2024-02-07 TC Agenda_CombineAGENDA
RICHFIELD TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEETING
BARTHOLOMEW ROOM, CITY HALL
Wednesday, February 7th, 2024, 7:00 PM
Attachment
1. Call meeting to order
2. Review & approve agenda
3. Review & approve minutes for January 3rd, 2024 meeting #1
4. Welcome New Commissioners & Introductions
McKenzie Burke
Adam Knosalla
Eli Straub
Jaz Warren
5. Election of 2023 Officers
Chair
Vice-Chair
6. Review and Approval of Commission By-Laws
7. Nicollet Avenue Discussion
a) Phase #2 Engagement Recap
b) Typical Section Discussion
8. Project Updates
a) 65th St Reconstruction
b) I-494 Construction
c) 71st Street Sidewalk
d) 66th and Richfield Parkway Pedestrian Infrastructure
e) Highway 62 Noise Wall
f) CC Liaison/Other Commissions/Bike Advocates
9. Other Business
10. Upcoming events/meeting(s)
a) Wed, March 6th, 7:00pm: Transportation Commission Meeting
11. Adjournment
MINUTES
RICHFIELD TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEETING
BARTHOLOMEW ROOM, CITY HALL
Wednesday, January 3rd, 2024, 7:00 PM
Attachment #1
1. Call meeting to order
Chair Bradley called meeting to order at 7:01 PM
2. Review & approve agenda
Motion by Commissioner Gepner to approve agenda. Second by Commissioner
Mahoney. Motion carried.
3. Review & approve minutes for October 4th, 2023 meeting
Commissioner Gepner requested to add Penn Avenue reconstruction discussion to the
minutes. Chair Bradley motioned to approve previous meeting minutes. Second by
Commissioner Mahoney. Motion Carried
4. MnDOT I-494 Construction Update (Tim Clyne, MnDOT)
Transportation Engineer, Matt Hardegger, introduced MNDOT’s Tim Clyne
(Construction Manager) to talk about 494 Construction updates.
Construction goes from HWY 100 to just East of 12th Ave (6 miles). Construction
includes an inside EZPASS lane, frontage road reconstruction, 35W interchange
redesign, widening bridges at Nicollet, Portland, and 12th Ave with on/off ramps.
Clyne went over what they have completed since the start of construction. 3 ramps at
HWY 100 reconstructed. 35W on/off ramp reconstruction. Lyndale Ave off ramp
reconstruction. Finalized ROW agreements. Demolished some buildings in the
corridor.
Commissioner Mahoney asked about large scale underground utilities. Clyne
answered that at France Ave there is a large 48” diameter Storm pipe that goes to
84” that they are placing going west towards HWY 100.
New CenterPoint gas main being constructed at Portland.
Clyne went through his presentation that goes over some of the struggles that they
have had. Contaminated soil at some of the buildings that were demolished.
Overhead signs have been difficult.
Commissioner Gepner asked about adding impervious surfaces. Clyne answered that
they are adding impervious surfaces. MNDOT is working with surrounding Watershed
Districts for proper drainage. Clyne explained that the project’s limits reach out as far
as HWY 169. MNDOT hopes to reconstruct 494 past HWY 169 in the future. Gepner
asked about a large pile of sand off 494. Clyne explained that there will be a pond
with a retaining wall where the large pile of sand is.
Chair Bradley asked if the storm sewer will be larger due to the capacity and age of
existing Storm. Clyne answered that with their design they are adding proper
drainage to hold capacity for the future of the 494 corridor.
MINUTES
Commissioner Gepner asked about the 494 corridor rendering and if it’s publicly
available. Clyne answered that the files are very large and have not changed since its
first iteration.
Clyne went over the issue with the City’s sanitary line that was too close to the bridge
pier. This created a change order to jack and bore a new sanitary line away from the
new 35W flyover bridge piers. 20’ deep with some open cut placement.
Clyne went on to update that they have found countless amounts of unknown
underground utilities. Mainline 494 will be concrete pavement. Contractor has started
35W flyover bridge construction with piers and abutments. Winter construction has
slowed down, but a lot of design work to be done over winter months. Some utility
work, pipe jacking, and public outreach.
Clyne explained the schedule for the next three years. Ped bridge construction at
Chicago Ave slated for 2024 with paving of 494 EB from HWY 100 to 35W. 2025
Portland Ave bridge construction and paving of 494 WB. 35W interchange is slated to
be done 2025. 2026 tie in EZPASS system. Signs, lights, etc. All loops and ramps will
be closed/bypassed at some point in 2024, but not all at once.
Clyne shared a rendering of what the Chicago Ave ped bridge will look like.
Councilmember Hayford Oleary asked what will happen to the EZPASS lane during
construction and if it will be operational during construction. Clyne answered that
they will most likely barrel it off and it will not be in use until the end of the project.
Clyne explained that MNDOT applied for USDOT’s INFRA Grant funding and will hear if
they received it in January 2024.
Commissioner Dzierzak asked if MNDOT has investigated which areas are of the
highest inconvenience. Clyne explained that 2024 and 2025 will be the most
inconvenient, but all three years of construction will be inconvenient to drivers.
Commissioner Walz asked about Knox Avenue and if there will be any rehab from the
truck traffic due to construction staging at Best Buy. Clyne answered that MNDOT
does not have anything currently in the works to rehab Knox, but there was video
taken before construction started. If there are major problems MNDOT will correct
any damage.
Chair Bradley asked if MNDOT is seeking extra federal funding for the project from
recent infrastructure legislature that increases spending. Clyne answered that MNDOT
will seek extra funding, but the market for these grants is very competitive.
Chair Bradley asked about shutting down 78th street and what access to the nearby
apartment complex will be. Clyne and Hardegger clarified that the access off 78th will
close but access will still be available from Chicago Ave.
Chair Bradley asked if MNDOT will come back to monitor the effect of construction on
local roads and if there is unnecessary stress on local roads. Clyne answered that
MNDOT will monitor traffic patterns.
5. Active Transportation Action Plan
Transportation Engineer Hardegger went over the most recent version of the
city’s draft Active Transportation Action Plan (ATAP). Project was grant funded
MINUTES
by MNDOT and developed over a year of public engagement and coordination.
This resulted in a map of priority routes and a toolbox to improve conditions
for walking, biking, and rolling. Short term and long term goals for the city
were shared based on the plan.
a) Action item: Recommendation to City Council
Councilmember Hayford Oleary asked how to guarantee that this plan will be
implemented. Engineer Hardegger answers that this is a discussion that the
transportation commission needs to discuss and clarify what the plan will be
moving forward.
Commissioner Dzierzak asked if they will need to go over the ATAP regularly.
Hardegger answers that they would like to revisit this plan every 5 years.
There is no legal timeframe to revisit. This plan is a guide for future projects.
Commissioner Gepner asked how this plan relates to Complete Streets.
Engineer Hardegger goes over what the city’s Complete Streets policy
governs. Complete Streets is used in design process for road construction.
ATAP is a plan specifically for active transportation and is a guide for policy
and Capital Improvement Plan development.
Chair Bradley asked if there is funding for the ped bridge over 35W and if they
will upgrade the bridge to align with ADA. Hardegger answered that the city
will continue to apply for grant funding for this project.
Commissioner Walz stated that the 35W ped bridge is unsafe. Hardegger
responded that MNDOT has allocated funding to study pedestrian bridges
statewide and the city hopes this bridge will be included.
Commissioner Gepner motioned to recommend the City Council approve the
Active Transportation Action Plan. Commissioner Mahoney seconded the
motion. Motion approved.
6. Safe Routes to School Grant Applications
a) Overview of opportunities
Transportation Engineer Hardegger went over current opportunities that RPS
and the city are seeking. City is seeking grant funding for a permanent version
of the demonstration project from 2023 at STEM/RDLS elementary schools.
Hardegger asks if the city should pursue relocation of bike lane behind the
curb as part of this project.
Commissioner Mahoney asked what safety improvements this project would
have with moving the bike lane behind the curb. Engineer Hardegger
answered that cyclists will be off the road, and it will shorten crossing distance
at the crosswalk.
Councilmember Hayford Oleary explained an additional issue with drivers
queuing in the bike lane in this area and the safety risks it imposes
Commissioner Gepner asked if the city has looked at the results of the
demonstration projects of 2023. Engineer Hardegger went over the data and
public opinion that was gathered for the projects.
MINUTES
Hardegger also introduced a second grant opportunity for planning assistance
to update the 2014 Safe Routes to School Comprehensive Plan through
MnDOT.
b) Action item: Recommendation to City Council to approve resolutions of
support for both projects.
Commissioner Dzierzak motions to approve. Commissioner Gepner seconds.
Motion approved.
7. Speed Limit Update
Transportation Engineer Hardegger went over the history of the discussion on speed
limit changes.
Walz asked if there is an initiative with Public Safety to enforce the speed limit
change in its beginning stages. Councilmember Oleary discussed potential Public
Safety approaches for enforcement..
Commissioner Walz asked if there is a plan to put out dynamic speed display signs.
Hardegger answered that the city is evaluating whether to purchase this equipment
as part of the project..
Commissioner Gepner initiated a discussion to rename 76th/77th Street to be
International Blvd.
8. 2023 Richfield Construction & Planning Review & 2024 Preview
77th/Lyndale Signal Project – Civil Engineer Jake Whipple goes over completion of
construction for this project. Any issues were resolved by Bolten and Menk and
Contractor.
65th Street Reconstruction – Whipple goes over some of the issues that the city and
contractor were having, but 65th Street and the roundabout on Lyndale Ave opened
the week of Thanksgiving. Some striping still needs to be done in spring 2024.
77th Underpass – Completed. Miscellaneous landscape work is outstanding.
ATAP – Completed
ADA Transition – Completed assessment. Additional data to be gathered in 2024
No large city-run projects slated for 2024.
66th/Richfield PKWY ADA Improvements – Construction starting Spring 2024 to
improve crossings at 66th and Richfield PKWY as well as install a RRFB system.
71st Street Sidewalk STEM/RDLS – Construction starting in Spring 2024. Adding a
900’ sidewalk connection on 71st Street between Elliot and 12th Ave.
Education on speed limits forthcoming.
Met Transit to come to commission for Route 4 Better Bus Routes engagement in
March or April
73rd Street – Trail from Centennial Elementary to Cedar Ave. Getting used regularly.
City looking to advance construction from 2026 to 2025.
MINUTES
The city will continue looking for grants on city improvement projects.
9. Project Updates
a) CC Liaison/Other Commissions/Bike Advocates
CC Update – Best Buy settlement update.
10. Other Business
a) Recognition of Outgoing Commissioners
Outgoing commissioners were recognized.
Commissioner Gepner asked for an update on pavement management and
pavement rejuvenation project.
11. Upcoming events/meeting(s)
a) Wed, February 7th, 7:00pm: Transportation Commission Meeting
12. Adjournment
Metting adjourned at 8:55 PM