Loading...
02-26-02 Worksession I I I CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Richfield, Minnesota Special Worksession February 26, 2002 The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch at 5:30 p.m. Members Present: Martin Kirsch, Mayor; John Enger; Susan Rosenberg; and Sue Sandahl. Members Not Present: Gertrude Ulrich. Samantha Orduno, City Manager; Mike Eastling, Public Works Director; Bruce Palmborg, Community Development Director; Tom Foley, Transportation Engineer; and Cheryl Krumholz, Recording Secretary. Staff Present: Item#1 City Manager Orduno stated the status report on the 1-35W ramp at 76th Street is presented tonight at the City Council's request so the Humboldt/Girard neighborhood, Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and staff received the same information at the same time. Transportation Engineer Foley reviewed the history related to the ramp, beginning in 1992. Thomas O'Keefe, MnDOT Area Manager, said there were meetings with the neighborhood that generated several design alternatives from MnDOT and the neighbors. He said no alternatives avoid impacting the taking of homes in the neighborhood. Chris Roy, MnDOT Project Manager, said there are 18 drawings, nine with a high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane and nine without, prepared at the neighborhood's request (Clerk's File No. C- 383.) He reviewed the nine drawings with HOV. He stated the drawings are preliminary and the full detail has not yet been examined so they are subject to revisions related to right-of-way. He said the preferred alternative was Drawing No.1, entrance ramp north side of 76th Street, lines up with Girard Avenue, as described in the Final Environmental Impact Statement. Council Member Enger asked if there was a need for a new Humboldt Avenue if no homes remained in the area. Mr. Roy said the drawing of Humboldt Avenue was schematic to indicate the impact on the area, but it could end at 75th Street not at Girard Avenue. Mr. Roy made the following presentation: Drawing No.2, entrance ramp north side of 76th Street, close to bridge. Concerns related to the offset intersection between Girard Avenue and the on ramp. Special Worksession Minutes -2- February 26, 2002 Drawing No.3, entrance loop south side of 76th Street, through church and business school properties. Concerns related to significant right of way impacts; safety when mixing speeds onto freeway; close proximity to 76th/77th Street intersections and impact on traffic flow. Drawing No.4, entrance ramp from Girard Avenue. Concerns related to circuitous route onto 1-35W; weaving and mixing of speeds onto freeway; difficult hook entry for trucks. Drawing No.5, entrance ramp via Meridian Crossing entrance road. Concerns related to significant right of way impacts; access appears more from private drive than actual roadway; weaving; may create problem with 66th Street. Drawing No.6, entrance ramp from 76th Street via revised Meridian Crossing entrance road. Concerns similar to Drawing No.5; close intersection spacing problematic. Drawing No.7, entrance ramp from 76th Street via separate roadway near Meridian Crossing entrance road. Concerns similar to Drawing No.'s 5 and 6; creates unusual intersection at Meridian Crossings; safety and driver confusion potential. Drawing No.8, NE entrance ramp from 76th Street, close to bridge. Concerns related to left turn sight problem since close to 1-35W/Girard Avenue intersection. Drawing No.9, single point interchange on north side of 76th Street. Concerns with bridge design; similar impacts as Drawing No.'s 2 and 8; improves 76th Street traffic flow. Council Member Rosenberg asked why the 76th Street ramp is open when the ramps on 1-494 at 12th Avenue and Nicollet Avenue are closing. Mr. Roy explained it was to accommodate traffic. He said the 76th Street ramp is a primary access to 1-35W in Richfield. Council Member Rosenberg said it was hard to justify a long entrance ramp when it meant I taking so many homes. She said even though the 1992 City Council approved the plan, the people did not want it. Mr. O'Keefe said MnDOT has no particular concern about eliminating the ramp, but local service impacts are a concern. I Council Member Rosenberg said she did not believe it necessary to take this many homes. She stated that in 1992 she dug her heels in and would do so again in 2002. She asked if the ramp was necessary for the Best Buy project. Public Works Director Eastling said the impacts on Lyndale Avenue and Penn Avenue bridge traffic would need to be reviewed. Council Member Rosenberg asked that, if the ramp doesn't happen on the east side, would the alternative need to be changes on the west side. Mr. O'Keefe said there have been MnDOT discussions about moving 1-35W to the west. Mr. Roy explained the potential impacts on property (homes, businesses, parkland) on the west side of the 76th Street ramp. He said the viability of this alternative has not been completed. He said another reconstruction of the area currently reconstructed might be necessary. He said acquiring park property for roadway purposes is federally regulated and may result in acquisition of the land if it's impacted. Council Member Enger questioned the spacing between entrance ramps, stating there are too I many too close together. He said the ramps at 66th Street and 82nd Street are viable alternatives. Mr. Enger stated there was no drawing from MnDOT to eliminate the 76th Street ramp. He said he would propose eliminating the 76th Street ramp. He said Best Buy could be asked to use 66th Street and 82nd Street ramps. Mr. Roy explained the auxiliary lane to carry traffic. I I I Special Worksession Minutes -3- February 26, 2002 Public Works Director Eastling said that allowing the 76th Street access takes the pressure off potentially highly congested neighborhood streets. He said the arterial flow around Best Buy relies on the current access. Mayor Kirsch asked about the timeline on this project. Mr. Roy said construction is projected for after 2010. Ken Meter, 7415 Humboldt Avenue, representing the Humboldt/Girard neighborhood, reviewed what the residents need from this design process. He said MnDOT did a great job on the drawings and the relationship with the neighborhood has been respectful. Mr. Meter said there was one solution that offered the best result-close the 76th Street ramp on the east side; homes should not be sacrificed for the ramp. Mr. Meter presented a petition with 278 signatures to the Mayor stating the ramp be closed if it cannot be kept as it currently exists. (Clerk's File No. C-384.) He requested the City Council take action as soon as possible because the City may lose their power to have input on state roadways if the Legislature passes a bill this session that eliminates municipal consent on these projects. Robert Hall, 7309 Oliver Avenue, stated there was no mention of bike or pedestrian traffic and safety. He said this safety would be enhanced if the ramp were closed. Resident, 75th Street and Girard Avenue, asked why the access to 1-494 at Penn and Lyndale Avenues is closed because it affects businesses. Mr. Roy reviewed the close proximity of the ramps. Judy Goebel, 7500 Girard Avenue, expressed concern about air pollution while vehicles wait at the meter. Resident, 75th Street and Girard Avenue, asked why MnDOT did not voice concerns about the ramp with the construction of Shops at Lyndale, Galyans and Best Buy. She also asked why discussion of changing the ramp on the east side is continuing when it appears as a quick fix with future problems possible on the west side. Public Works Director Eastling said a traffic analysis is done with the current access. He said there would be notable ramifications and risks to residential streets if the ramp was closed. Mayor Kirsch thanked MnDOT, Ken Meter and the neighborhood group for their efforts. Public Works Director Eastling reviewed the proposal to create a Transportation Committee to study the ramp. Mayor Kirsch expressed concern about the Legislature taking away municipal consent on State highway projects. Council Member Sandahl encouraged residents to contact their local Legislators, especially Senator Dave Johnson, stating opposition to the proposed bill that takes away municipal authority to have input on nearly all major Minnesota highway projects. She said the bill doesn't affect 1-35W. Mr. O'Keefe said MnDOT is required to seek municipal consent on interstate highway projects. Public Works Director Eastling said some proposed laws might take away the little control a municipality has today. City Manager Orduno asked for direction on the formation of the Transportation Task Force. Council Member Sandahl said the overall impact needs to be studied including commercial impacts. She said the time to study the issue can be afforded and all local traffic consequences need to be considered. Special Worksession Minutes -4- February 26, 2002 Council Member Enger said the task force needs to review adding an entrance ramp at Lyndale Avenue for north bound 1-35W to take away the problem at 1-35W/76th Street; even if some parking is lost at Shops at Lyndale. Representative Dan Larson asked for a time frame for the task force to do their work. He asked MnDOT if they would move forward without the neighborhood study. Mr. O'Keefe said there was no construction funding until 2010. He said 1-494/1-35W is identified as a priority, but there would be no move forward without a neighborhood study. Representative Larson said he would check on the proposed language and deadline on the bill regarding elimination of municipal consent for State highways. The City Council consensus was to place the formation of the Transportation Task Force on the March 26, 2002 City Council agenda for their consideration. The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:35 p.m. m~d1 W Martin). Kir~ . MaYo~ . ({) C~v..~ $amant. a Ordy 0 ~ City_Manager Date Approved: March 12. 2002 <zj (.: L/~/'~ df-t 14M~u1 Cheryl umhol Recording Secretary I I I