09/22/2008 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Chapter 6: Transportation Frequently Asked QuestionS What is the purpose of the Transportation Plan? The Transportation plan identifies future roadway, transit, and trail improvements that will be necessary to accommodate current and future residents and businesses of Lino Lakes. This chapter guides transportation system decisions by prioritizing needed improvements, ensuring that transportation infrastructure is in place to meet the needs of Lino Lakes as growth occurs. How can our roadways in Lino Lakes accommodate additional traffic generated by future growth? In preparing the Transportation Plan, the City used the Land Use Plan to determine how much traffic would be generated by future growth. The plan recommends improvements to existing roadways and proposes new roadways that will accommodate traffic and ensure that the transportation system can accommodate new growth. Because many of the City's major roadways are under the jurisdiction of Anoka County, the City will coordinate with the County on necessary improvements to these facilities. The Utility Staging Plan was also developed in conjunction with the timing of future roadway improvements to ensure that adequate infrastructure is in place to serve new growth. For example, northeast Lino Lakes is not planned for urban development prior to 2030 due to the need for additional roadway improvements in this area that are anticipated to occur post 2030. Future improvements in this area include an interchange at I -35E and 80th Street, and a northern bypass that would connect I -35E at the proposed 80th St. interchange to I -35W, greatly improving east west mobility in northern Lino Lakes. New development will not be approved unless the necessary transportation improvements can be made to accommodate traffic from the proposed development. Is Lino Lakes planning for more transit service? Although transit options in Lino Lakes are currently limited, demand for transit options will increase as the City grows. More households and jobs will increase the feasibility and efficiency of increased transit service in the City. Several transit projects are planned to accommodate future growth in Lino Lakes and the north metro. The Metropolitan Council has identified I -35W from Lino Lakes to downtown Minneapolis as an express bus corridor. The express corridor will provide for fast, efficient transit service to downtown Minneapolis through bus -only shoulder lanes, high occupancy vehicle lanes (HOV), and ramp meter bypasses. The Metropolitan Council is also currently studying several transit options, including bus and rail, for the Rush Line Corridor, which passes just east of Lino Lakes. In additional to the transit lines discussed above, funding has been obtained to expand the I- 35W/95th Ave park- and -ride, which is currently Lino Lakes' primary access point for express bus service to downtown Minneapolis. The Metropolitan Council has also indicated the need for a new park- and -ride facility in the vicinity of I -35E and CSAH 14, with an anticipated capacity of 600 spaces by 2030.