2022-02-02 TC Minutes
Richfield Transportation Commission Attachment #1
February 2nd, 2022- Meeting Minutes
7:00 p.m. | Virtual WebEx Meeting
Commission members: Wes Dunser (Chair), Husniyah Bradley, David Gepner, Jim Mahoney,
Jeffrey Walz, Louis Dzierzak, Mollie O’Howard, Kyle Schmidt
Commission members not in attendance: Dan Edgerton
Liaisons: Councilmember Sean Hayford Oleary, Jan Matheus
City Staff Liaison/Staff: Scott Kulzer, Ben Manibog, Joe Powers, Neil Ruhland, Olivia
Wycklendt
I. Call meeting to order
Chair Dunser called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
II. Approval of Agenda
Motion by Commissioner Bradley approve the agenda. Seconded by Commissioner Walz.
Motion carried.
III. Review & Approve Minutes for September 1, 2021 Meeting
Motion by Commissioner O’Howard to approve the December 1st, 2021 meeting minutes.
Seconded by Commissioner Schmidt. Motion carried.
IV. Welcoming of New Commissioner and Officer Election
• The Commission welcomed the new Commission member Jim Mahoney, who
introduced themselves at the beginning of the meeting.
• The Commission took nominations and voted on the 2022 officer positions with the
following results:
Chair, Husniyah Bradley
Vice Chair, Jeffrey Walz
V. Richfield Strategic Planning
City Staff Liaison Neil Ruhland discussed the measures the City is taking to plan for overall
future improvements, including but not limited to collecting data from the Richfield census
and a resident survey regarding their thoughts on current infrastructure and current and
future needs. Liaison Ruhland emphasized that the City’s goal is to get the community
more engaged in City planning, and to have more residents participate in community
meetings.
VI. Speed Limits Primer
Transportation Engineer Ben Manibog presented the City’s review on speed limits within
the City, and what the City’s and communities thoughts are on current and future speed
limits. Manibog helped clarify common misconceptions regarding the effects of setting
different speed limits, and discussed possible approaches to deter illegal speeding with the
City. Over the next year the City will be collecting and analyzing speed data throughout the
City, with the hope to implement any appropriate changes in 2023.
VII. Project Updates
• 77th St/Lyndale Signal. Transportation Engineer Ben Manibog stated that the City
has plans to replace the traffic signals at the 77th St and Lyndale Ave cross section
later this year. In the meantime, the City is collecting traffic data at the intersection
and West of the intersection, and later analyzing the data to make appropriate
changes to the traffic signals.
• 77th St Underpass. Civil Engineer Olivia Wycklendt briefly updated the Commission
on the project, and stated that work has primarily revolved around working on the
abutments, footings, and stems for the bridge which will connect southbound TH 77
to westbound I-494. The City is anticipating grading work within Washington Park to
pick up again once we have consistently warmer weather.
• 65th St Reconstruction. Civil Engineer Olivia Wycklendt stated that the City is
almost at 100% design plans, and that 90% design plans had been submitted to
State Aid for review. The project will go out to bid sometime between late February
and early March, with the plan that construction will start shortly after the bid is
awarded.
• Trunk Highway 77 Resurfacing. Transportation Engineer Ben Manibog notified
the Commission that MnDOT will be resurfacing TH 77 approximately along the
entire length of Richfield. Work will include concrete work on the highway itself, in
addition to some local improvements such as ramp reconstruction and sidewalk
replacement. The project is expected to last from April till November of 2022.
• I-494: Airport to 169 Update. Transportation Engineer Ben Manibog updated
stated that MnDOT and the City are currently working on the design aesthetics of
the project, ranging from the design elements of the new infrastructure itself as well
as any public art installations. Additionally, MnDOT is currently determining where
noise walls will be installed along the corridor.
• Metro Transit Bus Rapid Transit. Civil Engineer Olivia Wycklendt announced that
the Orange Line project has officially wrapped up, and is in operation at the two
Richfield stations at 76th and Knox Ave and 66th St and 35W. In regards to the D-
Line project, she noted that the station structures will installed sometime over the
next few months, and that Metro Transit expects full operations to be up and
running in spring of 2022.
• Other Commissions/Bike Advocates. Councilmember Hayford Oleary announced
that the City budget was approved for 2022. As far as other updates, Hayford
O’Leary stated the City is pushing for state funding for a new building at the Wood
Lake Nature Center. Liaison Jan Matheus shared with the Commission that the Bike
advocates have been focusing on education, which includes working with a Safe
Routes to School coordinator and Parks and Recreation Staff.
VIII. Upcoming events/meeting(s)
Commissioner Orientation is scheduled for March 24th, 2022, which will be conducted by
the Mayor and City Attorney via WebEx.
There will be a virtual-listening session conducted by MnDOT for I-494, which will be on
March 1st, 2022.
The next regularly scheduled Transportation Commission meeting is scheduled for March
2ndh, 2022.
IX. Adjournment
Motion made by Commissioner Dunser to adjourn meeting. Adjourned at 8:30 pm.