9.2. HRSR 03-06-2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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November 19, 2012 -Part I, page 31 - Transportation and Infrastructure Railroad The railroad has right-of-way moving approximately 77 trains per day through the area on two sets of tracks. The line carries passenger and freight trains. Vehicle and pedestrian crossing concerns may be alleviated if Railroad Drive, which runs adjacent to the railroad, is removed as a frontage road eliminating close access to Highway 10. U.S. Highway 10 2003-2023 Statewide Transportation Plan No improvements are planned for Highway 10 through the downtown area for many years, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s (MnDOT) 2003-2023 Statewide Transportation Plan. Interregional Corridor Management Plan MnDOT completed several Interregional Corridor Management Plans in 2001 and early 2002, one of which included the stretch of Highway 10 from approximately Highway 101 to Proctor Avenue. The results of the Plan suggested that even if a $21 million (2001 dollars) investment is spent on elevating Highway 10 through downtown, the level of service will not be improved from an “F” rating in peak times. If funding were to become available to MnDOT District 3, the district in which Elk River is located, MnDOT would most likely fund improvements to Highway 169 in Elk River as opposed to Highway 10 since MnDOT rates Highway 169 as a “high priority” highway, whereas Highway 10 is rated “medium priority”. On October 14, 2002, the Elk River City Council adopted Resolution 02-93 “Accepting, Supporting and Adopting the TH 10 Interregional Corridor Management Plan”. A major pivot point in the 2006 Task Force discussions involved the Highway 10 routing through the study area. These discussions, and the impact they had on the plan, led the City Council to table the process until the Highway 10 plan could be developed. Through their discussions, the Task Force developed a number of scenarios and sketches to visually understand the design implications Highway 10 improvements. These sketches are included in the appendix as they are important to the history of the planning process, and provide valuable information to the user in understanding the changes that are coming. Future Highway 10 Issues In 2008, MnDOT finalized a plan for improvements to Highway 10 as it routes through the study area, submitting it to the Federal Highway Administration for their review. This plan was prepared through the collaborative efforts of MnDOT, Sherburne County, the City of Elk River, and many others. The proposed Highway 10 improvements represent a significant change to the downtown area, and a major impetus for this planning project. In summary, the plan shows Highway 10 evolving into a freeway through the study area. To accommodate the necessary speeds and capacity, the main line will shift to the north, requiring the Burlington Northern, Santa Fe rail line to shift to the north, in the area of present day railroad drive. Access to the study area from Highway 10 will be via interchanges at Proctor and south of Main street, with the