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Minutes 07-14-04Richfield Transportation Committee Minutes July 14, 2004 Committee members in attendance: Barbara Kritzman (Co-Chair); Todd Nollenberger; Gary Ness; Bob Elliot; William Kilian; Scott Pawelko; Don Anderson; Robert Shotwell; Lezlie Vermillion; and, Council member Susanne Sandahl. Others in attendance: Council member Gertrude Ulrich; Larry Wozniczka; Dave Gepner; City Staff: Kristin Asher and Mike Eastling; Mn/DOT Staff: Tom O’Keefe, Chris Roy, Alana Getty; Rick Brown of SRF Consulting Group; WSB Staff: Tony Heppelmann and Nancy Hanzlik. Barb Kritzman served as Chair for the meeting. W. Kilian motioned to approve the agenda, motion passed unanimously. W. Kilian motioned to approve May 12, 2004 minutes, second by Gary Ness, motion passed unanimously. Bikeways Dave Gepner, Planning Commission member, introduced himself to the Committee and made an enthusiastic presentation on bikeways. The following items are noted from his presentation: Minnesotans bike twice as much as the national average. 3.9% of the population working downtown Minneapolis bike to work. Minneapolis falls second highest in the nation for a city of their size. 10% of the University of Minnesota population commute on bicycle. Hennepin County matches local funds spent on bike amenities. Law allows bikers 3 feet of right-of-way from passing cars. Bikers Challenges - Speed of cars - Speed allowed by bike - Smooth pavements D. Gepner was optimistic that good things are happening for the biking population. He implored the Committee to support bike initiatives when possible. I-35W/TH 62 Crosstown Public Hearing Review – ACTION ITEM R. Brown of SRF reviewed the project features with the Committee. R. Shotwell clarified that all access from the Richfield business district will access 35W at 66th Street, while TH 62 will be accessed at Lyndale Avenue. B. Elliot asked what the percentage of traffic continues going south on 35W through the commons area. T. O’Keefe responded, he thought it was around 60% and added that, in the future, those people will be asked to make that decision at Diamond Lake Road. M. Eastling reviewed the MN Statutes concerning the Municipal Consent process for the Committee. (Handout #1) The three main points to be considered in the approval process are design, access and right-of-way. He explained that the Staff recommendation is to accept the final layout. He then began discussing items to be considered in the decision (Handout #2). Following discussion on holding off constructing selected loop roads until the homeowners sell, L. Vermillion stressed the importance of loop roads in a grid system like Richfield’s. R. Shotwell stated that there should be a time limit on when the loop roads would have to be completed by. G. Ness stated that it is the Planning Commission’s expectation that the park land lost at Madison Park will be replaced in-kind. G. Ness explained the outcome of a public meeting held with the residents in the Madison Park area regarding Madison Park mitigation and conveyed that there were residents that were opposed to having a walk/bikeway constructed on the north end of the park that had access from the park. Gary also stated that there were residents that were in favor of the trail access. L. Vermillion motioned to have the trail connection built through Madison Park along the southern edge of the noisewall. Second by S. Sandahl. The Transportation Committee feels the trail connection through the park (Logan to James) should be constructed as part of the Crosstown project. Connectivity is important to overall transportation within the City, it is a safer way for pedestrians and bikers to travel, the park is public land, and it supports the Comprehensive Plan. The motion passed unanimously. G. Ness abstained from the vote. W. Kilian asked about the item requesting funds from Mn/DOT to support rebuilding the 66th Street and Portland Avenue intersection if it is defined as part of a detour route. M. Eastling explained that city staff put in that comment in an effort to obtain funding for that intersection and that it really isn’t part of the municipal consent discussion. T. O’Keefe responded to W. Kilian by explaining that Mn/DOT typically keeps their detour routes on trunk highways, especially interstate projects. He has checked into funding options and found this intersection not to be a good candidate for funding. T. Nollenberger motioned to recommend to the City Council that they approve the final layout for the Crosstown Project submitted by Mn/DOT for municipal consent. Second by B. Elliot. Motion passed unanimously. T. O’Keefe asked to thank the Committee and he looks forward to working with them in the future. He also mentioned the upcoming Environmental Assessment (EA/EAW) Public Hearing on July 22, 2004 and encouraged the Committee to attend. The hearing will be held at the Mayflower Church from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Committee requested that aesthetics be listed on their upcoming agenda. Lyndale Avenue Bridge (Handout #3) M. Eastling informed the Committee that currently there are no definitive decisions or news to report concerning the Lyndale Bridge project. We are working with FHWA and Mn/DOT on highway access issues. He then covered the history of the I-494 layout and Lyndale Avenue project, including 77th Street construction and subsequent developments in the area. T. Heppelmann added that the Lyndale access to northbound I-35W has come in and out of the layout through the years. B. Kritzman restated the need to push for that access to NB I-35W. T. Heppelmann explained that currently, Mn/DOT does not feel it is a movement that can be provided without compromising the safety on the highway. S. Pawleko noted that if safety on 77th Street and Lyndale is going to be compromised by not having access to I-35W NB from Lyndale, then we should not give up pressuring for that access. L. Vermillion wanted to know what makes Lyndale Avenue different from Penn Avenue. M. Eastling explained that there were much larger movements between the south and west at Penn that required the braided ramp and not access to I-35W SB. This is not the case at Lyndale Avenue. T. Heppelmann added that the intersection on Penn Avenue is further away than the 77th Street Intersection is at the Lyndale interchange area. T. Heppelmann then continued to discuss the project and defined the next steps for the Committee. Motion to adjourn was made by L. Vermillion. Second by G. Ness. Meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.