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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.a. Trunk Highway 52 Corridor StudyCITY OF ROSEMOUNT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR ACTION CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: November 5, 1991 AGENDA ITEM: Highway 52 Corridor Study AGENDA SECTION: Director's Report PREPARED BY: AGENDA �sEM �jj. 4A Lisa Freese, Director of Planning ATTACHMENTS: SEH Proposal for TH 52 Corridor APP- BY: Study '' Earlier this year, Rosemount Planning staff formed a Xforking gr up with the City of Inver Grove Heights, Dakota County and Minnesota Department of Transportation staff to examine transportation and land use issues in the Trunk Highway 52 Corridor within Rosemount and Inver Grove Heights. Planning staff's overall goal is to develop a plan that will specifically address the hierarchy of roads necessary to support continued industrial development in Eastern Rosemount and to integrate this plan into the update of the City's Comprehensive Plan. Due to safety and capacity issues raised by Koch Refinery last summer, MDOT has elevated the level of effort on this study. Koch Refinery has hired Short -Elliot -Hendrickson, Inc. to perform an internal traffic study for their facilities. In order to take advantage of the data collection being performed for Koch's study, the working group asked SEH to submit a proposal for the T.H. 52 Corridor Study. A copy of the proposal is included in the Council packet. The objectives of the study are to identify the roadway's appropriate future functional classification and develop alternatives for accommodated the corridor's projected traffic flows. The estimated completion date for the study is January, 1992. It is anticipated that MDOT will be funding $30,000 of the study. The other participants --Dakota County, the Cities of Rosemount and Inver Grove Heights --have been asked to contribute to the study. City staff is currently discussing with the other participants the appropriate level of contribution for each. No formal action is required on the study at this time, but the City Council is encouraged to discuss any comments or concerns that you have regarding the proposed traffic study. RECOMMENDED ACTION: None required at this time COUNCIL ACTION: I OA AdEr AgWSE" ENGINEERS ■ ARCNRECTS f PLANNERS October 21,1991 3535 VADNA1S CENTER DRIVE, ST PAUL, MINNESOTA 55110 612490-2000 Ms. Lisa Freese, Planning Director City of Rosemount 2875145th Street West P.O. Box 510 Rosemount, Minnesota 55068-0510 Dear Ms. Freese: Short -Elliott -Hendrickson, Inc. (SEH) appreciates the opportunity to submit a proposal for the T.H. 52 Corridor Study. We have incorporated Task Force members' comments from our draft proposal. We are prepared to address additional comments or concerns with regard to the proposal at the October 25,1991 Task Force meeting. If you have questions prior to the meeting, please call me at (612) 490-2045. Sincerely, Short -Elliott -Hendrickson, Inc. , d Z�� /,,, Glen Van Wormer, P.E., Manager, Transportation Department copy: Task Force Members Steven G. Hanna, Koch Refining Company SHORT ELLIOTT ST PAUL, CHIPPEWA FALLS, HENDRICKSON INC. MINNESOTA WISCONS!N T.H. 52 -Corridor Study 1. Introduction The future transportation impacts of Trunk Highway 52 (T.H. 52) in the vicinity of its intersection with T.H. 55 has been the source of concern between Mn/DOT, Dakota County, and the Cities of Inver Grove Heights and Rosemount. The concerns centered around the rapid rate of development in the vicinity of the T.H. 52 corridor and led to formation of the Highway 52 Task Force, comprised of the above four governmental entities. The Task Force is looking to chart the future of T.H. 52. Koch Refining Company is a major industry located on the west side of T.H. 52 at the intersection with T.H. 55, which generates heavy commercial and passenger car traffic in this area. To help in their immediate and long-range planning, Koch Refining Company hired Short -Elliott - Hendrickson, Inc. (SEH) to address their traffic access to this roadway system. SEH proposes to identify the future functional classification and develop design concepts of the T.H. 52 corridor through consensus of the Highway 52 Task Force. The current study for Koch Refining Company will be incorporated into this process. For the purpose of this study, the T.H. 52 corridor generally includes the area one mile either side of T.H. 52 from Concord Boulevard on the north to the south city limits of the City of Coates. 11. Project Approach SEH proposes to conduct a study of the above defined T.H. 52 corridor to identify the future functional classification and develop design concepts consistent with that classification through consensus of the Highway 52 Task Force. To accomplish this, we will collect existing data in this corridor relating to traffic, employment, geometries and land use. We will then incorporate that data into a computer forecasting model prepared for Dakota County by SEH. The computer modeling will be used to replicate existing conditions. We will then use the computer model to project future conditions. We will look at five- and 20 - year projections for the T.H. 52 corridor. This step requires the assistance of Dakota County and Mn/DOT in agreeing on traffic assumptions, and the cities of Inver Grove Heights, Rosemount and Coates for direction in future land -use assumptions. After completing future traffic projections, we will revise the five-year and 20 -year projections to include the extension of Cliff Road to T.H. 52 and the extension of County Road 46 (C.R. 46) to T.H. 52 in the vicinity of C.R. 48. Of importance in these comparisons is input from Dakota County regarding the reality of these extensions occurring and the time frame in which they may occur. Short -Elliott -Hendrickson, Inc. Page 1 With the determination of future traffic volumes, we will involve the Task Force in consensus - building process to identify the appropriate future functional classification of the roadway. Based on the agreed upon functional classification of the roadway, traffic projections and potential for street extensions, we will develop alternatives for the T.H. 52 corridor capable of accommodating the projected traffic volumes and street extensions. In addition, the future traffic impacts to C.R. 71 will be identified since it is a parallel/alternative route to T.H. 52. III. Work Program The following is a detailed explanation of the proposed project approach: A. Data Collection. SEH will collect the most recent traffic volume and classification data for the major and minor roadways in the study area. We will also carry into this study information from the Koch Refining Company study relating to specific traffic generation of the immediate area individual businesses. This information includes data by shift (if applicable) relating to number of employees, location of employees' residences, customers, contractors, seasonal variations, maintenance activities, etc. We will compile Travel Behavior Inventory Origin/Destination Data collected by the Metropolitan Council in Dakota County (if available), existing roadway geometrics and aerial photographs from Mn/DOT, and functional classification guidelines from the Metropolitan Council. We will also collect all available accident information for T.H. 52/55 within this corridor. We will gather information relative to the existing railroad crossings in this corridor. This information from Mn/DOT and the railroad companies will include accidents, use of crossings and future plans for crossings. B. Define Existing Characteristics. SEH will use the data collected and the computer forecasting model prepared for Dakota County by SEH to simulate existing traffic flow conditions. Of vital importance in developing this simulation is obtaining historical traffic volume data, updated land use information, and roadway network improvements from the Cities of Inver Grove Heights, Rosemount and Coates. We propose to incorporate land use and zoning information into our CADD effort for use and display. With development of an accurate simulation of existing conditions, future projections become more meaningful. C. Define Future Characteristics. Using the computer forecasting model, we will develop projected traffic volumes for five and 20 years into the future. In developing these projected traffic flows, it is necessary to meet with Dakota County to verify and confirm external cordon traffic volumes entering the study area. Of equal importance are meetings with the cities of Inver Grove Heights, Rosemount, and Coates to define what these cities expect and desire for future land use within the study area. Short -Elliott -Hendrickson, Inc. Page 2 Our input from the Koch Refinery study relating to future plans of area businesses and industry will also be included in this portion of the study. Other potential southeast metropolitan area street and highway improvements providing access to T.H. 52 will be kept in mind throughout the study. Consideration will be given to the Cahill/T.H. 52 reconfiguration, T.H. 3 extension, T.H. 149 north and south junction, I -35/I-494 potential connections, Pilot Knob realignment, and the Mendota Bridge upgrading. Our analysis will also identify potential impacts on C.R. 71 as a result of traffic growth and changes in the corridor. This study will not consider the possibility of a new airport in Dakota County. However, this study will be performed in such a manner that the analysis for an airport study could be easily coordinated. D. Analysis of Roadway Extensions. With completion of future traffic projections, we propose changing the existing road system in the computer model to analyze the impacts on the T.H. 52 corridor with 5- and 20 -year traffic projections. These changes will include extending Cliff Road to T.H. 52 and extending C.R. 46 to T.H. 52 in the vicinity of County Road 48. E. Identify Functional Classifications. After developing future traffic projections for the corridor, we will involve the Task Force in a consensus building process to identify the roadway's appropriate future functional classification to the Metropolitan Council. The Task Force's consensus of functional classification will be forwarded. F. Develop Alternatives. Based on agreed functional classification, alternatives will be proposed for accommodating the corridor's projected traffic flows. These alternatives will include concepts to provide adequate capacity on T.H. 52 and will address intersections, access, frontage roads, railroad crossings and interchange systems as applicable. The development of alternatives will recognize the volume of truck traffic which exists in this corridor. A list of advantages and disadvantages will be prepared for each alternative. SEH will incorporate Dakota County's topographic mapping into our CADD efforts. We will use the available topographic maps and aerial photographs in evaluating the alternatives to determine their feasibility and practicality. The alternatives developed will be presented on aerial maps (available from Mn/DOT) to the Task Force for their consideration. The Task Force will identify up to four alternatives or combinations thereof for further evaluation which will include a more detailed analysis of traffic operations, design feasibility and rough cost estimates. G. Implementation Strategy. Short- and long-term strategies will be defined for each alternative. Subsequent to the more detailed analysis of these alternatives as described above, we anticipate that the Task Force will form a consensus as to a preferred alternative. The agreed upon concept will be further defined to identify the details of implementation. We will assist the Task Force in defining responsibilities for the various stages of implementation. Short -Elliott -Hendrickson, Inc. Page 3 IV. Communication The Highway 52 Task Force will be kept informed throughout the study through regular status reports and meetings. We propose to meet with the Task Force up to six times through the development of alternatives and then present our improvement alternatives. At the presentation meeting, the Task Force shall identify up to four alternatives for further evaluation. We anticipate the need to meet up to two times with the Task Force prior to presenting the results of those further evaluations. SEH will schedule one meeting with each of the individual Task Force representatives and the City of Coates to discuss jurisdiction concerns. This communication process is aimed at developing a consensus of Task Force members as the study proceeds. V. Schedule SEH has already started collecting data for Koch Refining Company's access study. We can therefore immediately expand the limits of their study to those established this study. We anticipate an early meeting with the Task Force to confirm the study scope, direction and work program. The meeting to present alternatives should be held approximately 12 weeks after our initial meeting. The follow-up meeting to discuss further evaluation of up to four alternatives will be approximately four weeks later. We anticipate a draft report will be available approximately 20 weeks after the study is started. VII. Staff Assignments Glen Van Wormer, P.E. is Manager of the Transportation Department at SEH. As Principal -in - Charge, Glen will supervise and oversee all aspects of the T.H. 52 study. Glen has more than 26 years' experience in transportation engineering and planning. Fifteen years of Glen's career were spent at Mn/DOT. He brings valuable communication and coordination experience with Mn/ DOT, the Metropolitan Council, counties and cities. Glen's varied background has been an asset in developing and implementing practical and current long-range planning/engineering solutions. Thomas A. Sohrweide, P.E. has more than 17 years' experience as a traffic engineer. For 14 years of his career he was the Traffic and Parking Engineer for the City of Appleton, Wisconsin. Since joining SEH, Tom has been project manager on concept and preliminary road design projects, traffic studies and traffic signal system design projects. Tom will serve as project manager and be responsible for coordinating the development of alternative improvements for the T.H. 52 corridor and determining the capacity needed to handle projected traffic volumes. He is well - versed in the use of a variety of software used in the analysis of roadway capacity and signal progression. Tom will provide overall management assistance to project team members and coordinate the writing of various report sections. Robert H. Byers, P.E. is a transportation engineer who has focused much of his 15 -year career in transportation planning and forecasting with special emphasis on computer modeling. Bob was project manager for the Dakota County Transportation Study and has continued to work closely with the County to further develop, refine and update the model. Bob's primary responsibility will be coordination with the Cities of Rosemount, Inver Grove Heights and Coates to update the existing and projected land -use database in the computer model. He will be responsible for Short -Elliott -Hendrickson, Inc. Page 4 calibrating the model and developing traffic volume forecasts. In addition, Bob will play a major role in developing consensus with the Task Force with respect to the functional class of the roadway. Assistance in developing alternatives for corridor improvements will also be provided by Bob. Richard E. Luhrsen, C.E.T. has more than 35 years' experience in highway, transitway and airport design, and environmental documentation. Dick served as project manager on numerous highway design and geometric layouts while employed with Mn/DOT. Dick's primary responsibility will be participation in the development of practical, creative alternatives for improvements to the T.H. 52 corridor. Gina M. Pizzo, P.E. has more than 10 years' experience as a project manager and design engineer on rural state and U.S. highways from concept to completion of plans, specifications and estimates. Gina will also participate in development of alternatives for the T.H. 52 corridor. Cindy R. Gray, A.M.P. has more than six years' experience as a transportation planner with a variety of experience from computer modeling to development of impact studies, site plan review, and conceptual alignment/geometric studies. Much of her work revolves around the interface between highway/roadway operations and adjacent land uses, site design, driveways and local streets. Cindy will assist Bob Byers in compiling background traffic volume and land use updates in the model, and will assist in development of alternatives for corridor improvement. VIII. Estimated Hours and Fees We propose to base our fee on actual costs for work performed with a maximum not -to -exceed amount. Invoices will be based on actual hours worked utilizing payroll costs times a multiplier to provide for administration, overhead and profit. Actual cost of expenses including mileage, publication of reports and computer usage will be invoiced and are included in the estimated cost. We have developed an estimate of cost based on an assumption of person hours for each of the steps within the work program. An outline of estimated hours and fees follows on the next page. Short -Elliott -Hendrickson, Inc. Page 5 Estimated Task Hours and Fees Task Data Collection Define Existing Characteristics Define Future Characteristics Analysis of Roadway Extensions Identify Functional Classifications Develop Alternatives and Implementation Strategy Final Report REL/ CADD GVW TAS RHB CRG GMP Tech. Clerical 4 16 4 20 16 6 29 11 16 4 6 20 4 12 4 16 16 4 12 24 16 40 72 56 40 68 24 10 5 24 24 24 20 10 Total Estimated Hours 57 164 165 103 68 100 20 Hourly Rates $93.00 $79.50 $63.00 $51.00 $55.00 $43.25 $27.50 Total Fees by Staff Member $5,301 $13,038 $10,395 $5,253 $3,740 $4,325 $550 Total Fees $42,602 Mileage, Computer, Miscellaneous Contingency (5%) Total Estimated Fee $3,340 $2,298 $4%240 Short -Elliott -Hendrickson, Inc. Page 6 e The estimate is contingent upon the assumptions described in the previous work task discussions. Additional meetings or significant changes in scope (such as the desire to evaluate additional alternatives) could change the actual cost considerably. We recognize that planning studies of this type are difficult to estimate since the original approach can lead to new unanticipated ideas. The evaluation of any new concepts have the potential to modify the project scope. We will use the flexibility within the budget wherever possible to handle any day-to-day approach modifications and if needed changes are apparent, we will notify the Task Force immediately for direction as how to proceed. To add flexibility to the budget and assure that any unanticipated cost items are covered, a contingency of five percent has been included in the total estimated cost. SEH will be willing to undertake the study for a maximum not -to -exceed fee of $48,240. Short -Elliott -Hendrickson, Inc. Page 7