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32 <br />The east entrance into downtown is a complex convergence of road, rail, and <br />river. The area is very difficult to cross east-west, particular during rush hour or <br />when there is one of the dozens of trains that pass through the area on a given <br />day. <br />Improvements to the East Entrance will require significant, and long-term <br />coordination between the City, MnDOT, and BNSF (the rail line owner). <br />Highway 10 is still in a state of good maintenance, and likely won’t be due for <br />reconstruction for many years. The City should therefore use this time to plan <br />for and develop design improvements that enhance the entry experience into <br />downtown, while ensuring MnDOT and BNSF needs are continued to be met. <br />One solution could be to separate Highway 10 and Main Street - an approach <br />called “grade separation”. In this scenario, Highway 10 would be elevated <br />over Main Street, while adding a pair of roundabouts to Main Street to allow <br />for easy on/off access from Highway 10, and the ability to “loop” back into <br />downtown. The BNSF rail line would remain in its location, and Main Street <br />would use the grade change to tunnel underneath the rail line, before coming <br />back to grade at the Gates Ave intersection. This would require closing the <br />Railroad Dr access to Main Street. <br />Roundabouts aren’t necessarily the preferred route for pedestrians, however <br />east-west pedestrian safety would be significantly approved as people would <br />no longer need to cross Highway 10 or the rail line. Comfortable sidewalks, <br />pedestrian scale lighting, and even the inclusion of art of other features could <br />make it an attractive pedestrian route. <br />While this is just one concept, the City should continue to coordinate with <br />MnDOT and BNSF, while progressing additional feasibility studies for the area. <br />Key Outcomes <br />• Conduct a design and operations feasibility study, to determine the viability, and alternative layouts, for the interchange area. <br />• Initate conversations with MnDOT and BNSF, to raise awareness of design opportunities and challenges. <br />• As feasibility assessments occur, continue working with MnDOT and BNSF on design, funding, and timeline coordination. <br />DOWNTOWN <br />Downtown, Highway 10, and the Rail Road Closed Railroad Dr access <br />Main St uses existing topography to tunnel under the BNSF rail line, which remains at current grade <br />A roundabout between Highway 10 and the BNSF rail line allows for circulation and loop backs into downtown <br />A roundabout between Highway 10 and downtown at Parish Avenue allows for circulation and “loop backs” into downtown <br />Highway 10 is elevated over Main Street <br />MAIN STRE <br />E <br />T <br />PARRISH AVEH <br />W <br />Y <br /> <br />1 <br />0 <br />BN <br />S <br />F <br /> <br />R <br />A <br />I <br />L <br /> <br />L <br />I <br />N <br />E <br />RA <br />I <br />L <br />R <br />O <br />A <br />D <br /> <br />D <br />R GATES AVEPage 102 of 157