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The Influence of Transportation Improvements <br /> A major influence on the plan is the County's re-alignment and improvement of County Road <br /> 8. The county's plan will widen and reroute the road to the south, connecting to Highway 61 at <br /> approximately 143`d Street. <br /> The County Road 8 re- <br /> alignment will have a <br /> significant impact on the <br /> downtown, offering <br /> 61 <br /> opportunities for growth, <br /> improved vehicle and <br /> pedestrian access around <br /> the downtown area, and $ <br /> the potential for .. <br /> redevelopment to make <br /> improvements to the core <br /> of the downtown CBD and <br /> surrounding public and <br /> civic spaces. It is vital that 8 <br /> the CBD not be cut off from <br /> County Road 8 and from <br /> the high volume of traffic . <br /> which will use this route to <br /> access the interstate. <br /> Highway 61 is planned to continue to run north = 4 Y <br /> and south through downtown and the CBD. <br /> Despite projections of increased traffic volumes, <br /> this highway should not be widened beyond four <br /> lanes except to provide for turn movements. <br /> f ,ro5� <br /> Instead, improvements to the roadway and <br /> access improvements can help accommodate the tq ` <br /> increased volumes. " <br /> �x. <br /> The downtown plan ? <br /> recommends <br /> improvements to <br /> improve street <br /> access and <br /> connectivity within ' <br /> downtown, as well as <br /> tyw.e Re.a ugrwr.nn G <br /> enhancements to w �ryN <br /> pedestrian access <br /> and walkability. <br /> The plan also calls for extending the regional trail south across County Road 8 on the existing <br /> railroad bed and allows for the possibility of future commuter transit within this corridor (either <br /> in the railroad ROW or on Highway 61). If Hugo is to continue to have a healthy downtown, it <br /> is important to plan for these future transportation changes. <br /> Page 3 of 23 <br />