HomeMy WebLinkAbout#01 - TH36-Lake Elmo Ave Intersection ImprovementsTHE CITY OF
LAKE ELMO
STAFF REPORT
DATE: March 12, 2024
DISCUSSION
AGENDA ITEM: Trunk Highway 36 and Lake Elmo Avenue (CSAH 17) Intersection
Improvements
SUBMITTED BY: Jack Griffin, City Engineer
REVIEWED BY: Clark Schroeder, Interim City Administrator
BACKGROUND: Washington County is leading an intersection improvement project at TH36 and Lake
Elmo Avenue to improve safety, capacity, and operation of the intersection and surrounding area. The
project is planned to begin construction in March/April 2026.
The County is working through a comprehensive agency and public engagement process to achieve
community acceptance and meet the long-term transportation goals of MnDOT, Washington County, and
the Cities of Lake Elmo and Grant. The County has completed initial stakeholder goalsetting/online
engagement meetings, prepared a project Purpose and Need Study, held multiple open houses for public
input, and has worked through a three -step alternatives evaluation process to identify and select the 3 most
viable alternatives, with one of these alternatives to be advanced into final design.
ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL: Should staff bring this issue before a future council meeting with
recommendations for adopting a Resolution of Municipal Support?
PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS: Washington County will be in attendance to make a presentation
on the project and the remaining alternatives for consideration. To keep the project schedule on track the
County is seeking feedback and support from Lake Elmo on the recommended alternative and is hoping to
obtain a Resolution of Municipal Support for the preferred alternative no later than the April 16, 2024
council meeting.
OPTIONS:
1) Direct staff to bring this issue before a future council meeting with recommendations for adopting
a Resolution of Support for A Preferred Alternative.
2) Direct staff to bring this issue before a future council meeting with recommendations for adopting
a Resolution of Support for A Preferred Alternative with conditions as directed and outlined by
council.
3) Direct staff to take no action and to schedule a future workshop for additional and continuation of
council discussion.
ATTACHMENTS:
• None.
Table 9. Step 3 Evaluation Matrix
Alternative ID
Primary Transportation Needs
Vehicle Safe I SSI Score
Vehicle Mobility
Ratir?
TotalNetwork Delay (96
Network I change from No Build)D0
Rating
TH 36 Average Travel Time (%
Travel change from No Build)
Time Rating
CSAH 17 Average Travel Time (96
Travel change from No Buildl
Time I Rating
TH 36 I Maximum Queue Length N/A
No Build
5
Overpass With
Buttonhook
Ramps
55
Tight Diamond
Interchange
(Conventional
Intersections)
57
Tight Diamond
Interchange
(Roundabouts)
66
Poor
Good
Good
Good
-5796
-59'%
-61%
Poor
Good
Good
Good
0
-14%
-14%
-14%
Poor
Good
Good
Good
Exit
Ramp
Queue
Spillback
Rating
Secondary Transportation Needs
MMLOS (% design
criteria with no flags)
_ Rating
Additional Consi erations & SEE Impacts
Walkability/
Bikeabitity
Future Local
Roadways
Access
Management
Guidelines
2040 TPP
Appendix F
Property
Impacts
Maximum Out
of Direction
Travel
Wetlands
Does/does not preclude
Ratijre
Intersections Added on
CSAH 17
Rating
Criteria met
Rating
Relocations 0
Rating
Out of direction travel to
access TH 36 or CSAH 17 0
(mil
Ratin�gg
aci s s
0
Poor
N /A
58%
Fair
_ g
Environmental Impacts
Justice" Rating
Threatened &
Endangered
Impacts
Species Rating
Does not
Good
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Good
-84% -82% -77%
Good
No
Good
83%
Good
Does not
Good
0
Good
5 criteria
Good
1 relocation
Fair
0.5 rule
Good
No
Good
86%
Good
Does not
Good
2
Poor
5 criteria
Good
2 relocations
Poor
0
Good
No
Good
91%
Good
Does not
Good
1
Fair
5 criteria
Good
2 relocations
Poor
0
Good
Fair
Good
Good?
None
Good
�yNoo�
I(iood
No
impact
Good
0.24 acres
Fair
No
I(iood
Good
59 acre project
footprint
Fair
0.02 acres
Fair
No
Impact
Good
62 acre project
footprint
Fair
0.02 acres
Fair
No
Impact
Good
62 acre project
footprint
Fair