Update on Alpine Drive trail connection between Nowthen Boulevard and Krypton Street

The purpose of this case is to provide an update on staff's research related to constructing a cost-effective trail connection north of Alpine Drive between Nowthen Boulelvard (CSAH 5) and Krypton Street as recently discussed in conjunction with Anoka County's Intersection Improvement project at Nowthen Boulevard and Alpine Drive.

On January 28th, the City Council adopted Resolution #14-01-017 approving a Joint Powers Agreement with Anoka County for the CSAH 5 and Alpine Drive Intersection Improvements.  During discussions, some support was voiced by Council for providing a trail connection north of Alpine Drive between Nowthen Boulevard (CSAH 5) and Krypton Street per page 6 of the attached meeting minutes.  Per page 7 of the attached minutes, further discussion by Council led to a motion directing that the proceeds from the sale of the city-owned parcel in the northwest quadrant of the intersection be deposited in the Park Trust Fund for constructing future park related improvements in this general area, including trails.

At City staff's request, Anoka County had previously included a trail connection north of Alpine Drive in the CSAH 5 & Alpine Drive Intersection Improvements project.  However, when Council was previously asked to approve the Joint Powers Agreement, the property owners of the three residential lots abutting the proposed trail connection voiced their opposition to the trail due to various privacy, safety, and property impact concerns.  The trail was then removed from the project by Anoka County to ensure that the project could move forward with City approvals to avoid losing the awarded federal funds.

Staff estimates approximately 5 minutes for presenting the case, and 10 minutes for discussion after.

Staff has explored options for cost-effectively constructing a trail connection north of Alpine Drive while minimizing impacts to the three residential properties. This can best be achieved by constructing the trail directly behind the curb and narrowing the trail as much as possible. Since this is a Municipal State Aid street, the City must follow State Aid standards while constructing improvements within the right-of-way.  Based on State-Aid standards, a 2-way multi-use bituminous trail should be 10 feet wide, which would not reduce impacts to the properties.  And a concrete sidewalk designated solely for pedestrians and constructed directly behind the curb could be reduced to 8 feet, but this again would not appreciably reduce impacts to the three residential properties.

If a trail connection north of Alpine Drive is not made at this time, pedestrians and bicyclists can continue to use the bituminous trail on the south side of Alpine Drive by crossing Alpine Drive at the existing mid-block pedestrian crossing roughly 165-feet east of Krypton Street.  In this event, staff proposes to explore costs to relocate the mid-block pedestrian crossing directly to Krypton Street, which includes a sidewalk on the east side, and to enhance the crosswalk to make it more visible to drivers and more accessible to pedestrians.  Enhancements could include the installation of a pedestrian activated signal system, or additional signing and striping.  The relocation and enhancement of this mid-block crossing, including estimated costs, would then be presented to Council for consideration of constructing in the summer of 2014.

The only meaningful way to reduce impacts to the three residential properties at this time would be to construct a retaining wall along the outside edge of the trail/sidewalk, but this would increase project costs significantly.  Since an alternate route exists at this time, staff recommends waiting to construct a trail connection north of Alpine Drive until such time that the three residential properties are redeveloped, which will most likely occur when the large parcel to the north redevelops.  At that time, a 10 foot wide, 2-way, multi-use bituminous trail can be constructed as part of the redevelopment project without incurring extraneous costs to reduce impacts to the existing properties.  Until such time, pedestrians and bicyclists can continue to use the bituminous trail on the south side of Alpine Drive by crossing Alpine Drive at the existing mid-block crossing east of Krypton Street.

Attached is a layout showing the existing trail system in the area surrounding the intersection of Nowthen Boulevard and Alpine Drive, as well as the location of the proposed trail connection.

No funding is required to support this case.

Staff recommends waiting to construct the trail connection north of Alpine Drive between Nowthen Boulevard (CSAH 5) and Krypton Street until the properties to the north redevelop.  In this event, staff plans to explore costs to relocate the Alpine Drive mid-block pedestrian crossing to the intersection of Krypton Street and enhance the crosswalk to make it more visible to drivers and more accessible to pedestrians.

No action is required at this time.