02/01/2010 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

• CSAH 34 (Birch Street) Corridor Study Project Information - 2/1/2010 • Study Overview This study was undertaken by Anoka County and the City of Lino Lakes in response to concerns expresses by residents and to coordinate future land use and transportation planning decisions along CSAH 34 (Birch Street). As a critical minor arterial, CSAH 34 provides east -west mobility and connectivity through the City of Lino Lakes and Anoka County. Existing congestion and related safety issues during the peak hours are already problematic and conditions are anticipated to further deteriorate over the next 20 plus years without improvement. Several intersections on the west end of the corridor (Hodgson Road, Ware Road, and W. Shadow Lake Drive) currently operate at an unacceptable level of service (LOS) during peak hours and the entire corridor is projected to operate at a LOS F (significant delays) by 2030, if no improvements are made. Attachments 1 and 2 show the existing and forecasted future traffic conditions along the corridor. Study Purpose GOAL: Develop a corridor improvement program so that CSAH 34 (Birch Street) functions as a safe east -west minor arterial. Objective 1: Improve Safety • Address high crash locations • Improve pedestrian crossing of CSAH 34 • Enhance trail linkages across and along the corridor • Identify future traffic signal locations where they are warranted • Enhance emergency vehicle response time Objective 2: Improve Mobility • Reduce current and anticipated future congestion • Reduce delay during AM and PM peak hours • Improve current level of service (LOS) to at least LOS D for key intersections by 2030 Objective 3: Coordinate Transportation Improvements and Land Use Decisions • Implement access management strategies to the greatest extent possible (1/2 -mile full and 1/4 -mile secondary) • Retrofit public and private access where possible in developed areas • Coordinate land use and transportation activities for new development during the platting process • Minimize land acquisition for corridor improvements by trying to stay in the existing 120 -foot right -of- way as much as possible • Accommodate the corridor's present development pattern with sufficient future roadway capacity Study Approach This study was guided by the idea that the corridor improvement plan should address the current traffic and safety needs first, obtain maximum corridor efficiency, and implement future improvements in a staged fashion, as needs arise. Following these themes will ensure that future corridor improvements accomplish the following: • Address future mobility /safety needs, while mitigating property impacts • Maintain neighborhood linkages /cohesion • Keep costs down by making coordinated investments • Reduce land use and transportation conflicts • Future improvements are planned, but will be implemented only when needed