Police Advisory Commission Minutes 08-13-2003I-94/CSAH 18 Interchange
Policy/Technical Advisory Committee
Monticello, MN
Wednesday, August 13, 2003
Meeting Minutes
1.) Role of Policy Advisory Committee (PAC)
➢ Define social, economic and environmental issues with project.
➢ Define pro's and con's of various alternatives.
➢ Liaison with council, board, neighborhood group
• Bring forth their issues
• Relay info back
• Hopefully advocate for agreed upon solutions
2.) Site History
Monticello desired to have eastbound off and westbound on access to I-94 on the east side of
their community to supplement the existing eastbound on and westbound off at CSAH 75.
Subsequent conversations with MnDOT found that it would be best to consolidate all
movements at CSAH 18. Monticello has had conversations with the concrete plant owner in
the northeast quadrant to determine his willingness to relocate to a site adjacent to T.H. 25.
Developer Ryan Companies is interested in a major commercial development in the
northwest quadrant.
Terry Humbert provided a site history from M-n/DOT's perspective. A four (4) year crash
history (1999 — 2002) for the segment of I-94 between CSAH 18 and the CSAH 75
Entrance/exit ramps showed 21 vehicle off the road rollovers and 35 multi -vehicle crashes.
To reduce this crash rate, MnDOT wishes to reduce the approach grades and flatten the
curves approaching the current railroad overpass. Currently an option to reconstruct I-94
under the railroad is preferred, but groundwater issues may preclude this option. Piezometers
have been placed in this vicinity to determine the elevation of groundwater. Further
development of an over the railroad option needs to take place. Noise monitoring will take
place this fall to provide current data to be used in development of necessary environmental
documents. FHWA wishes to have one environmental document to cover both the I-94
reconstruction and the interchange construction. The City's stormwater plan needs to be
considered with this EA. MnDOT District 3 has a policy of not participating financially in
the construction of locally requested interchanges. However, due to cost of construction
savings associated with not rebuilding the CSAH 75 ramps, they are willing to participate in
$1.5 million in construction costs, which approximate these savings.
3.) Issues
• Stormwater Drainage
➢ MnDOT will coordinate with City and County on how reconstruction of I-94
mainline will impact city storm drainage system and county ditch system.
• Meadow Oak neighborhood access
➢ Access issues include two existing railroad crossings and proposed extension of
the street system to the west to connect with CSAH 18.
• Access to concrete plant property
➢ Need to determine the developability of the property remnant and the cost of
providing access to this remnant. Access options may include extending the
proposed RR bridge for an access under the bridge, and an at -grade RR
crossing.
• Utility issues
➢ Multiple sanitary sewer crossings exist with I-94. Changing grade of I-94 may
impact crossings. There is a need to extend the trunk sanitary sewer system
near the west end of this project.
➢ There are also municipal water concerns that need to be addressed with I-94
change of grade.
• CSAH 18 impacts and signal spacing
➢ Traffic analysis must be conducted utilizing forecast traffic volumes to
determine the impacts on the several proposed signalized intersections on
CSAH 18.
• Groundwater elevations
➢ MnDOT has installed piezometers to determine groundwater elevations in the
vicinity of the I-94 mainline. This is necessary to determine the viability of an
I-94 mainline under the RR option. MnDOT will evaluate the levels between
now and next spring. City of Monticello provided soil boring logs obtained in
drilling a possible water well in this vicinity. MnDOT will evaluate this
information along with their own soils information to assist in a determination.
• Right-of-way acquisition:
➢ City has hired an appraiser to determine value of the concrete plant property.
An appraisal is anticipated in 6 — 8 weeks.
• Evaluate frontage road construction on north side of I-94 from Gillard Avenue to
CSAH 75
➢ This would improve access to and from the River Mills neighborhood.
• Bike path in Meadow Oaks
➢ Federal ISTEA funds were used to construct an existing bike path in the
Meadow Oaks neighborhood. There is a need to define a solution to continue
this bike path given the reconstruction in this area.
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• Other environmental issues
➢ There are trees in a grove south of I-94 that will be impacted.
➢ Traffic noise will be evaluated this fall based on proposed changes to I-94
elevation and alignment.
➢ Stormwater treatment will be addressed.
• Railroad crossing from CSAH 75 to Dahlmeier property
➢ The Railroad removed a private crossing to this property. Property owner
contends they continue to have a right to this crossing. City is moving toward a
hearing before an Administrative Law Judge to request a public crossing.
4.) Funding
Attachment 1 is a Funding Summary that proposes possible funding sources and project
costs. Attachment 2 is a spreadsheet that defines gross square footage of various parcels that
could be assessed for costs associated with this interchange process. The City intends to visit
with the owners of these parcels to discuss possible assessment rates. Attachment 3 is a map
showing location of parcels.
5.) Schedule
Tentative schedule for this project would begin CSAH 18 construction late in the calendar
year of 2004. Interchange construction and I-94 mainline construction would begin in the
second half of calendar year 2005 (MnDOT fiscal year 2006).
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