HomeMy WebLinkAboutTH36 South Frontage Road Workshop AGENDA ITEM STAFF REPORT
DATE: October 10, 2017
PRESENTATION
AGENDA ITEM: State Highway 36 South Frontage Road Study – Update and Next Steps
SUBMITTED BY: Jack Griffin, City Engineer
ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL: The City Engineer and SRF Consulting, Inc. (City’s Transportation Consultant) will present a project update, including a brief history of the Trunk Highway 36 Corridor Planning work, a review of each of the public roadway intersections with Trunk Highway 36 within Lake Elmo, and lead a strategy discussion for the development of a preferred South Frontage Road alignment.
BACKGROUND AND DETAILS/ANALYSIS: In 2001 MnDOT adopted the Trunk Highway 36 Corridor Management Plan which outlines the future intersection and corridor access management along Trunk Highway 36 through Lake Elmo. Since that time MnDOT has proposed various improvements consistent with this plan which has systematically reduced and limited access to Trunk Highway 36 for Lake Elmo residents. In 2007 MnDOT required the ¾ intersection at Keats Avenue and in 2013 MnDOT proposed a full closure at Highlands Trail.
In April 2013 the City of Lake Elmo applied for and secured Federal Aid Funding to complete preliminary engineering work to develop a preferred future alignment of a south frontage road to State Highway 36.
The intent of the study is to pursue a revised corridor management plan that improves Lake Elmo access. Federal Aid Funding was obtained in the amount of 80% of the project costs, or $64,000. The City of Lake Elmo must pay the balance of $16,000 and any costs over and above the project budget, if necessary. The
City retained the services of SRF Consulting to develop a preferred future alignment and access plan. As part of the federal grant the work must be done collaboratively with the City, MnDOT, Washington County, Met Council and the City of Grant.
• Council goals established for this project include: Safe Access / Minimal backtracking / Minimize cut-through traffic.
• The TH36 Corridor short term implementation plan is the status quo. At the project start, in 2013, the City supported the construction of the DeMontreville Trail J-Turn Project that included two J-Turns to maintain access at Highlands Trail and DeMontreville Trail. These improvements were integrated in to
the Hilton Trail Interchange construction at the request of Lake Elmo.
• The TH36 Corridor long term implementation plan is to maintain full access to Trunk Highway 36 at Lake Elmo Avenue and Demontreville Trail and to construct a South Frontage Road System to provide east-west access to the on/off ramp locations. Improvements would only be pursued when MnDOT/Washington County pursue the elimination or changes at the existing intersections.
• When improvements are needed, the City would seek federal and state grants for the projects such as the MnDOT Cooperative Agreement Program.
Two alternative alignment plans for the south frontage road and various on/off ramp configurations have
been attached for review and discussion. The third attachment provides more detail for each intersection.
These plans will be presented in greater detail at the workshop. Please note that parts of either plan can be
combined together into the final plan.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Alternative 1. South Frontage Road – Demontreville Trail to Lake Elmo Avenue.
2. Alternative 2. South Frontage Road – Demontreville Trail to Manning Avenue.
3. Intersection Details.