Agenda Packets - 1997/02/24 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ATTACHMENT 1 Background: • History of Grant Application: For many years there has been discussion regarding the fact that Highway 10 cuts the City in half. Safe accessibility between the two halves is restricted. Movement to and from destinations such as schools, parks, the library, businesses and restaurants is difficult especially for senior citizens and youth who walk or ride bicycles, as opposed to driving. There have been discussions for some time about building a bridge across Highway 10 to improve access for youth and all walkers and bicyclists. The cost of construction, however, was viewed as way beyond the city's ability to pay. In 1992, City Council formed the Trailways Advocacy Group (TAG) to design a bicycle trailway system throughout the Mounds View community which would link to neighboring city and county trails, in an effort to create a coordinated system through St. Paul, Minneapolis and the northern suburbs (Resolution No. 4227). In addition, the TAG worked to design a trailway system within Mounds View which would connect various destinations within the community and provide safe access for walkers and bicyclists. Highway 10 continued to be a stumblingblock to creating this system. No matter where the TAG proposed to make a crossing, the dangers of the highway persisted. The TAG discussed building a bridge and suggested that if funding could be found, they would recommend that the City proceed with this project to improve accessibility throughout • the community. In 1991, Congress passed the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) which provided funding for transportation improvements. ISTEA required, however, as a condition of funding, that state and local governments analyze and plan for transportation needs in a more comprehensive way. Attention was to be given not only to streets and highways, but also to transit and trailways. The types of funding available encouraged alternatives to vehicular travel, including the construction of trailways and pedestrian bridges. On March 28, 1994, the Mounds View City Council approved the submittal of a grant application under ISTEA for construction of a pedestrian bridge over Highway 10 at Long Lake Road. The grant application was submitted on March 30, 1994 and approved for the 1996-1997 funding cycle. The amount of the grant was $480,000. Selection of Consultant Bridge Design The City Council authorized a request for proposals being issued, and six firms submitted proposals. The firms were interviewed by a six-person panel of staff members and a City Council representative, and BRW was recommended to City Council for selection. City Council agreed with this recommendation and then appointed a citizen task force to work with BRW to select the location and design of the bridge. The crossing at Long Lake Road was recommended since there is a trailway system and sidewalk along the full length of this road from north to south through the community and it is approximately at the center between the east and west boundaries of Mounds 1111 View. In addition, the Ramsey County library is near this intersection, and Long Lake Road is a