HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.i. Dakota County Principal Arterial StudyI:\City Clerk\Agenda Items\Approved Items\6.i. Dakota County Principal Arterial Study.docx
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
City Council Meeting: October 16, 2018
AGENDA ITEM: Dakota County Principal Arterial Study AGENDA SECTION:
Consent
PREPARED BY: Brian Erickson, P.E., Director of Public
Works/City Engineer AGENDA NO. 6.i.
ATTACHMENTS: Resolution, Executive Summary APPROVED BY: LJM
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Motion to Approve a Resolution in Support of the Dakota
County Principal Arterial Study.
BACKGROUND
Dakota County is requesting a resolution of support from the City Council of Rosemount for their
Principal Arterial (PA) Study. The intent of the study was to identify roadways that are functioning as or
will function as principal arterials. This allows Dakota County, MnDOT and cities to plan for and manage
those corridors as well as the supporting road network.
For more than a year, Dakota County, along with representatives from cities and townships, MnDOT, Met
Council and others, has been working on the draft study. In addition, Dakota County held a series of four
subarea stake holder outreach meetings throughout the County between November 2017 and January
2018.
For Rosemount in particular, Minnesota Trunk Highway 3 (Hwy 3) was reviewed and is recommended for
PA designation. The study found that Hwy 3 exhibits regional importance for north-south travel and
connects St. Paul/Minneapolis to Farmington and Northfield. The biggest downside is the fact that it
travels directly through downtown Rosemount thus limiting the ability to expand this route in the future.
As a designated PA, Hwy 3 has greater potential for receiving National Highway System (NHS)
preservation funds and other federal and state funding opportunities. Additionally, Dakota County’s cost
share policy has recently changed and a PA designation would decrease the City cost share for any future
improvements. The executive summary is attached to this report, and full copy of the report is available
for review in the Public Works Department.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff is recommending City Council approval of the attached resolution supporting the Dakota County
Principal Arterial Study.
CITY OF ROSEMOUNT
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION 2018 – 88
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE DAKOTA COUNTY
PRINCIPAL ARTERIAL STUDY
WHEREAS, Dakota County completed a study to identify roadway corridors that will be required
to provide a Principal Arterial (PA) function for the public either now or in the future, and;
WHEREAS, Dakota County has worked with representatives from various cities and townships,
MnDOT, Met Council and Scott County on the Study; and,
WHEREAS, the Study recommends that the Minnesota Trunk Highway 3 corridor through
Rosemount be designated as a Principal Arterial.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Rosemount that
the City of Rosemount hereby supports the final Principal Arterial Study as completed by Dakota
County.
ADOPTED this 16th day of October, 2018.
William H. Droste, Mayor
ATTEST:
Erin Fasbender, City Clerk
FINAL REPORT
June 2018 Page ES-1
Executive Summary
The transportation system of Dakota County, Minnesota, is built around a framework of Principal
Arterial (PA) highways, which are well established to the north – for example, the major river crossings
(I-35W, I-35E, I-494, US 52, US 61, MN 77, and MN 55). However, possible gaps in the PA system are
apparent to the south and east. Figure ES-1 illustrates this, showing which highways are existing
principal arterials (red lines) with relative 2015 daily traffic volumes on all highways (line weights).
Designated PA highways include freeways and other highways planned and managed to provide time-
efficient and safe travel over long distances for many motorists. These “backbone” highways emphasize
mobility over access. PA highways help connect the region with the other areas in the state, carry the
major portion of trips to/from activity centers, and serve the majority of through movements.
The Dakota County PA Study focused on
planning for selected highways, all of which
are not freeways and are not intended to
become freeways in the future. The key
outcomes are priorities for near-term
designation of new PA segments and
identification of other segments as
recommended future PA highways.
Need for the Study
Dakota County Growth and Principal Arterial Spacing
Dakota County’s highway system has been established to follow the area’s growth and development,
which continues. US Census data and State Demographer forecasts indicate the County gained 42,648
residents from 2000 to 2010 (a 12 percent increase). The County’s population, at 398,552 persons in
2010, is expected to exceed 500,000 persons by 2035.
Technical guidance for spacing of PA highways encourages a network spaced logically within the region:
2-6 miles apart in developed suburban growth areas
6-12 miles apart in rural areas
With reference to Figure ES-1, Dakota County’s existing system includes no east-west PA highways south
of County Highway (CH) 42, a distance of about 20 miles. Similarly, the gaps between north-south PAs
include 15-20 miles from I-35 to US 52 and about 10 miles from US 52 to MN 316. The PA Study looked
at the importance of selected highways based on their potential to fit applicable guidance; specifically:
County Highway 63 (Argenta Trail)
MN Highway 3
MN Highway 149
County Highway 28 (Yankee Doodle Rd.)
County Highway 23 (Cedar Ave.)
County Highway 70
MN Highway 50
County Highway 86
The Study focused on planning for selected
highways, all of which are not freeways and are not
intended to become freeways in the future. The
Study provides priorities and recommendations for
future principal arterial (PA) highways.
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(This PDF is set up for 2-sided printing with blank pages inserted where appropriate.)
FINAL REPORT
Page ES-2 June 2018
These corridors, highlighted on Figure ES-1, were identified by Dakota County as the best candidates for
future PA designation. All of them exhibit good north-south or east-west continuity and provide
connections to important destinations. A one-mile segment of CH 28 (Yankee Doodle Road) was also
identified as a possible connection in a future PA system based on its links to CH 63 and MN 149.
Study Objectives
The Study’s primary objectives were to evaluate how the above-noted highways are used and the
features they exhibit compared with PA highway characteristics. Other objectives included documenting
context for the highways and providing guidance to help Dakota County and its partners plan for both
regional and local highway system priorities.
Importantly, the Study does not complete a formal decision-making process for designation of new PA
highway segments. But it does provide supporting data and guidance on next steps, including
identification of a few segments proposed for near-term PA designation (in the coming months or few
years). The Study may also serve as a reference for future discussions of highway jurisdictional roles—
county vs. state highways.
While setting priorities for highway system
funding was also not a primary objective,
designated PA highways have greater
potential for National Highway System
(NHS) preservation funding and for other
federal and state funding programs.
Study Scope, Process, and Partners
All highways addressed in the Study provide continuity over long distances, serving many trips,
commuters, and population or employment destinations. Initially, dozens of parameters were
considered based on FHWA, MnDOT, Metropolitan Council, and Dakota County guidance. But certain
characteristics were found to be most relevant in building the Study’s technical framework:
Decision characteristics: Does the highway function like a PA? Decision characteristics concern the
suitability of corridors to be future PA highways. The key decision characteristics included system
spacing, traffic volumes, system connectivity, capacity role in system, and role in carrying freight.
Timing characteristics: Is the highway ready to be a PA? Timing characteristics are those affecting
the “readiness” of the corridor and often provide a basis for additional corridor planning. The key
timing characteristics included access spacing, posted speed, high-capacity intersections, transit (in
urban areas), right-of-way, and absence of parking.
Dakota County invited and encouraged participation from a full range of relevant partners, specifically:
MnDOT
Metropolitan Council
Dakota County
Scott County
Cities of Apple Valley, Eagan, Farmington, Inver Grove Heights,
Lakeville, and Rosemount
Representatives of the County’s 13 townships and rural centers
(under 5,000 residents each)
The Study does not complete a formal decision-
making process for designation of new PA highway
segments. But it does identify a few segments
proposed for near-term PA designation (in the
coming months or years).
FINAL REPORT
June 2018 Page ES-3
Representatives of these agencies participated in periodic Study Management Team (SMT) meetings.
The same agencies, as well as other invited stakeholders, were also involved in a series of four subarea
outreach meetings, which were held from late November 2017 into January 2018.
Study Results and Conclusions/Recommendations
Figure ES-2 presents the PA Study’s overall conclusions and recommendations. The information below
briefly notes how Study conclusions and recommendations were reached, including consideration of
input from outreach meetings. More details are provided in the full Final Report A.
North Subarea – Eagan, Inver Grove Heights, and Rosemount
MN 149, CH 63, CH 28, and MN 3
This is a developed urban part of Dakota County and exhibits some of the highest traffic volumes
observed on PA Study highways. Discussions of this area noted close spacing between MN 149, CH 63
(a planned new connection to I-494), and close spacing for MN 3 to the north and constraints from
development on MN 3 in downtown Rosemount. Considering these and other unique characteristics, a
one-mile segment of CH 28 connecting CH 63 and MN 149 was added to the Study.
Conclusions. Because of close spacing and roles in serving future traffic, the northern-most segments of
MN 149 and MN 3 are not recommended as future PA highways. All other segments in the North
Subarea are recommended as future PA highway routes, but not for near-term designation. CH 63 is
noteworthy in the Study as a special case because it is a planned, partially completed, new corridor with
right-of-way reserved for a future access-managed arterial connecting to I-494.
West Subarea – Apple Valley and Lakeville
CH 23 and CH 70
Like the North, the West Subarea is mostly developed and exhibits some of the highest traffic volumes
observed on PA Study highways. Discussions for this area focused on the current and future roles of CH
23 (north-south) and CH 70 (east-west), including the proposed future eastward extension of CH 70 to
Farmington and to MN 50 and US 61 (see more below in the East Subarea section).
Conclusions. The Study found that CH 23 and CH 70 exhibit regional importance now and in the future;
additionally, these links have available rights-of-way, good access spacing/management, and high
posted speeds. The two segments, which connect to each other and to I-35 on the west, are
recommended for near-term designation as PA highways (Figure ES-2). In the coming months or few
years, Dakota County will work with the two cities, as well as the Metropolitan Council and MnDOT, to
officially determine a functional classification change. The one other segment in the West Subarea
(CH 70 west of I-35) is recommended as a future PA highway route, but not for near-term designation.
East Subarea – Farmington, Hampton, and Rural Townships to East
CH 70 (Future Connection), MN 3, MN 50, and US 61
The East Subarea has important connections to the North and West Subareas via MN 3 and the future
connection to CH 70. Transitional land use is an important characteristic, with both urban and rural
areas observed. As noted for the West Subarea above, the future regional importance of the CH 70 –
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Study Conclusions & Recommendations Figure ES-2
Source: MnDOT, Dakota Co, Met. Council
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Burnsville
Douglas Twp.
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Hampton Twp.
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Castle Rock Twp.
Greenvale Twp.
Ravenna Twp.
Inver Grove Heights
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P r i n c i p a l A r t e r i a l S t u d y
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FINAL REPORT
Page ES-4 June 2018
CH 50 - MN 50 - US 61 corridor is also a consideration to the east. The Study noted the need to manage
highway access and mobility through the small but growing communities to the east – Hampton, New
Trier, and Miesville.
Conclusions. The East Subarea’s highway segments reflect PA characteristics and all are recommended
as future PA highway routes, but not for near-term designation. As noted for both the West and East
Subareas, the regional importance of this multi-jurisdictional corridor for future mobility, and planning
for future demands, should be considered in future studies.
South Subarea – Southern Lakeville/Farmington and Rural Townships to South
CH 23, MN 3, and CH 86
The South Subarea is rural, but includes future growth areas. With few local traffic generators, the
highways in the South are often used for through trips and provide important connections to jobs and
commerce. The system issues for this subarea include connectivity to the north, to I-35, to Northfield,
and to Rochester via US 52, an existing PA. Discussions of this subarea noted that CH 86 has some
limited rights-of-way and no interchange with I-35. The close spacing of parallel segments of MN 3 and
CH 23 was also noted.
Conclusions. The segments in the South Subarea typically fit the characteristics of PA highways.
However, the spacing is close between the southern-most portions of CH 23 and MN 3, and relative
importance in connecting to Northfield is an issue as noted above. Therefore, MN 3 is recommended as a
future PA segment connecting to Northfield; CH 23 south of CH 86 is not recommended as a future PA.
All other segments of CH 23, MN 3, and CH 86 are recommended as future PA highway routes, but not
for near-term designation based on timing/readiness issues.
Next Steps
The Dakota County PA Study concludes with the above-noted conclusions and recommendations,
including the proposed near-term official designation of CH 70 east of I-35 and CH 23 north of CH 70 as
PA highways (West Subarea). Figure ES-3 summarizes next steps, which will include noting
recommendations in the County’s 2040
Transportation Plan. The proposed
near-term designations will be formally
addressed in the coming months or
years with the Metropolitan Council
and MnDOT. This Study’s results, which
include several recommendations to
manage all of the recommended future
PA highways, will be updated
periodically and reflected in
transportation plans.
FIGURE ES-3. SUMMARY OF NEXT STEPS