2026-03-10 Resolution 12415City of Richfield March 10, 2026
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
RESOLUTION NO. 12415
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Motion by: Coleman-Woods
Seconded by: Burk
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION RELATED TO PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLIST SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS
AT THE 76TH STREET AND 1-35W INTERCHANGE
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Richfield is the official governing body of the City
of Richfield, Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (“MnDOT”) is developing a project
(the “Project”) to construct Project 2 of the I-494 Corridor Vision. Project 2 of the I-494 Corridor Vision
will construct an E-ZPass lane on I-494 between I-35W and 24th Avenue, reconstruct pavement on
I-35W between American Boulevard and 75th Street, reconstruct the railroad bridge at Pleasant
Avenue, reconstruct 78th Street east of 12th Avenue, reconstruct the I-494/Highway 77 interchange,
and perform bridge deck rehabilitation on the Lyndale Avenue bridge over I-494, construct ADA
improvements on the impacted local system, construct drainage system improvements, and
construct utility relocations; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota Statutes Section 161.164 provides, “Before proceeding with the
construction, reconstruction, or improvement of any route on the trunk highway system lying within
any municipality, the commissioner [of transportation] shall submit to its governing body a final layout
and project report covering the purpose, route location, and proposed design of the highway...
[which] must include a good-faith cost estimate of all the costs in which the governing body is
expected to participate... The governing body shall, within 60 days of receiving a final layout from
the commissioner, conduct a public hearing at which the Department of Transportation shall present
the final layout for the project... Within 90 days from the date of the public hearing, the governing
body shall approve or disapprove the final layout in writing…”; and
WHEREAS, on January 13th, 2026, the Richfield City Council disapproved the project layout
and requested that pedestrian and bicyclist safety improvements be included at the 76th Street and
I-35W interchange; and
WHEREAS, the City has consistently advocated for safety improvements for pedestrians and
bicyclists at the 76th Street and I-35W interchange ramps that are traversed by a Three Rivers Park
District Regional Trail; and
WHEREAS, there are five schools within close proximity to this interchange, and school-aged
children must traverse these intersections every day; and
WHEREAS, State and City staff have negotiated this Memorandum of Understanding to
identify and construct pedestrian and bicyclist safety improvements at this interchange outside of the
I-494 Phase 2 project; and
WHEREAS, the City of Richfield invests in infrastructure to best serve today’s and tomorrow’s
residents, businesses, and visitors; and
WHEREAS, the City of Richfield ensures that City services are accessible to people of all
races, ethnicities, incomes, and abilities.
City of Richfield March 10, 2026
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
RESOLUTION NO. 12415
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and City Manager are hereby
authorized to execute the Memorandum of Understanding with the Minnesota Department of
Transportation, and take any steps needed to implement the items agreed upon between the City
and MnDOT.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Richfield, Minnesota this 10th day of March, 2026.
VOTING AYE VOTING NAY
Supple, Mary Supple, Mary
Burk, Walter Burk, Walter
Christensen, Sharon Christensen, Sharon
Coleman-Woods, Rori Coleman-Woods, Rori
Hayford Oleary, Sean Hayford Oleary, Sean
Mary B. Supple, Mayor
ATTEST:
Michelle Friedrich, City Clerk