David Brauer asked what budget considerations should be made given the deficit we face.
How is the 35W expansion being funded - is that a possible target for cuts? Are those expenses part of the forecast? The last thing the state should be doing is pushing an expensive and not completely comprehensive highway public works project when they may not have the money to keep the lights on many essential state agencies...
Mike Hess
Kingfield
>From: Erin Armstrong <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: "'[EMAIL PROTECTED]'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: [Mpls] Ellipse-about - proposed new 38th Street bridge (Tom Johnson)
>Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2002 10:00:50 -0600
>
>The Ellipse-about at 38th Street is definitely a significant part of the
>I-35W Access Project. I invite everyone to access the Phillips Partnership
>website ( www.phillipspartnership.org
>). Click on Infrastructure, and find the list of chapters for the
>Mitigation and Enhancement Report. The Ellipse-about is in Chapter 5 on
>page 5-3. Figure 21A is the ellipse-about concept that has been approved by
>the Project Advisory Committee (on November 26, 2002) after the mid-November
>public meetings/open houses. Please then look at the cost breakdown listed
>under I-35W Access Project documents. Scroll down to the section pertaining
>to the 38th Street interchange and you will see that the basic construction
>for the bridge is estimated at $1,203,000 and the mitigation estimate it
>$3,682,000, totaling $4,885,000. The reason that the bridge mitigation is 3
>times the cost of the basic construction is that the Project proposes the
>ellipse-about concept that is currently illustrated on page 5-3.
>
>If you then look at page 5-4 of the Mitigation/Enhancement Report you will
>see a roundabout currently in place near Baltimore in Towson, Maryland. The
>difference here is that it's design is oval shaped. Reports from the
>Maryland Department of Transportation state that this roundabout handles a
>growing level of traffic very efficiently, actually reducing congestion and
>back-ups, and the accident rate is lower now than previously when standard
>intersections with signals were in place.
>
>The actual shape of the 38th Street bridge structure will need to be decided
>during the Project's detailed design phase. The Project Advisory Committee
>will be closely involved and will need to approve the final design. The
>ellipse-about may actually take a form closer to a roundabout or maybe
>something else. Mr. Avidor refers to the meeting at Horn Towers where I
>said that the current ellipse-about concept may need to be refined, taking
>another shape. I probably also mentioned that some neighborhood residents
>are concerned that at pedestrian crossings at the 2nd Avenue/38th Street and
>Stevens Avenue/38th Street intersections and signals may need to be provided
>for pedestrian safety. If this occurs, the function of the ellipse-about or
>roundabout could change. A specific traffic analysis will be prepared at
>these intersections during the detailed design phase to help respond to this
>concern. I apologize if my comments concerning this matter were confusing
>at the Horn Tower meeting.
>
>I want to be very clear in stating that the ellipse-about/roundabout concept
>will be designed and will be constructed at 38th Street as a part of the
>Access Project when the proposal moves forward into final design and
>construction. We have met with Mn/DOT, Federal Highway Administration
>staff, City Public Works staff and County designers to seek their views
>regarding the ellipse-about. They have said that they know of no reason why
>it should not be approved. A legitimate concern on the part of City Public
>Works staff regards long-term maintenance. As you see on pages 5-3 and 5-4
>of the Report there are a variety of landscape plantings and pedestrian
>walkways and bicycle lanes that will require maintenance. It has already
>been pointed out that ponds and water fountains may be a bad idea since they
>will attract people to play in the bridge median. As we move forward into
>the design work we will need to suggest some other way to provide community
>and neighborhood identity without creating safety concerns. The water
>element was only included in the concept to provide an identity for
>Minneapolis as "the City of Lakes". In conjunction with the Project
>Advisory Committee and the four neighborhoods decisions will be made in
>final design regarding how community and neighborhood identities are
>conveyed. But, let me state it again, the Project Advisory Committee has
>approved the ellipse-about concept and the budget that includes a healthy
>sum for it's design and mitigation. The opportunity to establish this
>bridge, the bridge at Lake Street, and other bridges as landmarks for the
>neighborhoods and a gateway system into downtown Minneapolis will not be
>lost. And yes, transit components will be designed into these bridge
>structures at the appropriate locations and they will be safe and
>comfortable pathways for pedestrians and bicyclists.
>
>There was a channel 4 report on the evening of December 3 discussing new
>roundabouts in Medford and Maplewood. I can provide anyone with a
>transcript if they were not able to see it. These reports are providing
>further encouragement that we will be successful in South Minneapolis. If
>anyone has any questions, please contact me. Thank you.
>
>Tom Johnson
>Transportation Consultant
>SMITH PARKER P.L.L.P
>Phone: 612-344-1400
>Fax: 612-344-1550
>E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
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