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HomeMy WebLinkAboutX-A-01 (a,b) Highway 61 - MnDOT Presentation & TH 61 Pre-Scoping Assessment and Resolution of Support for the Project City Council Memorandum To: Mayor Fasbender & City Council Members From: Ryan Stempski – Public Works Director Date: June 5, 2023 Item: Consider Resolution of Support – MnDOT Highway 61 Recommended Scope of Improvements COUNCIL ACTION REQUESTED Council is requested to consider the attached resolution indicating support of the recommended project scope for improvements to Highway 61 by MnDOT, scheduled for construction in 2027. BACKGROUND INFORMATION The City and MnDOT have been working through a Highway 61 Pre-Scoping Assessment since March of 2022. The study has included a focus on engagement by conducting in-person and virtual public meetings, updates at City Council Meetings, booth at 2022 Rivertown Days, door-knocking efforts, DBA and Chamber Meetings, and business and property owner one-on-one meetings. Safety, mobility, access, vehicle speeds and pedestrian facilities were all predominant concerns expressed by the public. The corridor is considered to exhibit a critical crash rate by MnDOT. The travel time along Highway 61 from 4th Street to 36th Street was projected to increase from 5.2 minutes in 2022 to nearly 22 minutes in 2040 if no improvements are made. Additionally, there are really no safe crossing locations for bicycles and pedestrians. To address the concerns, the vision included elimination of parking, reduced public road access and driveway access, improved crossings, additional intersection control, and enhanced community space. After the third Open House, many comments were received from an engaged public. It was clear that post-meeting adjustments would be required. Therefore, MnDOT set up individual business meetings for all that requested them. These proved to be very productive meetings and balanced localized business access with safety and mobility along the corridor for all. FINANCIAL IMPACT MnDOT’s Vision Plan is approximately $25 Million for total project costs of the improvements. Replacement and/or rehabilitation of the aged City utilities along Highway 61 would be an additional $5 Million. MnDOT has $10 Million allocated toward this project already, therefore is seeking another $20 Million in outside funding, such as federal funds. MnDOT has expressed interest in partnering with the City and State elected officials to pursue funding in future legislative sessions and submitting for grant opportunities that may be applicable to this corridor and score well. The City would also have options for its portion of the cost share to utilize the State Aid for Local Transportation account, or allocate capital funds in future budget years. STAFF RECOMMENDATION The recommended concept has been analyzed and modeled based on data, reviewed by the public, business community, and technical professionals. After a thorough public engagement process, it addresses safety and mobility concerns while still balancing access needs along the corridor. Moving forward into design will put this concept into motion and allow MnDOT and the City of Hastings to aggressively pursue outside funding streams that would otherwise not be made available under standard MnDOT project prioritization structure. Therefore, staff recommends the Council adopt the attached resolution in support of the recommended scope and features for Highway 61. X-A-01(a,b) CITY OF HASTINGS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE RECOMMENDED SCOPE AND FEATURES FOR THE 2027 TRUNK HIGHWAY 61 IMPROVEMENTS WHEREAS, The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) proposes to make certain improvements on a majority of Trunk Highway 61 located in the City of Hastings under State Project (S.P.) 1913-107 in the year 2027; and WHEREAS, MnDOT and the City facilitated an extensive public engagement process to gather feedback and concerns of the public for purposes of developing recommended design concepts that would best address their inputs, and WHEREAS, the predominant concerns expressed by the public were Access to Trunk Highway 61, Safety, Traffic Operations, Mobility, Vehicle Speeds, and Pedestrian Facilities; and WHEREAS, the public engagement, technical design, and analysis process have together yielded a recommended alternative concept that collectively addresses the aforementioned concerns to a significant and reasonable extent; and WHEREAS, The City of Hastings supports the inclusion, in this project letting, of improvements along Trunk Highway 61 located within the City Limits of Hastings that address the concerns expressed during the public engagement process; and WHEREAS, the Minnesota Department of Transportation Policy and Procedures for Cooperative Construction Projects with Local Units of Government, the City will have a participation in the cost for this work and the City share for this work; and WHEREAS, MnDOT has requested that the City formally indicate its intent to participate in the costs of the improvements in accordance with MnDOT’s “Policy and Procedures for Cooperative Construction Projects with Local Units of Government” dated February 24, 2016. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HASTINGS AS FOLLOWS; that 1. The City of Hastings hereby supports the implementation of the recommended project scope and features for improvements along Trunk Highway 61 as herein described and presented by MnDOT. 2. Following approval by the Minnesota Department of Transportation of plans and specifications for the improvement of said trunk highway and City streets, before a contract is awarded for the construction of said improvements, the City shall enter into an agreement with the State which shall provide that the City shall pay its share of the cost of the requested improvements as determined by the State in accordance with the latest “Policies and Procedures for Cooperative Construction Projects with Local Units of Government” (a copy of which has been received by the City). 3. The City will work in partnership with MnDOT and State elected officials in pursuit of additional outside financial resources to assist with covering project funding gaps. ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF HASTINGS, MINNESOTA, THIS 5TH DAY OF JUNE, 2023 Ayes: Nays: Mary Fasbender, Mayor ATTEST: Kelly Murtaugh, City Clerk SEAL X-A-01(a,b)