2025-05-27 WS City Council Agenda W ORK SESSION
RICHFIELD MUNICIPAL CENTER, BARTHOLOMEW ROOM
MAY 27, 2025
5:45 PM
Call to order
1.Discussion on I-494 Phase 2 following an update presentation from MnDOT staff.
Adjournment
Auxiliary aids for individuals with disabilities are available upon request. Requests must be made at least 96
hours in advance to the City Clerk at 612-861-9739.
AGENDA SECTION:Work Session Items
AGENDA ITEM #1.
STAFF REPORT NO. 17
WORK SESSION
5/27/2025
REPORT PREPARED BY: Matt Hardegger, Transportation Engineer
DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR REVIEW: Kristin Asher, Public Works Director
5/20/2025
OTHER DEPARTMENT REVIEW:
CITY MANAGER REVIEW: Katie Rodriguez, City Manager
5/21/2025
ITEM FOR WORK SESSION:
Discussion on I-494 Phase 2 following an update presentation from MnDOT staff.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
MnDOT representatives will be presenting information on Phase 2 of the I-494 Corridor Vision project, as a
follow up to the March 25 Work Session with the City Council.
Expected topics include:
Discussion on evaluation of the I-494 Corridor Vision as a whole vs as individual projects;
Changes in the preliminary design since March;
Cost participation; and
Status of ongoing evaluations of greenhouse gas and air quality impacts from the project.
DIRECTION NEEDED:
Discuss Council perspective on municipal consent and provide feedback to MnDOT on items related to
the upcoming Phase 2 of the I-494 construction project.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
A.HISTORICAL CONTEXT
The Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) approved I-494 Corridor Vision identified 9 project elements to
construct on I-494 between Highway 77 and Highway 169.
Phase 1 of the project constructed/is constructing:
The 35W Interchange Flyover
E-ZPass lanes between Hwy 100 and I-35W
Reconstruction of the Nicollet, Portland, and 12th Avenue Bridges plus construction of the Chicago
Avenue Pedestrian Bridge
Phase 2 proposes to complete the remaining project elements:
E-ZPass Lanes from Hwy 169 to Hwy 100
E-ZPass Lanes from I-35W to Hwy 77
Reconstruction of the Pleasant Avenue railroad bridge over I-494
82nd Street interchange and grade raise on I-35W
Because MnDOT's environmental documentation considers the full vision, it would be unreasonable and would
require substantial rework to ignore portions of the approved full vison (Project 1) while analyzing the criteria in
Richfield's Regional Project Evaluation Framework (rather than separate Phase 2 as the City had
previously requested).
B.EQUITABLE OR STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS OR IMPACTS
N/A at this point in time. Staff will provide considerations and impacts when the results of the ongoing
greenhouse gas analysis and air quality analysis are known.
C.POLICIES (resolutions, ordinances, regulations, statutes, exc):
Richfield's Regional Project Evaluation Framework will be used to evaluate the I-494 Corridor Vision.
D.CRITICAL TIMING ISSUES:
MnDOT is currently in the process of revising their Hybrid Environmental Assessment for the project corridor in
2025 and will be writing the Design-Build contract prior to summer 2026. Letting for the Design-Build contract
is currently scheduled for Fall 2026.
E.FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Unknown at this time. Richfield is expected to have some amount of cost participation for the Phase 2 projects.
MnDOT has preliminarily indicated the city will not have a cost-share for the base project, but would be
responsible for any items requested outside the scope of that base project.
The project is largely funded by a Federal INFRA grant that was awarded in 2024, as well as a state Corridors
of Commerce grant.
F.LEGAL CONSIDERATION:
MnDOT will be seeking Municipal Consent due to the E-ZPASS lanes expansion.
ALTERNATIVE(S):
None
PRINCIPAL PARTIES EXPECTED AT MEETING:
None
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
MnDOT 494 Phase 2 Layout - 5-2-25
MnDOT Slide Deck
Exhibit
Presentation
I-494 Corridor Vision
City of Richfield Council Work Session
Andrew Lutaya| Metro District Project Manager
City of Richfield Council Workshop
May 27, 2025
mndot.gov
I-494 Corridor Vision
5/23/2025 mndot.gov 2
Agenda
1.Corridor vision & implementation plan
2.Brief on March 25th Council Workshop
3.Management of Traffic & Staging
2. Corridor vision & implementation plan
5/23/2025 mndot.gov 3
i.Project Development process
ii.Project benefits identified
iii.The scope of the corridor vision
iv. How the implementation plan was developed
i. Project Development Process
5/23/2025 mndot.gov 4
•Corridor Vision decision making done by committee
•Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) - Elected officials from surrounding communities.
For the City of Richfield, former Mayor Gonzalez was the rep.
•Technical Advisory committee (TAC) - City technical staff, Hennepin County, Met Council & MnDOT
•MnDOT project leadership team ( MPLT) - MnDOT senior leadership & FHWA
•Various working groups formed to inform the design process
•Pedestrian and bicyclists working group – city representation, Three Rivers Park district, Met Council, MnDOT multi model group
•Visual quality/corridor aesthetics working group – representation from community members
ii. Project benefits identified
5/23/2025 mndot.gov 5
•Proposed Benefits of a completed corridor vision
•Reduced hours of congestion on the corridor
•Improved travel time reliability
•Reduced network crashes
•Improvements in air quality and GHG
•Reduced noise impacts to adjacent communities with new noisewalls
•New and improved pedestrian and bicycle facilities, including filling gaps, lighting
•Asset preservation
* Project funding from Federal grants, State funds, Hennepin County & Cities funds
iii. The scope of the corridor vision
5/23/2025 6
E-ZPass from Hwy 169 to 24th Ave
I-494/I-35W interchange
Access changes at Nicollet, Portland and 12th
77th St Underpass
mndot.gov
iv. Implementation Plan Evaluation Criteria
5/23/2025
Constructability – How the corridor
elements are either independent or
interdependent to each other for
construction. Will include considerations of
traffic management and throwaway/re-do
work.
Community Support - Considers the support
from both corridor advocacy groups and the
local government agencies. Will look to TAC
and PAC representatives to provide input.
Equity – Ensures fair distribution of mobility
options and transportation investments. Will
analyze based on review of the Benefit-Impact
mapping to determine specific benefits and
impacts to underrepresented communities.
Asset Management – Will consider life cycle
management of the assets, including new
construction, maintenance, minor preservation
repairs, major rehabilitation, and reconstruction.
Funding – Based on current dollars available and
the future funding programs for the vision. Current
funding includes Corridors of Commerce
($134M/MnPASS and $70M/turbine), and MnDOT
Metro District ($10 -$15M/I494 over 35W bridges).
Cost/Budget - This criteria is defined as the
construction cost for separate elements along the
corridor vision which leads to the development
and setting of the budgets for each independent
project to build the vision.
Operations – Will look at the expected operations
based on implementation of the different corridor
segments.
7mndot.gov
iv. Implementation Plan
5/23/2025 mndot.gov 8
iv.Implementation Plan
5/23/2025 mndot.gov 9
•Implementation Plan and project grouping methodology
•Project 1 Scope – Assumed no additional funding coming for a long time
•Prioritized the direct community amenities like trails, sidewalks, new pedestrian
bridge
•Worked with stakeholders to define scope, including equity considerations.
•There was intended flexibility on how the rest of the elements could be
grouped to advance a project.
•Municipal Consent was not a criterion in determining the implementation
plan
2. Brief on March 25th Council Workshop
5/23/2025 mndot.gov 10
Follow up questions from last Meeting
i. Mainline alternatives considered for the corridor vision
ii. 2nd St Pedestrian bridge decision
iii. Highway noise mitigation
iv. Corridor vision impacts to Air Quality and GHG
v.City of Richfield regional framework
i. Mainline alternatives considered
mndot.gov 11
Alternatives evaluation process
•Travel Demand Management (TDM) / Transportation System Management (TSM)
•General Purpose Lane Alternative
•High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane Alternative
•MnPASS Lane Alternative
•Barrier Separated Facility (3+1) Alternative
•Barrier Separated Facility (2+2) Alternative
Question on lane conversion as an alternative
•Results of the I-494/TH 62 congestion lane study – recommended a capacity add
•Also discussed in the project stake holder working groups
5/23/2025
q/n: Was a GP lane conversion considered?
ii. 2nd St Pedestrian bridge decision
mndot.gov 12
494 Project Pedestrian and Bike Work Group
•Group was to recommend scope for ADA plus bike and ped improvements
to the Technical Advisory Committee and Policy Advisory Committee.
•Considering MnDOT field ADA Recommendations
•Considerations to both MnDOT and LGU’s approved multi model plans i.e. trail
plans, bike & ped plans, comprehensive plans, ADA transition plans, etc.)
•Results of this group
•Numerous ped facility gaps closed in the corridor vision
•Leaving the 2nd Ave ped bridge in-place w/o improvements
•Recommendation of the Chicago Ave ped bridge
•Accommodating the 12th Ave regional trail on the new bridge structure
5/23/2025
q/n: what is the plan for the 2nd Ave Ped bridge?
iii. Highway Noise mitigation
5/23/2025 mndot.gov 13
q/n: Where are the noisewalls in Phase 2
iii. Highway Noise mitigation
5/23/2025 mndot.gov 14
q/n: Where are the noisewalls in Phase 2
iv. Corridor vision impacts to Air Quality
mndot.gov 15
Air Quality on Corridor Vision
5/23/2025
q/n: Impacts of capacity increase to air quality
iv. Corridor vision impacts to GHG
mndot.gov 16
GHG Analysis on corridor vision
5/23/2025
q/n: Impacts of capacity increase to GHG
5/23/2025 mndot.gov 17
*Criteria Remaining to be studied for Phase 2
* Air Quality Analysis
* Benefit Cost Analysis
* Reduction in Green House Gas Emissions
v. City of Richfield Regional Framework
3. Management of Traffic & Staging
5/23/2025 mndot.gov 18
i.Baseline
ii.TH 77 bridges closure Analysis
i. Baseline MOT & Staging
5/23/2025 mndot.gov 19
Draft proposals for MOT & Staging
•3-year construction
•Maintain 3 lanes in each direction on both I-35W & I-494
•2027 – Focus on utility relocations & temp widening
•2028 & 2029 – Major mainline impacts
ii. TH 77 bridges Closure Analysis
5/23/2025 mndot.gov 20
•TH 77 bridges need to be reconstructed to accommodate mainline widening
•The initial staging option assumed two seasons with several sub-stages and
keeping some level of access across the TH 77 bridges.
•Full closure options includes the TH 77 bridges over I-494 and four inside loops
•All outside ramps would remain open
•Determine traffic diversions under a full closure condition (season 2028)
•Data sources included: AADTs, Detector Data, StreetLight OD Information and Travel
Demand Model Results
ii. TH 77 bridges Closure Analysis
5/23/2025 mndot.gov 21
Regional Context
•TH 77 is a freeway facility from TH 62 to south of I-35E in Apple Valley (~ 10 miles)
•One of four major river crossings; I-35W, TH 77, I-494 and TH 62
•Upcoming construction in 2027-2030
•Hwy 13 - (2027 – 2029)
•Hwy 62 – (2027)
•I-35W – Clift Rd ( 2025-2026)
•Hwy 77 – (2026 – 2027)
•Hwy 169 – Bloomington Ferry bridge (2028)
ii. TH 77 bridges Closure Analysis
5/23/2025 mndot.gov 22
Daily Traffic Vol umes
•Total daily volume on bridge is 61,000
•40,000 daily through trips (NB+SB)
•15,000 daily trips on three major loops
•5,000 of the 15,000 (SB) is destined for
MOA area
•1,000 daily trips on HOV loop
5,000
5,000 5,000
1,000
26,00020,00015,000
ii. TH 77 bridges Closure Analysis
5/23/2025 mndot.gov 23
•Benefits for this proposal
•Reduces the construction duration of this bridge to one season vs two.
•Reduces the number of construction substages and amount of throw away
work
•More cost effective & savings reflected in bids
•Challenges to this proposal
•Work is close to the MOA & MSP Airport.
•Diversions onto the local network
Next Steps
5/23/2025 mndot.gov 24
i.Council feedback or question for the July work session?
Thank you again!
Andrew Lutaya
Andrew.Lutaya@state.mn.us
651-234-7563
5/23/2025 mndot.gov 25