case is to approve the attached Joint Powers Agreement, which outlines the City’s cost share for these interim improvements. Staff  will also provide more details on the attached JPA while presenting this case to Council.   

Notifications are not required for this case. 

Alternatives:
Alternative #1 – Motion to adopt Resolution #21-222 approving Joint Powers Agreement with Anoka County for Interim Bunker Lake Boulevard/County Road 116 Improvements.

Alternative #2 – Motion to deny adoption of Resolution #21-222 at this time. 
 

The City’s total cost share is estimated to be $357,363.75. This amount will depend on final project costs. Exhibit B (attached) includes a detailed cost estimate and cost share calculations.

The City's costs are proposed to be wholly or partially funded through TIF 14, with the possibility of using MSA funds to pay for a portion of the costs.  

Staff recommends alternative #1. However, alternative #2 can be selected if additional information is requested, which could then be presented on August 10th.  

Adopt Resolution #21-222 approving Joint Powers Agreement with Anoka County for Interim Bunker Lake Boulevard/County Road 116 Improvements.