02-01-2016 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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WS — Item 3 WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT Work Session Item No. 3 Date: February 1, 2016 To: City Council From: Michael Grochala Re: I -35W North Managed Lanes Project — Noise Wall Background The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) is currently working on the preliminary design of the 35W North Managed Lanes Project. The I -35W north corridor has been shown to have some of the worst congestion in the metro area. The proposed project will add a lane in each direction from Highway 36 to Lexington Avenue in Blaine. The lanes will be managed under the MnPass program. Eight (8) additions spot improvements along the corridor are also being recommended as part of the project. Construction is anticipated to start in 2019. The project will include construction of noise walls along the corridor. While the added lane only extends to Lexington Avenue the project will involve some resurfacing work past Sunset Avenue and into Lino Lakes. As a result a noise wall is being proposed for the south side of the interstate. Mn/DOT constructed a sound wall along the north side of 35W in 2009. Following its completion the City received a petition from residents requesting a barrier on the south side. Construction of the newly proposed wall would address this request. Approval of the wall construction is subject to a prescribed public outreach process that ultimately provides for a vote on the wall by benefitted property owners/residents. Voting eligibility is determined by Mn/DOT after evaluation of the sound analysis. Votes are weighted in favor of the property owner in instances where the property is renter occupied. As part of the public outreach Mn/DOT has proposed three (3) public engagement alternatives as follows: 1. Noise wall committee: a. This means make a small 6 person committee in each City. Usually a staff person, an elected official, and a few members of the community that are willing to spread the word in their neighborhoods. b. This committee would approve the noise wall recommendations. The committee would meet a few times. c. The only public meeting would be the one meeting at the time of voting.