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CITY OF EST, 1806 December 19, 2016 Ryan Sodd MnDot Metro District 1500 West County Rd. B2 Roseville, MN 55113-3105 14669 Fitzgerald Avenue North, Hugo, MN55038 • (651) 762-6300 • www.ci.hugo.mn.us Re: MnDot Landscape Partnership Program Dear Mr. Sodd: The City of Hugo would like to request design assistance for the landscape partnership program for the roundabout located at T.H. 61 and C.S.A.H. 4. In 2013, the City of Hugo, Washington County, and MnDot entered into an agreement for the construction of the T.H. 61 and C.S.A.H. 4 roundabout. A letter was sent to the attention of Adam Josephson and Joe Gustafson on July 11, 2016. This letter requested an evaluation on whether the roundabout center island was built per the construction plans. The City stated that they would like MnDot to consider reconstructing the center of the roundabout as a mounded system, as originally designed, and evaluate whether changes would reduce crashes caused by vehicles traveling through the center island. After further conversations with MnDot, it was established that the roundabout was not constructed per plans, with a mounded center island. Furthermore, it was stated that there were some issues with the hired contractor who did not maintain the center island, as previously agreed upon with MnDot. Section 3.5 of the original agreement between the City of Hugo, Washington County, and MnDot states that the City must maintain the roundabout landscaping after the initial two year maintenance period expires. The City believes that having a mounded center island, as originally planned, would help reduce vehicle accidents at this intersection. A mounded system would create a visual obstruction to make sure drivers know that something in the road ahead is different and the highway doesn't continue straight forward. Additionally, because of the lack of maintenance in the first two years, the roundabout landscaping has been overrun with weeds and many of the plants have died. The City would like to apply for this program to acquire funds to help pay for the cost of materials to build the center island into a mounded system, as previously designed, and pay for the cost of grass seed to give the center island a more visually appealing and maintained appearance. The City would also like to install some further landscaping along T.H. 61 to serve as visual cues for drivers approaching the roundabout. The City understands that landscaping should be a simple, low maintenance design with plantings that have proven their sustainability, which is why the City has decided grass seed for the center of the roundabout is the best option at this time. The City is, however, open to landscape design assistance for the installation of landscaping as drivers are approaching the roundabout.