08-23-2000 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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Smart Growth Twin. Cut%ns Rice Street Crossings Redevelopment The redesign of the Interstate 694/Rice Street interchange provides opportunities for the County and local communities to improve linkages to destination points within and outside of the project area. Features to improve access and safety for automobiles as well as pedestrians and cyclists will be incorporated into the new design. Other enhancements such as street lighting, signage, signalization and landscaping may also be used. Transit. Ramsey County is planning to relocate its maintenance facility within the next five years. Other vacant land owned by the County along Rice Street will also be released. The relocation of the maintenance facility will allow MetroTransit to reuse the site for a transit hub and park- and -ride facility. Federal funds have been awarded for the construction of this facility. The proposed facility has changed how Ramsey County and the local communities are viewing land use in the project area. Planning for the facility is in the concept stage. It is anticipated that this facility will be designed as a fully integrated mixed -use transit center. Master planning the project area provides an opportunity to enhance community linkages between land use, transit, and pedestrians and to identify compatible land use to reduce dependence on the automobile. When completed, this transit hub will increase connections to employment centers via transit. Bus service will be available to and from Maplewood Mall, Rosedale and St. Paul with express service to downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul. Local bus service provided by the Roseville Circulator and the Lake Area Circulator will also benefit from this hub. Once the new park -and ride facility is complete, the land currently used for the existing park- and -ride facility may become available for development. Commuter Rail. A Commuter Rail Feasibility Study currently being conducted by the Minnesota Department of Transportation will evaluate a potential rail corridor along the southern boundary of the project site. This corridor is known as the Forest Lake /St. Paul/Minneapolis route. The study will review issues regarding commuter rail stations, capital and operating costs, . and intermodal connections to bus service and other rail systems. Although local governments have not yet endorsed the use of this line for commuter rail, further study will allow each community the opportunity to determine benefits and impacts from the proposed rail line. Financial Resources. Financial resources have already been committed to these improvements with the exception of the commuter rail line. These commitments create an opportunity for the jurisdictions involved to review the redevelopment potential of this area in a manner that would complement and enhance the planned changes. However, the integration of transportation, housing, commercial, employment and recreation areas will not occur solely through the construction of a transit hub and park - and -ride facility. These facilities should be supported by surrounding land uses and the roadway network. This is a challenge due to the number of agencies and communities involved that have jurisdiction over the transportation network and land uses within the project site. This program would provide financial support and a forum for multiple jurisdictions to coordinate their planning for this area using smart growth principles. Funding through this program is essential to provide resources and expertise to help create a land development pattern that can co -exist and complement the changes in the regional transportation system. Without funding, planning for this area will likely continue to be uncoordinated and reactive. Page 97