#252 08-18-80 Position Statement MnDOT 1-394 PlanResolution #252 August 18, 1980
Member Mitchell introduced and read the following resolution and moved its adoption:
COUNCIL POSITION STATEMENT
ON
MNDOT 1-394 PLAN
WHEREAS, the City of Golden Valley was presented with a draft preliminary
design layout by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) for the construc-
tion of I-394 on May 12, 1980 (hereto referred to as "the plan"); and
WHEREAS, the Golden Valley City Council has received the report dated
March 10, 1980 of the T.H. 12 Commission appointed by the City Council in February,
1980; and
WHEREAS, on May 27, 1980, the City Council held a public hearing to
receive comments on the plan; and
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Department of Transportation plan presented to
the City Council dealt with only the Highway 12 corrdior and not other western
corridors such as Highway 7 and 55; and
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Department of Transportation is committed to
the construction of a freeway which meets federal standards in order to qualify for
guaranteed 90% funding of the estimated $300 million cost of Interstate 394; and
WHEREAS, the current Metropolitan Council Transportation Plan supports
construction of 1-394; and
WHEREAS, both the Metropolitan Council and MNDOT have indicated their
desire to incorporate a transit facility into the design of 1-394; and
WHEREAS, the transit option currently incorporated into the plan provides
for two through driving lanes to be devoted to high occupancy vehicles: car pools,
van pools, or buses; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council is currently sutdying the feasibility
of light rail transit for the Highway 12 corridor; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has found it necessary to employ the traffic
consulting firm of Barton-Aschman Associates, Inc. to both respond to the MDNOT
request for direction relative to the City's choice for its preferred access to
North and South Tyrol and frontage roads for Louisiana interchanges, and to assess
the impact of I-394 on that portion of Golden Valley south of T.H. 55; and
WHEREAS, on February 4, 1980 the Golden Valley City Council took a
position supporting the following combination of improvements to T.H. 12:
1. Two continuous driving lanes in each direction augmented by
light rail transit within the T.H. 12 corridor.
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Resolution #252 (continued)
2. Limited access through the provision of grade separated
interchanges, frontage roads, and collector/distributor
roads, the number, location, and design of which the
City Council will develop a position on after consider-
ation of the report by the T.H. 12 Commission, appointed
in 1978.
3. Immediate efforts by the City Council to lobby federal,
state and metropolitan agencies to assure that current
interstate funding deadlines do not preclude selection
of a light rail transit component.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Golden Valley City Council
makes the following findings relative to the draft preliminary layout presented to
the City Council on May 12, 1980:
1. The Plan presented to the Golden Valley City Council by the
Minnesota Department of Transportation incorporates the two
continuous driving lanes in each direction, limited access
through grade separated interchanges, and frontage roads,
-.specified in the Council's position statement of February
4, 1980.
2. The location and configuration of the interchanges corresponds
in general to the recommendations that the Golden Valley City
Council has received from the T.H. 12 Commission.
3. The plan does not contain light rail transit as specified in
the Council's position statement of February 4, 1980, but
instead, does contain high occupancy vehicle lanes.
4. The plan does not address the needs for improvement in all
western suburb transportation corridors (Highways 55 & 7).
5. The plan presented by the Minnesota Department of Transpor-
tation will have an overall negative impact on Golden Valley
as indicated by the following examples:
a. There will be a significant disruptive effect on the
entire community during construction. Not only will
the corridor be disrupted, but also other east -west
routes through the community since they will be forced
to carry traffic which will be diverted from T.H. 12
b. Through the increase in the width and the activity on
T.H. 12, those residential portions of the community
which are currently split by the roadway will be
further separated.
c. Loss of tax base through acquisition of residential
and commerical properties.
d. Limitations on access to the ighway from commercial/
industrial businesses and residential areas along
T.H. 12.
e. Diminishment of aesthetics in residential neighborhoods
caused by installation of noise walls.
Resolution #252 (continued)
comment on:
f. Metering of access points to non -high occupancy vehicle
lanes will increase time necessary to gain access to
T.H. 12 resulting in reduced accessibility to the
Highway for Golden Valley residents.
g. The Golden Valley Public Safety Department's ability
to respond to personal injury accidents on T.H. 12 will
be significantly inhibited by the reduced access.
h. The plan creates serious problems in providing emergency
access to portions of Golden Valley, particularly to
South Tyrol.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Golden Valley City Council reserves
1. The location of crossovers and method of access to North and
South Tyrol and the frontage road system accessing the Louisiana
interchange on the South side of T.H. 12.
2. The high occupancy vehicle lanes. The May 12, 1980 presen-
tations by the Minnesota Department of Transportation of
plans for 1-394 did not detail the justification for or
operational characteristics of, high occupancy vechicle
lanes. If high occupancy vehicle lanes are in the final
plan, the City Council hereby notifies the Minnesota
Department of Transportation that the City Council wants
a detailed presentation on justification for and operational
characteristics of high occupancy vehicle lanes and answers
to questions before the City Council will act upon such a
plan.
3. Any proposals for interstate withdrawal and substitution
for proposed 1-394.
FURTHER, BE IT RSOLVED, by the Golden Valley City Council that the
Council makes the following requests:
1. That the Metropolitan Council in its current re-evaluation of
the Transportation Policy address the need to improve Highways
55 and 7 to improve access for the western suburbs into
Minneapolis.
2. That the Minnesota Department of Transportation prepare a plan
for 1-394 incorporating light rail transit as specified in the
Golden Valley City Council position statement of February 4, 1980.
3. That the Minnesota Department of Transportation prepare aler-
native plans showing the transit corridor on the north and/or
south side of the roadway rather than in the center of the
roadway.
4. That the Minnesota Department of Transportation prepare an
alternative plan for a six -lane freeway deleting the high
occupancy vehicle right-of-way.
Resolution #252 (continued)
5• That the Minnesota Department of Transportation be prepared
to outline its preliminary plans for traffic routing and
control during construction of 1-394.
6. The City Council believes that given the overall negative
impacts on Golden Valley caused by the proposed Minnesota
Department of Transportation 1-394 plan, special consider-
ation should be given to incorporating any design feature
which would further reduce or minimize impacts on Golden
Valley of the proposal.
R SEMAt9Y THORS N, VI---7-MAYOR
ATTEST:
JOHN MURPH �/, CITY CLERK
The motion for the adoption
of the foregoing
resolution was seconded by Member
Stockman and upon vote being
taken thereon,
the following voted in favor thereof:
Johnson, Mitchell, Stockman
and Thorsen and
the following voted against the same:
none, whereupon said resolution
was declared
duly passed and adopted, signed by
the Mayor and her signature
attested by the
Clerk.
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