Agenda Packets - 2005/05/23 - Laserfiche WebLink

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6 just west of I-35W. This additional lane would increase the capacity of the highway system and would require that Mn/DOT provide noise abatement measures (most likely a wall) along this area. Staff recommends that discussions on this item be tabled until later this summer when more is known about future transportation plans for this area. As of this date, the City has spent $53,361.62 in engineering fees to the City’s consultant assisting the City on this issue. Staff estimates that approximately the same amount has been spent in Staff time over the last three years. SILVER LAKE ROAD SIDEWALK PROJECT – FROM CO. RD. H TO CO. RD. 10 The preparation of a preliminary feasibility report and consultant selection was authorized in 2004. Based on the preliminary data collected, there will be great difficulty in constructing a sidewalk along the east side of Silver Lake Road, between County Road H and County Road H2. For this reason, BRAA will also determine the feasibility and a cost estimate for construction on the west side for this segment. There are also issues with the location of the sidewalk within the County’s right- of-way. Because of the lack of a shoulder or recovery lane, and because of the current forty mile per hour (40mph) speed limit along this section of Silver Lake Road, the County has expressed a preference for a ten (10’) foot buffer zone between the back of curb and the edge of the side walk. The County does recognize that a ten (10’) foot buffer zone will most likely not be feasible either on the east or west sides of Silver Lake Road. They allow a lesser buffer zone. Staff and the consultant will be working with the County on this issue. Regardless of which side of Silver Lake Road is considered for the construction of the sidewalk, there will be wetland that will need to be mitigated (replaced). This issue will certainly complicate the project. The City may have some wetland banking credits with the Rice Creek Watershed District as a result of the Woodcrest Park project. However, these credits are currently not official since they were not recorded with the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR). If the Corp of Engineers requires wetland mitigation, the complicated and costly process of having the wetland credits certified to BWSR will need to be initiated. Finally, there will be issues associated with land acquisition. Regardless of which side of Silver Lake Road the sidewalk is constructed on, there will need to be easements acquired. This always complicates a public improvement project. Based on the aforementioned issues and the time needed to address them, the schedule for the project is greatly impacted. A draft report is planned to be submitted in July. If the draft report is acceptable to the City Council, and if the City Council wishes to proceed with the project, a neighborhood meeting will be