12/20/2006 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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to both I -35W and I -35E in the future. These planned improvements to the CSAH 14 corridor further enhance its status as a Principal Arterial roadway and result in significantly higher traffic volumes on CSAH 14 within the project area in the next 20 years (see attached exhibits). • Replacing the full access at Wood Duck Trail with a right - in/right -out so that a full access could be used for the Nature's Refuge development is not in conformance with the TH 242 /CSAH 14 Access Management Study. Spacing between Lake Drive (CSAH 23) and the new proposed access would still be too close. Mobility for a majority of the traffic using both CSAH 14 and Lake Drive would be negatively impacted with the closer spacing. • The logic for the premise that changing the access would combine two separate full access points into one full access point is not sound. The proposed development would only be given a right - in/right -out under the TH 242 /CSAH 14 Access Management Study guidelines and the Anoka County Highway Department Access Spacing Guidelines. Thus, at best, a full access combined with a right - in/right -out. In the future, the school is likely to have its access change as traffic volumes increase. There is no guarantee that the school will continue to have full access, it may end up with three - quarter access depending upon safety concerns as traffic volumes grow. • The comment that changing the access would provide access for a higher volume cross streets is not necessarily true. Wood Duck Trail serves a couple of subdivisions on both the north and south sides of CSAH 14. There are a number of homes on the south side of CSAH 14 that currently depend on full access at Wood Duck Trail. These individuals have purchased a home in the area with an understanding that an access study had been completed for the area and that they are to have full access at Wood Duck Trail. Changing that access to serve roughly the same number of residences does not necessarily provide any advantage, it goes against an adopted plan, and it changes public expectations. • Funding has not been identified for upgrading CSAH 14 into a four -lane facility in this area. The proposed development would be in place before such funding could be obtained. Because of the proposed amount of traffic that will be added as a result of this project, the County is likely to want to see the geometries of the proposed access to CSAH 14 to have a full complement of turn lanes to ensure driver safety and promote mobility. This is true whether or not the access would be right - in/right -out or full. • County Access Spacing Guidelines do not apply to access to Pine Street as it is a local facility and not a County facility (Page 4 -4). • The conclusion that planning during the upgrading of CSAH 14 to a four -lane facility is the appropriate time to review access in detail is not correct. An access study that took into account considerable detail arrived at the conclusion that a right - in/right -out access in this location is appropriate to serve the long -term safety and mobility needs on this corridor. • The traffic analysis indicates that vehicles from the proposed development will contribute to the