Provide Recommendation for Metropolitan Council Regional Transportation Policy Plan.

This case is estimated to be concluded in 5 minutes.

The Metropolitan Council is in the process of updating Regional System Plans (Water Resources, Transportation, Parks, Housing). The Metropolitan Council has released the Transportation Policy Plan for public comment. The City's Engineering Division is preparing a response to the Metropolitan Council and desires preliminary feedback from the Public Works Committee.  Feedback from the Planning Commission was received on September 4^th.

The Transportation Policy Plan is an important policy document as it relates to Ramsey's goals and initiatives. This policy document will serve as the policy document for key transportation investments across the region. The regional transportation systems identified as a regional system are U.S. Highway 10, Trunk Highway 47, and the Northstar Corridor.

Broadly speaking, based on previous review with the Planning Commission, City Council, and other advisory boards, comments should address the following broad categories:
 

1. Additional investment to Highway 10
2. Additional investment to Highway 47
3. Long range planning for a future Mississippi River crossing to the City of Dayton

Staff feels additional emphasis in these three (3) categories is warranted. The policy plan does acknowledge the Armstrong Interchange as a regional project. Staff feels that the Highway 10 Access Planning Study should be featured with more prominence. Finally, Staff believes that, although likely several years away, an emphasis on planning for a future river crossing to the City of Dayton should not be lost in the amendment to this policy plan. This will be key as this future project will require coordination of the City of Ramsey, City of Dayton, Anoka County, Hennepin County, Mn/DOT, DNR, and the Metropolitan Council. Regardless of the timing of this future project, Staff is concerned that the vision for this priority project will diminish over time as these policy documents are only updated once every ten (10) years.

Staff recommends that the draft response to the Transportation Policy Plan provide greater emphasis on the following categories:
 

1. Additional investment to Highway 10
2. Additional investment to Highway 47
3. Long range planning for a future Mississippi River crossing to the City of Dayton

Staff will also be prepared to provide more detailed analysis on other components of the plan, such as the transit and bicycle sections.

Motion to recommend that the draft response to the Transportation Policy Plan provide greater emphasis on the following categories:
 

1. Additional investment to Highway 10
2. Additional investment to Highway 47
3. Long range planning for a future Mississippi River crossing to the City of Dayton