Consideration of Adopting Resolution 14-03-063 Ratifying Removal of Highway 10 Connection and Median Crossover at Traprock Street.

The purpose of this case is to review the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s (MnDOT) request to adopt Resolution 14-03-063 ratifying the phased removals of the westbound Trunk Highway (TH) 10 median crossover and eastbound TH 10 connection to Riverdale Drive at Traprock Street.  A copy of the resolution is attached for reference.
 
The Riverdale Drive Extension/Reconstruction project, proposed to be constructed in 2014 following Council authorization this Spring, includes improvements to the westbound median crossover and eastbound connection from TH 10 to Riverdale Drive at Traprock Street.  These improvements will result in a modified three-quarter access including right-in, right-out access for eastbound TH 10, and a left-in access for westbound TH 10 using a median crossover.  Figure 1 attached shows the proposed improvements.
 
These access improvements are safety related and are a large part of the reason why the city was awarded $702,000 in Cooperative Agreement funding by MnDOT for the Riverdale Drive Extension project, as is the promotion of a south frontage road to TH 10 which will ultimately serve to keep local traffic off of TH 10 once the frontage road (Riverdale Drive) connects Ramsey Boulevard to Armstrong Boulevard.  The Cooperative Agreement funding award letter states “The award is for improvements to TH 10 in the City of Ramsey. The proposed improvements include extending Riverdale Drive from just east of Alpaca Street to Traprock Street, closing right-in/out access to TH 10 from Alpaca Street, and revising the full access intersection of TH 10 and Traprock Street to a 3/4 access intersection allowing only one left turning movement (TH 10 westbound to Traprock Street).”
 
MnDOT contacted City staff this winter to explain that MnDOT’s expectation has always been that the westbound median crossover and eastbound connection from TH 10 to Riverdale Drive at Traprock Street will be removed in phases based on specific triggering events.  MnDOT also said they met with City staff in 2011 and reached a verbal agreement for the phased removals.  As such, MnDOT is now requesting that the City adopt a resolution ratifying the phased removal of the westbound median crossover and eastbound connection at Traprock Street based on the following conditions.
 
First, MnDOT requests Council ratification that the median crossover between westbound TH 10 and Riverdale Drive at Traprock Street be removed when construction of the TH 10 and Armstrong Boulevard (CSAH 83) Interchange is complete.  With the removal of this median crossover, vehicles traveling westbound on TH 10 will be required to exit at the new Armstrong Boulevard interchange and use Riverdale Drive to access Traprock Street.
 
Second, MnDOT requests Council ratification that the connection between eastbound TH10 and Riverdale Drive at Traprock Street be removed at such time that Riverdale Drive is extended to Ramsey Boulevard, thereby creating a south frontage road to TH 10 between Armstrong Boulevard and Ramsey Boulevard.  With the removal of the connection between eastbound TH 10 and Riverdale Drive, vehicles traveling eastbound on TH 10 could either exit on Armstrong Boulevard or Ramsey Boulevard to access Riverdale Drive and Traprock Street.

Lastly, MnDOT informed staff that the City may be responsible for a portion of the costs required to remove the westbound median crossover and eastbound connection at Traprock Street upon their removals.  The attached resolution contains language addressing this condition.  However, MnDOT also informed staff that they believe these future removal projects would rank highly if the City were to apply for Cooperative Agreement funding.  If Council adopts Resolution 14-03-063, staff will pursue Cooperative Agreement funding for both access removal projects at the time they are required to be removed.
 
Another access exists between eastbound TH 10 and Riverdale Drive at Alpaca Street but this access is proposed to be removed near completion of the Riverdale Drive project, at which time eastbound vehicles will be required to access Riverdale Drive via Armstrong Boulevard or the Traprock Street connection.

No notification is required for this item.

Staff discussed MnDOT’s proposal for the phased access removals with PSD, LLC who owns the undeveloped properties south of Riverdale Drive and west of Traprock Street. While PSD does not consider the phased access removals to be ideal, they are agreeable to the phased removals as proposed.

In the spring of 2013, public information meetings were held with existing commercial and residential property owners to discuss the Riverdale Drive Extension/Reconstruction project. During these meetings, staff addressed the proposed removal of the Alpaca Street access to eastbound TH 10 during the Riverdale Drive Extension/Reconstruction project, as well as the fact that MnDOT previously informed City staff that the Traprock Street connection to TH 10 would be closed when Riverdale Drive was extended to Ramsey Boulevard. However, at that time staff was not aware of MnDOT’s phased plan for closing the westbound median crossover at Traprock Street when the Armstrong Boulevard interchange was completed.

During the public information meetings, staff did receive several comments in opposition to closing the Alpaca Street access to TH 10 as it would take longer to drive to the Traprock Street access on Riverdale Drive than it would to travel the same distance on TH 10. However, no objectionable comments were received regarding the eventual closure of the Traprock Street connection to TH 10.

On May 17, 2013 staff received a petition signed by 47 residents from Alpaca Estates opposing the Riverdale Drive Extension/Reconstruction project. Based on comments made by the resident delivering the petition, who also attended the public information meetings, the residents that signed the petition are concerned that the extension of Riverdale Drive will result in more traffic in their neighborhoods as adjacent properties developed. She also stated that many people are opposed to closing the Alpaca Street access to TH 10, though this was not specifically stated on the petition that was distributed for signatures, and was instead written on a post it note at the time the petition was submitted to staff. A copy of the petition is attached for reference. The handwritten note is shown at the bottom.

MnDOT has informed staff that the city's refusal to ratify the removal of the Traprock Street median crossover and connection could result in denial of MnDOT’s required approvals for our Riverdale Drive Extension/Reconstruction layout and plans. This would then jeopardize our ability to construct the project in 2014 utilizing $702,000 in awarded Cooperative Agreement funding, and would also impact our ability to deliver the segment of the Mississippi River Trail along this section of Riverdale Drive which was awarded federal grant funding for construction. In addition, construction of the TH 10 & Armstrong Boulevard interchange could be delayed if the Riverdale Drive project is not constructed in 2014.
 

Observations:
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is proposing the phased access removals to address the following safety concerns.
 
When the signal system at Armstrong Boulevard is removed due to construction of the Armstrong Boulevard interchange, gaps in traffic on eastbound TH 10 will be less pronounced and vehicles turning left from westbound TH 10 to Riverdale Drive at Traprock Street would have a harder time finding an acceptable gap.  And since some of those vehicles will be towing boats to the public landing on the Mississippi River, they will have a harder time accelerating and judging acceptable gaps. For these reasons, MnDOT feels strongly that the westbound TH 10 median crossover needs to be removed when construction of the Armstrong Boulevard interchange is complete.
 
When Riverdale Drive is connected to Ramsey Boulevard, forming a south frontage road to TH 10, MnDOT feels the connection between eastbound TH 10 and Riverdale Drive at Traprock Street needs to be removed in order to direct vehicles wishing to access eastbound TH 10 to safer, controlled accesses at either the Armstrong Boulevard interchange or the signalized at-grade intersection at Ramsey Boulevard.
 
It is worthwhile noting that MnDOT’s proposed TH 10 access closures at Alpaca Street and Traprock Street are directly aligned with the goals and concept plans being developed with the current TH 10 Access Planning Study.  The goal of this study is to develop a plan for addressing safety and operational concerns along the TH 10 corridor through the City of Ramsey to the Rum River in the City of Anoka.  The plan will identify lower-cost improvements that can be implemented incrementally in the near future, rather than waiting for funding to become available to convert this corridor of TH 10 to a full freeway which is not likely to happen any time soon considering the cost to do so and the lack of available funding.  One such incremental improvement includes removing numerous private accesses along TH 10 and instead constructing frontage roads to provide access to adjacent properties while allowing reasonable access to TH 10 at nearby at-grade intersections and grade separated interchanges.
 

Alternatives:
Alternative Action #1 – Motion to adopt Resolution 14-03-063 ratifying the phased removals of the westbound median crossover and eastbound connection between TH 10 and Riverdale Drive at Traprock Street as requested by MnDOT.
 
Alternative Action #2 – Motion to table adoption of Resolution 14-03-063 and directing staff to notify area businesses and residents of MnDOT’s proposal to remove the westbound median crossover and eastbound connection between TH 10 and Riverdale Drive at Traprock Street in phases, as well as the City’s intent to ratify MnDOT’s proposal at the April 8^th City Council meeting.
 
Alternative Action #3 – Motion of other.

No funding is required at this time as a result of this action.  However, when the phased removal projects are required, staff will apply for Cooperative Agreement funding to help fund the removals.  However, there may still be some cost to the City to remove the accesses.

Staff recommends adopting Resolution 14-03-063 ratifying the phased removals of the westbound median crossover and eastbound connection between TH 10 and Riverdale Drive at Traprock Street as requested by MnDOT.  Staff is of the opinion that the phased access removals as proposed will allow for reasonable access to/from TH 10 for area businesses and residents in the future, and that the new points of access will be safer.  In addition, ratifying the phased removals will prevent MnDOT from potentially withholding approvals for the Riverdale Drive Extension/Reconstruction project, thereby allowing this project to be constructed in 2014 (with future Council approvals) utilizing the awarded Cooperative Agreement funds, while also allowing the Mississippi River Trail to be constructed with the Riverdale Drive project utilizing federal grant funding.  Ratifying the phased removals would also ensure that construction of the TH 10 & Armstrong Boulevard interchange will not be delayed.

Motion to adopt or deny Resolution 14-03-063 ratifying the phased removals of the westbound median crossover and eastbound connection between TH 10 and Riverdale Drive at Traprock Street as requested by MnDOT.  Tabling this item to the April 8th regular Council meeting is an option if Council wishes to direct staff to provide notification of MnDOT's phased access removal proposal to area businesses and residents, as well as the City's intent to ratify MnDOT's proposal at the April 8th City Council meeting.