Discuss Maintenance Options for Hwy 47 Corridor

The purpose of this case:
Included in our strategic plan listed under Strategic Imperative III: Smart, Citizen-Focused Government is the tactic " improve the image of residential neighborhoods, business districts, and key corridors."   The public works department is looking for direction from the PW committee on what they would like to see our department undertake to  improve the appearance of the Hwy 47 corridor.

Background:
Maintenance responsibilities are shared along the corridor between the City of Ramsey, MnDot and private property owners.  The PW department maintains the east side of Hwy 47 from the intersection of CR 5 to Alpine Drive.  These maintenance tasks include ROW mowing, litter pick up and landscaping activities, such as controlling evasive species in the landscape, mulching when needed and replanting/replacing plant material.   MnDot controls the mowing of the center median and the west ROW.  They are also responsible for the maintenance and repair of the sound wall on the east side of Hwy 47. Staff did some quick research on the sound walls along the west side of the  corridor and those appear to be the maintenance responsibility of the adjacent  developments.  Staff can research this matter further, if the committee would like additional  information.

 

15 minutes

Several of the improvements that the PW department has scheduled for the corridor include painting the signal systems at Alpine Dr/Hwy 47 and Sunwood Dr./Hwy 47.  This is contracted work and should be completed in May.  Staff will also be  seeking bids this summer to have the luminaries above  the signal system at Alpine Dr converted to LED.  The intersections at Sunwood Dr/Hwy 47 and Nowthen Blvd/ Hwy 47 were converted two years ago to LED lights.
 
Additional plantings could be added to the ROW on the east side of Hwy 47 near the sound wall.  This  landscape was originally planted in the 1990's and has died back over the years.  Any additional plantings would have to be of  a salt tolerant variety.  Hwy 47 is a high traffic corridor and the use of road salt and other chloride based deicers is high.

Any improvements to the corridor, such as additional plantings or mulching would come out of the General Fund.

Explore maintenance options further, based  on consensus of the committee

None required at this time.