03-27-2002 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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Functional Analysis March 21, 2002 Page 2 Preferred Redevelopment Concept. The point to be made is that some public costs will be incurred regardless of the final plan for Rice Street Crossings. This functional analysis begins the process of evaluating the proper balance between other public investments and resulting private redevelopment. Streets Street improvements provide the foundation and the catalyst for redevelopment. The planning process seeks to identify options for achieving the most redevelopment benefit from these improvements. Rice Street Ramsey County will rebuild and upgrade Rice Street in the planning area regardless of any planned redevelopment. This project is scheduled for 2004. The capacity of Rice Street is critical redevelopment factor. The redevelopment of this area will create more traffic than exists today. This change will be particularly evident on the County Public Works site. The land use and density influence the volume and timing of additional traffic. Planning must consider the capacity of Rice Street to support the redevelopment. The functional analysis assumes that the County will pay for the Rice Street improvements. Local funding may be required for any enhancements to the street and bridge. Owasso Boulevard /Country Drive Intersection The Preferred Concept shifts the Owasso Boulevard /Country Drive intersection to the south. This change increases the capacity of Rice Street to handle peak period traffic from the County Site by increasing the distance between the intersection and the 1 -694 ramp terminals. The change also aggregates sites for potential redevelopment into a single contiguous parcel. The change increases project costs with both right -of -way acquisition and construction, and presumes streetscape enhancements will occur with street reconstruction. Funding for this element has not been identified. Vadnais Boulevard The County is scheduled to rebuild Vadnais Boulevard in 2004, shifting the road northward to align with County Road E. This analysis presumes that all funding for this project will be provided by the County. The Preferred Concept takes advantage of this planned investment and shifts the roadway further to the north, increasing the distance between the intersection and the 1 -694 ramp terminals. Like the realignment of Owasso Boulevard /Country Drive, this alignment aims to improve peak period traffic management on Rice Street. The combination of County and local funds for the additional project costs, including streetscape enhancements, has not been determined.