State Highway #47 Corridor Study Review

The Highway 47 Corridor Study was identified at the Council work session of November 7 as a low-priority budget item based upon MNDOT's position of not doing capacity improvements to this corridor.  Staff was asked to review what, if any, impact there would be to the budget if this item was removed from the 2017 budget.

While MNDOT has indicated that there are no planned capacity improvements for this corridor, there is still a need to identify safety, mobility,  and esthetic improvements to the corridor that might be of benefit to the community.  Also, it is important to identify future traffic-loads for this corridor and to use this information to convince MNDOT that capacity improvements are imperative.  Examples of recent improvements by MNDOT include the median modification at 142nd Ave. and the crosswalk improvement at County Road 5.  The City is also considering applications for grant monies to construct additional trail connections along this corridor.

The funding for this study was anticipated to come from the Public Improvement Revolving (PIR) Fund.  Consequently, the item was not reflected in the 2017 operational budget for the department, and  there would be no impact to the proposed tax levy to remove this item from the work plan.  A study of this type would cost the City in the range of $20,000, assuming a cost share with MNDOT and Anoka County could be negotiated.

Staff recommends leaving this item in the 2017 work plan, and to continue to work with MNDOT and Anoka County to address the needs along all of the City's major road corridors.