Update on Anoka County conversation regarding access spacing guidelines. 

As part of the strategic planning meeting, Council directed staff to "Work with the County to Eliminate Hard Channeling County Policy". The purpose of this case is to provide information relating to the requirement from Anoka County to install channelization (medians) and provide an update on the conversations with the Anoka County Highway Department regarding access control to local businesses adjacent to the County Highway system.

 

Last year, during the discussion of the Bunker Lake Boulevard (Sunfish Lake Boulevard - Germanium Street) project, the County was operating under the attached Access Spacing guidelines that were adopted in 2003. These guidelines provided little flexibility for modification and basically required full access control at 1/2 mile increments. As indicated in the attached access spacing guidelines, almost all of our County roadways within the City of Ramsey, fall under the same criteria. Since all of our County roadways have a speed limit that are 50-55 mph, it really doesn't matter whether the roadway is classified as a A minor arterial, B minor arterial or collector roadway because the access spacing guideline remains the same. Full access is allowed at 1/2 mile increments and "conditional secondary access" is only allowed as 1/4 spacing. Under this guideline a "conditional secondary access" is considered only right - in / right - out.

 

In late 2010, the County changed their access spacing guidelines by allowing other access consideration as long as there was a benefit provided to the County transportation system. This is done under an exception rule (No. 4) that was identified in the attached 2010 access spacing guidelines. This does provide for an exception to the access spacing guidelines but the spacing guidleines remained pretty much the same as before from Ramsey's perspective because the access is still relative to speed limt. The City did benefit from this shift in policy direction as it did allow us to ask for a deviation from the approved policy to get a 3/4 access (left-in) at the intersection of Unity Street and Bunker Lake Boulevard.

 

 

Obviously, the overall goals of the City of Ramsey and Anoka County are the same in that we want to have safe transportation corridors through the City and County. In that regards I think it would unrealistic to think that we could eliminate the hard channelization but Staff does feel that there are other changes to the access spacing guidelines that could effectively maintain a safe corridor and provide for better access into our local businesses. Since the beginning of the year, we have participated in numerous meetings with other agencies such as the City of Anoka and the City of Andover to gain their perspective on the spacing guidelines and see if we can collaboratively approach the County to see about their willingness to change the guidelines.

 

In our discussions there has been a number of topics that primarily revolve around the spacing requirements. We collectively agree that 1/8 mile spacing would be more reasonable for a conditional secondary access and that there should be consideration for allowing a left in as a conditional secondary access. In meeting with the Anoka County Highway Department, Anoka County Staff was willing to look at neighboring counties and compile a list of their spacing guidelines to maintain some consistency as well as regionally compare competitiveness with surrounding communities. This is a step in the right direction and although there has not been agreement to change the guidelines, it shows a willingness to be open minded about our concerns.

 

Staff will have compiled a list of City Staff researched County spacing guidelines from adjacent counties to see how this may or may not affect our discussions with the Anoka County Highway Department. We are also committed to continuing the discussion with the Anoka County Highway Department and provide periodic updates to the City Council in the future.

Based upon discussion

Not applicable

Based upon discussion