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Hugo Downtown Framework Plan <br />Final Plan & Design Guidelines <br />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 143rd Street. <br />The County Road 8 re- <br />alignment will have a <br />significant impact on the <br />downtown, offering <br />opportunities for growth, <br />improved vehicle and <br />pedestrian access around <br />the downtown area, and the <br />potential for redevelopment <br />to make improvements to <br />the core of the downtown <br />CBD and surrounding public <br />and civic spaces. It is vital <br />that the CBD not be cut off <br />from County Road 8 and <br />from the high volume of <br />traffic which will use this <br />route to access the interstate. <br />Highway 61 is planned to continue to run north <br />and south through downtown and the CBD. <br />Despite projections of increased traffic <br />volumes, this highway should not be widened <br />beyond four lanes except to provide for turn <br />movements. Instead, improvements to the <br />roadway and access improvements can help <br />accommodate the increased volumes. <br />The downtown plan <br />recommends <br />improvements to <br />improve street <br />access and <br />connectivity within <br />downtown, as well <br />as enhancements <br />to pedestrian <br />access and <br />walkability. <br />Y <br />Future Signal <br />Future Road Alignments <br />City ❑l Hugo <br />Washing[on County, MN <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 (in the <br />railroad ROW or on Highway 61). If Hugo is to continue to have a healthy downtown, it is <br />important to plan for these future transportation changes. <br />Page 3 of 23 <br />