Infrastructure Engineering Planning Construction 701 Xenia Avenue outh uite 300 Minneapolis, MN 55416 Tel: 763-541-4800 Fax: 763-541-1700 Memorandum To: Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Board From: Tony Heppelmann, PE WB & Associates Date: May 15, 2014 Re: Blake Road Corridor tudy Open House #1 WB Project No. 01787-240 The purpose of this memorandum is to provide the City Council with background information about the Blake Road Corridor tudy prior to the June 25 th Open House meeting. Background The City of Hopkins is leading a corridor study for Blake Road/Aquila Avenue to plan for changing transportation needs due to the construction of the outhwest Light Rail Transit WLRT) line. The study area extends from 36th treet in t. Louis Park to Interlachen Boulevard in Edina. The study is being completed in partnership with the Cities of Edina and t. Louis Park, Three Rivers Park District, Hennepin County, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, the outhwest LRT Project Office, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation MnDOT). The study is intended to address infrastructure needs in order to: Provide better transportation accommodations for pedestrians, bicyclists and bus transit Provide better connections and access to the planned light rail station at Blake Road and 2nd treet for all modes Provide better connections and access to adjacent neighborhoods, commercial nodes and recreational facilities Provide the necessary transportation infrastructure to support redevelopment in and near the corridor that will enhance economic growth, community connectivity, and residential diversity The study is guided by a Technical Advisory Committee TAC) with representatives from each of the partner agencies listed above.
chedule and cope The Blake Road Corridor tudy began in March 2014 and is anticipated to be completed by February 2015. The scope of the study includes the following: pring 2014 ummer 2014 Fall 2014 Winter 2014/2015 Data collection: traffic, safety, trails, planned improvements, previous studies, Analyze future traffic conditions Develop corridor goals and objectives Develop and evaluate alternatives for improvements to the corridor Attend City Council work sessions/meetings Open House 1: June 25 collect input on needs, issues, etc.) Open House 2: August/eptember present and collect input on alternatives) elect a preferred alternative Develop an implementation plan: costs, timing and funding sources Provide update to City Councils Open House 3: November/December present preferred alternative) Finalize implementation plan Prepare final report Goals and Objectives The project team has developed goals and objectives to guide the study. These will be the basis for developing and evaluating potential alternatives. The following goals and objectives have been drafted by the TAC: Goals 1. Facilitate access to future outhwest LRT Blake Road station for residents/workers in Hopkins, t. Louis Park, and Edina 2. Create a corridor that is comfortable, safe, and functional for all modes: pedestrians, bicyclists, motor vehicles, freight, and transit 3. Facilitate redevelopment and support a vibrant corridor 4. Enhance natural resources adjacent to the corridor 5. Improve access to and connectivity across TH 7 6. Improve connections between the corridor and adjacent neighborhoods, parks, and trails Objectives 1. Conduct technical analyses of existing and future corridor issues and needs, including: a. Traffic operations b. afety for all modes c. Business access locations d. Bicycle facilities e. idewalks f. Pedestrian and bicycle crossings Page 2
g. Connectivity to the future outhwest LRT Blake Road station h. Connectivity to adjacent neighborhoods, parks, and trails 2. Generate and evaluate alternative concepts that address established goals for the corridor 3. Develop an implementation plan that coordinates improvements with other projects 4. Involve stakeholders in the planning process to obtain community and agency agreement and to ensure that study recommendations reflect the needs and desires of residents in the corridor 5. Identify grant programs to support implementation of study recommendations 6. Develop roadway improvement concepts in time to apply for grants Public Involvement Public and agency involvement is an important part of the Blake Road Corridor tudy. It is essential to involve stakeholders in the planning process to obtain community and agency agreement on study recommendations. The project team will engage the following key stakeholders using the following techniques: General Public The project team will use several techniques to gather input from the general public, including: Three public open houses Project website Coordination with the Blake Road Corridor Collaborative News releases Public Agencies A TAC has been formed to help provide direction for the study. Members of the TAC represent public agencies with an interest in improvements to the Blake Road Corridor, including: City of Hopkins City of t. Louis Park City of Edina Hennepin County Transportation Department Hennepin County Housing, Community Works & Transit Three Rivers Park District outhwest LRT Project Office Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Minnesota Department of Transportation MnDOT) City Council The project team will provide materials and present at Hopkins, t. Louis Park, and Edina City Council Work essions/council Meetings to inform the City Council on study progress and agency and public feedback. June 2014: Memo summarizing corridor study goals and objectives, existing conditions, and direction of the study Page 3
August/eptember 2014: Present at council work sessions and seek feedback on alternatives for corridor improvements, share initial public feedback October/November 2014: Present and seek feedback on preferred alternative for corridor improvements, share public feedback on alternatives February 2015: Presentation of final report and recommendations outhwest Community Works teering Committee The outhwest Community Works teering Committee represents public agencies with an interest in the outhwest LRT Corridor. The project team will present to the teering Committee in August or eptember 2014 and will seek feedback on alternatives. Businesses within Blake Road Corridor The project team will hold two meetings with representatives from businesses within the project corridor. The first meeting will be held in June 2014 to collect feedback on existing conditions and the direction of the study, particularly around business access. This meeting will be held before the first open house. The second meeting will be held in August 2014 to collect feedback on alternatives. Additionally, the project team will explore opportunities to coordinate the public process with a Blake Road Market tudy led by outhwest LRT Community Works. Information about the market study could be distributed at the June open house. There is potential to host a joint open house in August/eptember. Initial Analysis of Existing Conditions The project team has completed a review of 2011-2013 crash records in the corridor. Initial crash analysis has identified several intersections with higher than average crash rates, including 36th treet, 37th treet and Trunk Highway TH) 7. At TH 7, crash severity is higher than expected. Much of the corridor also has higher than average crash rates, including the segments between 36th treet and TH 7, and between Cambridge treet and Excelsior Boulevard. Throughout the entire corridor, there were four crashes involving pedestrians and three crashes involving bicyclists. The project team has also conducted a review of existing traffic conditions at intersections in the corridor. Vehicles at the intersection with TH 7 experience the greatest delays in the corridor. There is also some delay for vehicles at Excelsior Boulevard. In addition, the project team has collected site plans and other information about proposed public infrastructure and private development in the corridor. This information will inform the recommendations of the study and ensure that traffic analysis includes information about planned development. Page 4
Next teps A project open house is scheduled for June 25 from 6-8 PM at Eisenhower Community Center 1001 Highway 7, Room 233). The project team is currently developing alternatives for improvements to the Blake Road corridor. Alternatives will include the number of lanes needed, median locations and widths, bicycle facilities, sidewalks, boulevards and landscaping, and other elements. This information is in progress and will not be presented at the June open house meeting. Prior to any alternatives being presented, a work session with each of the cities will be held to receive feedback and input. Following the council meetings, the second open house presenting the alternatives will be held in eptember. Page 5
Bridge Replacement TCF Relocating Knollwood Mall KNOLLWOOD K KNO OLLWO WOO WOO OD D Redevelopment MALL MALL Mill and Overlay 2014 Ave Pkw y 36th t W ve aa uil Aq Phi llip s Bridge ReDecking Removal of free right turn lane from Texas Avenue 2016 tw 37th Reconfiguration of free right turn lane from Aquila Avenue 2016 «? A @ uis s Park Hopkins Cambridge t Oxford treet Redevelopment tt treet Disconnection Potential Redevelopment A ha Ave ha Hiawath NE e t NE Lake Cottageville Park Improvements NE e t Lak Blake Rd N Met Council Lift tation Ce dar Lak e gi Re on al T rai l 2n t d Ne Cold torage Redevelopment ite T TL LOUI PARK rk Louis aint Lo Hopkins Blake Rd N W LRT tation and Development HOPKIN X W b G lsio Exce d r Blv T JOHN CATHOLIC CHOOL BLAKE LOWER CHOOL HOPKIN CAMPU Blake Rd Boyce Rd Goodrich t pruce Rd Edina EDINA Pedestrian crossing and sidewalk needs Blake Rd Belmore Ln Maloney Avenue HOPKIN Hop pkins Waterman Ave In t erl a KEY 0 ch e nb 150 300 600 Feet lvd Project tudy Area Bituminous Path Redevelopment ite Existing idewalks ignals Existing Regional Trail Proposed ignal Proposed Trail Blake Road Corridor tudy: On treet Bike Lane Municipal Boundary Railroad Opportunities and Constraints ±