HomeMy WebLinkAbout20120319 - VI-06
Council Action Requested: Council is requested to approve the enclosed resolution requesting a variance from MnDOT State Aid road design rules for a portion of the Highway 291 (18th
Street East) project area. Background Information: The City is currently working with MnDOT on a Municipal Turnback project for Trunk Highway 291 to be transferred over to the City’s
jurisdiction. MnDOT has funding set aside which the City will be using to rehabilitate and reconstruct the road such that it is in a virtually new condition in the near term. However,
because the funding is administered through the State Aid program, the City is required to follow State Aid Rules for design of the project. In addition to reconstructing the roadway,
the scope of the project also includes stabilizing and improving the existing boulevard and eroding ditches along this segment, as they are within very tight topographical constraints
and abut the boundaries of a Minnesota DNR Scientific and Natural Area (SNA). Construction activity within or impacting the SNA is strictly prohibited. Essentially, we would like to
have as much room outside of the roadway as possible in order to accommodate improvements within the boulevard and ditches. The City’s reconstruction layout for most of the segment of
TH 291 east of the Vermillion River calls for a roadway width of 24 feet, which matches (±) the existing footprint of the pavement. Conversely, State Aid Rules require that a street
has a minimum width of 26 feet between curbs when parallel parking within the street area has been prohibited, when the speed limit is less than 40 miles per hour, and when traffic volumes
are below 10,000 vehicles per day. Any variation from the standard must be approved by the MnDOT State Aid Variance Board, and requires prior submittal of a signed resolution from the
City. Two feet of difference in street width will be helpful in achieving our goal, and with a 30mph speed limit, a very low daily traffic volume of 425 vehicles, and parking already
prohibited within the paved area of the roadway, staff feels that a request for a variance from State Aid Rules is justifiable in light of the physical constraints caused by the naturally
occurring features within the corridor and sensitivity of the SNA. I will be making a presentation before the Variance Board on March 22nd to illustrate the constraints of the project
and the rationale for the City’s request. Financial Impact: Attachments: A map showing the area being impacted by the variance request, along with the aforementioned resolution to request
the variance, have been attached. To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Nick Egger – City Engineer Date: March 14, 2012 Re: Resolution – Highway 291 (18th Street East) Variance
Request
CSAH 54 (to Red Wing) ConAgra Minnesota Veterans Home King Midas Ln TH 291 (18th Street) Tyler St Ramsey St TH 61 (Vermillion Street) City of Hasitings C.P. Adams Park MnDOT Hastings
Truck Station Minnesota DNR Scientific & Natural Area (SNA) SNA 10th Street/Ravenna Trail City of Hastings Trunk Highway 291 Turnback Reconstruction Project MnDOT State Aid Variance
Request Reconstructed/Rehabilitated per State Aid Rules & Standards Segment of Width Variance Request Proposed Bituminous Path Extensions Proposed Infiltration Basins ±
CITY OF HASTINGS DAKOTA COUNTY,MINNESOTA RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION REQUESTING A VARIANCE FROM STANDARD FOR STATE AID OPERATION FOR TRUNK HIGHWAY 291/18TH STREET EAST TURNBACK PROJECT
S.A.P. (TO BE DETERMINED) WHEREAS, the City of Hastings is preparing plans for the State Trunk Highway 291 turnback reconstruction project between State Trunk Highway 61 (Vermillion
Street) and Dakota County State Aid Highway 54; and WHEREAS, the City’s preliminary design seeks to upgrade the cross section to an urban design standard containing concrete curbs and
gutter on each edge of the street; and WHEREAS, the paved section Trunk Highway 291 that runs approximately from Hastings Minnesota Veterans Home to County State Aid Highway 54 is approximately
24 feet in existing width; and WHEREAS, a substantial portion of the aforementioned segment of Trunk Highway 291 traverses through a Minnesota DNR Scientific and Natural Area (SNA);
and WHEREAS, prohibition of disturbances to a Scientific and Natural Area is paramount; and WHEREAS, three significant goals of the project are to replicate the overall footprint of
the existing paved section of the roadway, to avoid risk of disturbance to the SNA, and to stabilize and reinforce the existing roadside ditch areas to the maximum extent practicable;
and WHEREAS, the Annual Average Daily Traffic on this segment of Trunk Highway 291 is approximately 425 vehicles and the existing speed limit of this segment is 30mph; and WHEREAS, the
City proposes that “on-street” parking will continue to be prohibited after reconstruction; and WHEREAS, Minnesota Rules for State Aid Operation 8820.9936 require that driving lanes
are a minimum of 11 feet wide and curb reaction zones are a minimum of 2 feet wide on two-way streets with ADT of less than 10,000 where parking is prohibited on both sides, thereby
requiring a total roadway minimum width of 26 feet between curbs. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HASTINGS AS FOLLOWS; that 1. The City Council does
hereby request a variance from the Minnesota Department of Transportation State Aid Operations Rules Chapter 8820.9936 (Minimum Design Standards, Urban; Reconditioning Projects) on the
Trunk Highway 291 Turnback reconstruction project to allow a reconstructed width of 24 feet between the faces of the new curbs, with driving lane widths of 10.5 feet instead of 11 feet,
and curb reaction zone widths of 1.5 feet instead of 2 feet, on the section from the Hastings Minnesota Veterans Home to County State Aid Highway 54. 2. The City Council hereby indemnifies,
saves and holds harmless the State of Minnesota and its agents and employees of and from claims, demands, actions, or causes of action arising out of or by reason of (project descriptions)
in accordance with Minnesota Rules 8820.9936 and further agrees to defend at their sole cost and expense any action or proceeding commenced for the purpose of asserting any claim arising
as a result of the granting this variance. ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF HASTINGS, MINNESOTA, THIS 19THDAY OF MARCH, 2012. Ayes: Nays: Paul J. Hicks, Mayor ATTEST: Melanie Mesko Lee,
City Clerk SEAL
