CCAgenda_94Feb09 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

3 February 1994 Page 2 Current status After a several month hiatus, the county recently began meeting with communities again on Larpenteur Avenue now that the project is nearly certain of federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Act (ISTEA) funding. The ISTEA award may require a January, 1995 deadline for awarding the construction contract. Given that the project is scheduled to move ahead, it is time to present the preliminary ideas on the plan for the city council. These will be described by the city engineer. City concerns about the planning process As this report suggests, the county's planning process for Larpenteur Avenue has frequently been interrupted due to heavy demands from other county projects. This start and- stop approach creates some concerns from the city's perspective. These are: 1. Safety. Larpenteur Avenue is in poor condition with several safety needs that can only be satisfactorily addressed through the reconstruction process. These include protected turn lanes for left turners all along Larpenteur, most notably at Fairview Avenue, Gortner Avenue, City Hall, 1666 and Coffman Street. A traffic signal is planned for Gortner Avenue as part of this project. And, the fire and rescue personnel are requesting that all traffic signals be equipped with opticons to allow the vehicle's drivers to change the lights for quicker response times to emergencies. 2. Business owners' future plans. Now that the city staff met with the business owners along Larpenteur Avenue, some of these business people may be planning to postpone access improvements, like driveways and entrances, until Larpenteur Avenue is reconstructed so the work does not have to re -done. Within the past six months, three business owners contacted the city administrator about these proposed improvements and how to plan for the future. Neither the administrator nor county staff can provide the business owners with a timetable. 3. Avoiding major physical disruptions and improving the city's financial position for future city street improvement projects. In 1994 the city will revisit its capital improvement program. At this time, the city's capital improvement program tentatively includes alley improvements for 1995 and Larpenteur Avenue for 1995 and 1996. The city plans no major street projects until 1997. This plan anticipates the reconstruction of Larpenteur Avenue. Waiting until Larpenteur Avenue is reconstructed should eliminate Larpenteur Avenue entirely completed prior to creating major physical disruptions through local street projects in the Northeast quadrant. Trying to with local street projects in the northeast quadrant. If Larpenteur Avenue and local streets are torn up for reconstruction, life would be really miserable for everyone.