5.4. SR 04-15-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minnesota Department of Transportation Metropolitan Division Waters Edge 1500 West County Road B2 Roseville, MN 55113 February 20, 2002 Representative James Kanoblach 45 l State Office Building St. Paul, IvESl 55155 Dear Representative Knoblach: I understand that there are some unanswered questions regarding proposed highway improvements to TH 10, that arose at last week's House Capital Investment Committee meeting during the discussion involving the Northstar Commuter Rail Line. Hopefully, the following information will answei- those questions. The Minnesota Department of Transportation 0Yin/DOT) is currently undertaking two Inter- Regional Corridor ([RC) studies along TH 10. The first is studying TH 10 from its junction w/th 'I-35W to the junction of TH24 in Clear Lake. The second is studying the segment of THl0 from Clear Lake to Rice. This second study also looks at segments, such as a river crossing and connection to 1-94, that are outside the area of the Northstar Corridor. Communities and legislators along the TH I0 corridor have been active participants in these studies. Currently draft p'[ans-are m~dc~-review attd fmai-ru-ports mc ¢xpecteOlater-th~s-spring. Utilizing land use information from community comprehensive plans, these studies projected TH 10 traffic volumes for the year 2025, identified corridor deficiencies and developed a vision for the TH10 corridor for the year 2025 and beyond. These traffic projections assumed that the Northstar Commuter Rail project was completed and operating. A vision of TH 10 was then developed that would meet the projected traffic demands of 2025 and beyond. This vision o£ TH10 improvements includes: 1. Expansion to an eight lane freeway from 1-35W to Anoka. 2. Conversion of the existing four lane expressway to a six lane freeway between Anoka and TH 169 (Elk River). 3. Expansion to a slx lane expressway through Elk River. 4. Actively managing the access along the ex/sting four lane expresswaybetween Elk River and Clear Lake, including construction of a Big Lake bypass. 5. Conversion from a four lane expressway to a four lane freeway between Clear Lake and R/ce. With these potential improvements to TH 10, the corridor will be able to carry the traffic volumes projected for the year 2025 (approximately 115,000 in the Coon Rapids area and approximately 70,000 through Anoka) and still meet Mn/DOT's IZRC performance targets. These targets are a 60 mile per hour average speed on the high priority segments and a 55 mile per hour speed on the medium priority seg-ment. TH I0 between 1-35W and Elk River is considered high priority. Between Elk River and Clear Lake, TH 10 is medium priority, with the segment between TH 24 in Clear Lake and Rice again being high priority. The current cost estimate for the TH 10 I_nterre~onal Corridor Vision (from 35W to TH 24) is approximately $450,000,000. The current cost estimate for the TH 10 Interregional Corridor Vision (from TH24 to Rice) is an additional $145,000,000. These cost estimates include a proportion for right-off-way and noise wails, but do not include any estimate for program delivery. An equal opportunity employer