02-03-2020 Council Work Session Packet

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WS – Item 1 WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT Work Session Item No. 1 Date: February 3 , 2020 To: City Council From: Michael Grochala, Community Development Director Re: Birch Street (CSAH 34) proposed improvements Background Anoka County is continuing to work through the preliminary design to reconstruct Birch Street (County State Aid Highway 34), from Hokah Drive easterly to the s-curve at Old Birch Street. The improvement s are proposed to be completed in the 2021 and 2022 construction seasons. At the December 2, 2019 work session the County discussed the possibility of adding a 3rd round about to address access issues raised by residents east of West Shadow Lake Drive. The City Council expressed some concern over the additional roundabout, noting uncertainty with the function of the two already planned . Anoka County proposed to hold a 2nd Open House to gather additional public input. The 2 nd Open House was held on January 28, 2020. Nearly a hundred residents were in attendance. The County provided a number of different information pieces including traffic simulations, road layouts , roundabout education pieces and right-of-way impact mapping. All of this information is now available on the project website at: https://www.anokacounty.us/3666/Birch-Street-CSAH-34-Reconstruction-Proj In response to prior comments the County did prepare a revised layout that terminates the project east of West Shadow. This would allow for future consideration of a 3rd roundabout or alternative design at a later date. Generally, a lot of positive feedback was received at the open house. While there are still residents with some hesitation regarding roundabouts the information provided helped address many questions. Overall the project design appears to address the majority of resident concerns to improve safety, slow speeds, minimize right-of-way impacts, while still accommodating traffic flow through the corridor. Project Management Team representatives from Anoka County Highway Department and WSB will be present to provide the council with a review of the information provided at the open house and a recap of the public comment received.