Minutes 5-11-05Richfield Transportation Commission
Richfield City Hall, Council Chambers
Minutes
May 11, 2005
Commission members in attendance: Barbara Kritzman (Vice-Chair); Maureen Scaglia; Council Member Suzanne Sandahl; Robert Shotwell; Council Member Bill Kilian; Gary Ness; Don Anderson;
and Bob Elliott.
Others in attendance: Mayor Martin Kirsch; Council member Fred Wroge; June & Henry Lundquist, Jody & Chuck Thiesfield of Lakeville; Bob Hall; Vern Knudsen; Diane Peterson; Heidi Lindenfelsen;
Frances Jorgenson; Bruce Nihart; William C. Svoboda; James Brown; Bernie Mattson; Lynne Shepardson; George & Terri Drimel; Bill Claflin; V. A. Duvlea; Morris Nilsen; Ray Haar; Bev Knutson;
Larry Wozniczka; Tim Teachout; WSB Staff: Tony Heppelmann; Hennepin County Staff: Andy Gillette; Bolton & Menk Staff: Brian Malm; City Staff: Kristin Asher, Bruce Nordquist, Melissa
Poehlmann and Tom Foley.
B. Kritzman served as Chair for the meeting.
At 7:00 p.m. B. Kritzman called the meeting to order.
Motion to approve agenda made by S. Sandahl, second by G. Ness, motion passed unanimously.
No action was taken to approve the April 13, 2005 minutes.
I-494/Lyndale Avenue Interchange
Tony Heppelmann of WSB explained that a meeting with Mn/DOT will be held to review the operational analysis of alternative designs for the Lyndale Avenue Bridge. He will report back
to the Commission in July.
66th Street and Portland Avenue Intersection
T. Heppelmann of WSB explained the next steps in evaluating the alternatives. He also mentioned the need to meet with County staff about roundabouts.
Roundabout Video Presentation
Brian Malm of Bolton & Menk gave a presentation on roundabouts and answered questions. W. Svoboda was concerned that 66th/Portland carried too much traffic for roundabouts. T. Drimel
had five concerns: proximity to coordinated signals; the hill to the west for adequate sight lines to alert drivers of a roundabout; emergency vehicle preemption; Mn/DOT moratorium
on roundabouts; and, the impact on driveway access (loss of cars platooning at signals.)
66th Street and 17th Avenue Intersection
T. Heppelmann of WSB presented two alternative designs: a two-lane roundabout; and, a signalized intersection. He also showed a cross section of 17th Avenue. Council member Fred Wroge
asked how traffic would get to Taft Park. Currently, the Taft Park traffic uses Cedar Avenue but that will be closed with the new Cedar Point development. B. Elliott asked to see the
Cedar Point layout for the next meeting. S. Sandahl asked if provisions for pedestrians and bikers are included in the alternatives.
At the next meeting the Commission will be asked which intersection design type they favor. This will provide guidance to T. Heppelmann on modifying plans for 66th Street. If the City
acts soon Mn/DOT could perform some of the City’s work as part of the Highway 77 Project this summer. By the July meeting a final decision may be needed.
Other business
Scott Pawelko submitted a letter of resignation from the Transportation Committee.
Future Agenda Items
Future agenda items were identified: a report on meetings with Bloomington and Mn/DOT on the design of the Lyndale Avenue Bridge; and, discuss proposed bike trails with Bloomington and
Edina. Bloomington is considering three-lane roads with room for bike lanes. Richfield needs to coordinate its bikeway planning with its neighbors.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m. in motion by B. Elliott, seconded by G. Ness and passed.