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CHAPTER 4 TRANSPORTATION 77 Metering could also have an impact on local roadways. Vehicles waiting in line at ramps may cause localized traffic problems. Those ramps which are not yet metered include I-35W and County Road E2 southbound, I-35W and County Road D north and southbound, and I-694 and Long Lake Road north and southbound. Metering may also divert traffic from the metropolitan highway system to other roads. This emphasizes the need for an adequate minor arterial system. Fortunately, New Brighton's minor arterial system is adequate to accommodate shorter trips (less than five miles), eliminating these trips from the metropolitan highway system. The Metropolitan Council also recommends that high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes be provided where additional lane capacity is needed on the metropolitan highway system. However, because of serious funding constraints and the long process required to implement major highway projects, adding lanes to the metropolitan highway system is unlikely-before the year 2000. Therefore, travel-demand management strategies are critical to maintain good regional accessibility. FINDINGS: NIINOR ARTERIALS/INTERSECTIONS SILVER LAKE ROAD Silver lake road is a minor arterial which is deficient in roadway capacity, load capacity, and vertical alignment. Projected traffic volumes for Silver Lake Road are greater than the capacity of the existing roadway. Therefore, in 1992, Ramsey County plans to reconstruct Silver Lake Road from Silver Lane to I-694. Silver Lake Road will be widened along the entire length of the project to provide a system of left turn lanes, or center median, or a combination of the two, such that no left turns will be made be made from a through lane. The proposed section from Silver Lane to 7th Street is a five lane roadway with two through lanes in each direction along with a center left turn lane. Four foot wide medians are proposed on the approaches to the signalized intersections at Silver Lane, County Road E, 5th Street, and 7th Street. In the more densely developed residential area between 5th Street and 7th Street, an alternate to the five lane design is being considered. This alternate consists of providing a narrow raised center median rather than a center left turn lane to minimize right-of-way acquisition. The proposed design of the Silver Lake Road at 7th Street/Forestdale Road intersection is to leave the two minor street approaches offset and to prohibit northbound left turns to Forestdale Road by a center median extending into the intersection. The vertical alignment of the existing road will be improved to provide a minimum 40 mph stopping sight distance on Silver Lake Road. Retaining walls will be necessary in areas of substantial vertical alignment change.