INFORMATION #3 02-03-1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Please provide a brief description of your proposed project. Limit your description to one page. Your narrative should include essential information about the background, purpose, location/termini, and cost of your project; as well as the anticipated advantages or benefits to be derived from the proposed improvements. Trunk Highway 169 is a four-lane divided highway through the City of Elk River, Minnesota, with a speed limit of 40 miles per hour. Provisions for pedestrian crossing of the highway are provided at major signalized intersections, located approximately every 3,300 feet along the highway. The majority of pedestrian crossing movements are made between Main Street and 193rd Avenue. The local theater, shopping mall, high school, and other attractions are located on the west side of Trunk Highway 169. The majority of residential units and development in this area is located on the east side of Trunk Highway 169. Approximately 600 existing residential units are located in the area with residential development continuing. The proposed project will benefit local residents by providing a safe and efficient means for crossing Trunk Highway 169 and accessing local attractions and areas on the west side of the highway. Presently, the only means for pedestrians to access areas on the west side of the highway, is to cross at the intersections of 193rd Avenue and School Street, as well as "J'-walking between these two intersections, movements that result in significant pedestrian and vehicle conflicts. The project will help to reduce and/or eliminate pedestrian traffic at 193rd Avenue and School Street, enhancing the flow of traffic through these intersections. "J'-walking between these two intersections would also be reduced and/or eliminated through the implementation of the proposed project. The proposed project would help to reduce short-trip generations (across Trunk Highway 169) from residential areas to commercial areas by providing a safe and efficient route for pedestrian and bicycle traffic from east to west. On a regional level, the proposed project would benefit pedestrian's and bicyclists traveling east and west through the City of Elk River, by providing a crossing location of Trunk Highway 169 that could conceivably be connected to a trail system paralleling trunk Highway 10 thru the City, a highway labeled by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) as being too narrow to provide sufficient space for a pedestrian and bicycle path. A parallel route to Trunk Highway 10 through downtown Elk River has been recommended by MnDOT. In the fall of 1996, a teenage boy wes hit and killed while crossing Trunk Highway 169. The victim was crossing the highway from the east side between School Street and 193rd Avenue to attend a high school football game on the west side of the highway. As a result of this incident, and the safety issues associated with pedestrian movements across Trunk Highway 169, the City of Elk River has been working to determine viable options for improving the safety of pedestrian movements across this highway. One option that has been studied is the construction of a pedestrian overpass across Trunk Highway 169 between School Street and 193rd Avenue. The proposed project would consist of constructing an overpass from the City water tower on the west side of the highway to the east side, and providing a pedestrian path to Dodge Avenue. The estimated cost to construct a pedestrian overpass across Trunk Highway 169 and provide pedestrian paths from the residential area to the overpass is $707,760. The issue to be resolved by the proposed construction of a pedestrian overpass is that of safety--the safety of pedestrians crossing Trunk Highway 169. Because of non- sufficient deaths, the proposed project is not eligible for the Hazard Elimination Safety (HES) program. One additional death or two Type A Personal Injuries would be required to qualify the proposed project for the HES program. 230/347-1304.jan