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1d. Approve Resolution in Support of Safe Routes to School Grant ApplicationCITY OF CHANHASSEN 7700 Market Boulevard PO Box 147 Chanhassen, MN 55317 Administration Phone: 952.227.1100 Fax: 952.227.1110 Building Inspections Phone: 952.227.1180 Fax: 952.227.1190 Engineering Phone: 952.227.1160 Fax: 952.227.1170 Finance Phone: 952.227.1140 Fax: 952.227.1110 Park & Recreation Phone: 952.227.1120 Fax: 952.227.1110 Recreation Center 2310 Coulter Boulevard Phone: 952.227.1400 Fax: 952.227.1404 Planning & Natural Resources Phone: 952.227.1130 Fax: 952.227.1110 Public Works 7901 Park Place Phone: 952.227.1300 Fax: 952.227.1310 Senior Center Phone: 952.227.1125 Fax: 952.227.1110 Web Site www.ci.chanhassen.mn.us MEMORANDUM TO: Todd Gerhardt, City Manager FROM: Paul Oehme, Director of Public Works /City Engineer DATE: June 13, 2011 SUBJ: Consider Approving Resolution of Support for Safe Routes to School Grant Application for Trail and Pedestrian Crossing Enhancements on TH 41 at Minnetonka Middle School West PROPOSED MOTION "The City Council approves resolution in support of a Safe Routes to School Grant Application for trail and enhanced pedestrian crossing improvements on TH 41 at Minnetonka Middle School West." City Council approval requires a simple majority vote of the City Council present. BACKGROUND The Minnesota Department of Transportation is accepting applications for Safe Routes to School infrastructure projects. Approximately $4.2 million is available for infrastructure projects to be approved for the years 2012 and 2013. The selected projects will be in the 2012 -2015 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program was created in Section 1404 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users Act (SAFETEA -LU). The program provides communities with the opportunity to improve the existing conditions and promote bicycling and walking to school with infrastructure and non - infrastructure projects. The goals of the program are threefold: 1. To enable and make a safer opportunity for children to walk and bicycle to school; 2. To make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation alternative; and 3. To facilitate the planning, development, and implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety and potentially reduce traffic in the vicinity of schools. STRS projects are funded at 100% with no local match required. The SRTS Program is a reimbursable grant program, meaning that recipients of the funds will front the cost of the project and will be reimbursed during the course of the project. All costs submitted for reimbursement are subject to eligibility requirements. The Chanhassen is a Community for Life - Providing for Today and Planning for Tomorrow Todd Gerhardt Approve Resolution of Support for Safe Routes to School Grant Application June 13, 2011 Page 2 grant notice was released on May 2, 2011 and applications are due on June 15, 2011 so the turnaround time for this application is very quick. The Minnetonka School District has expressed concerns. about the pedestrian crossing TH 41 in the past. City staff, the School District and MnDot has met in the past to discuss what can be done to improve the crosswalk. MnDot completed a pedestrian and traffic movement count study on September 25, 2007. The counts showed 8 bikers and 3 walkers used the existing crossing between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Similar counts were recorded in the PM. A signal is not warranted at the entrance to Minnetonka Middle School West. With the new trail improvements on TH 41, this crossing is anticipated to be used more and should have additional safety enhancements included. The speed limit on TH 41 at this location is 55 mph. DISCUSSION Carver County is planning to construct a trail on the west side of TH 41 from the south side of the Minnetonka Middle School West entrance drive to Longacres Drive. The project also includes an underpass into Minnewashta Regional Park. The existing at grade crosswalk at TH 41 is not planned to be modified under the Carver County plan. The construction of the project is planned to start in the fall of 2011 and be completed the summer of 2012. Since a signal is not warranted at the entrance to the Minnetonka Middle School West, an enhanced pedestrian crossing and trail improvements north of Minnetonka Middle School West are recommended. This recommendation has been detailed by MnDot traffic and pedestrian staff, the Minnetonka School district representatives and City staff. The proposed SRTS project would extend a trail north of the intersection of Chaska Road and have a crosswalk near this intersection. The trail would then be extended on the west side of TH 41 to connect to the existing trail on 64 Street and to the north to the existing trail at the intersection of TH 7. A raised concrete median is proposed to create a safe zone for pedestrians between the two lanes of traffic. Also, additional signage enhancements are proposed, including a mast arm for the pedestrian signs and rapid flash LED yellow beacons that would be push button activated when pedestrians are at the crosswalk. The existing crosswalk at the Middle School entrance would be eliminated. PROJECT COST The SRTS project is estimated to cost $170,000. If the grant is approved, 100% of this cost is eligible for grant funding. This estimate does not include engineering costs of approximately $35,000 which the City would be responsible for. The cost to construct the trail and raise the median on TH 41 is estimated at $130,000. This cost does not include the $400,000 the City has agreed to pay to help pay for a portion of the Carver County Trail project. The City would be responsible for plowing and trail and median. Also, future maintenance of the sign enhancements would be the City of Chanhassen's to maintain. Attachments g: \eng \public \pw429 run safe routes to school program \bkgd 061311 apry res srts.doc ���1NESpTq Minnesota Department of Transportation aO 2p Metropolitan District Q o m Waters Edge 4 pF , me 1500 West County Road B -2 Roseville, MN 55113 -3174 June 6, 2011 Mr. Paul Oehme, P.E. Director of Public Works /City Engineer City of Chanhassen 7700 Market Boulevard P.O. Box 147 Chanhassen, MN 54317 Re: Pedestrian Crossing near Minnetonka Middle School West, Chanhassen, Carver County Safe Route to School Application Dear Mr. Oehme: Please accept this letter of support from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) Metro District to the city of Chanhassen for the Safe Routes to School Grant Application. The grant application proposes a new trail crossing on TH 41 and a raised center median at the intersection of TH 41 and Chaska Road. The grant application will include a pedestrian- actuated beacon mounted on a pedestal but will also include a mast arm extending over the roadway to enhance the safety and visibility at this crossing. Mn/DOT agrees that this project would greatly benefit the overall transportation operation in this neighborhood. We understand that the city of Chanhassen will be the project manager, including facilitating, maintaining and financing the entire project. Mn/DOT's role in this project would be to issue the necessary permits upon completion of the review and permitting process for any crossing construction in Mn/DOT right of way. If successful with the grant application, please work with Nicole Peterson, Area Engineer for Carver and Scott Counties, on the final details on the traffic control device and obtaining the appropriate permits. Also please note that the city or the school will be responsible for snow and ice removal on the median. Mn/DOT Metro Traffic has stated that the crosswalk/school access to the south of the proposed crossing should be removed in order to channel pedestrians to the signalized crossing. Also, they encourage the development and implementation of a program to help educate students on the proper use of the crossing. We fully support this crossing as it would give a safer alternative for getting students to and from school. It would also help reduce congestion, pollution, and fuel consumption for students that would otherwise drive if this sidewalk was not available. If you have a need for more information from Mn/DOT, please contact Lynn Clarkowski, South Area Manager at 651- 234 -7729. Sincerely, Scott McBride, P.E. Metro District Engineer An equal opportunity employer CITY OF CHAUNHASSEN G3EF"C FEN )) JUN 0 7 2011 E NGINEERING DEPT. Building and Grounds District Service Center Minnetonka Public Schools May 31, 2011 SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF: Paul Oehme, PE Director of Public Works /City Engineer MINNETONKA CITY OF CHANHASSEN 7700 Market Boulevard CHANHASSEN P.O. Box 147 DEEPHAVEN Chanhassen, MN 55317 5621 County Road 101 I°+ n p.� s Minnetonka, MN 55345 (952) 401 -5037 J NI 0 21 ?111 EDEN PRAIRIE Dear Paul, EXCELSIOR Please consider this letter my full endorsement of the proposed Safe Routes to School infrastructure GREEN" ° °D rant application for the City of Chanhassen to i m p lement a proposed safety p pp � Y p p p Y near P j SHOREWOOD Minnetonka West Middle School. We support the proposed improvements to increase the safety of students as they cross TH 41 by enhancing the safety and visibility of our students as they travel TONKA BAY to from school. VICTORIA The construction of a new trail connection along TH 41 and installation of a center median with WOODLAND upgraded signage and a flashing beacon at the intersection of TH 41 /Chaska road will increase the safety of our students crossing this major roadway by creating a common point for routing students to and from school at a highly visible location. If the City of Chanhassen is selected to receive this grant, my role as part of the Safe Routes to School project would include awareness of the project and support for the school as they work with the city and Mn/DOT on the development and construction of the proposed improvements. On behalf of Minnetonka Schools, Independent School District 276, I strongly endorse this application. If you have any questions regarding this application, please contact me at (952) 401 -5039. Sincerely, ew� Mike Condon, Supervisor of Buildings & Grounds Minnetonka Public Schools CITY OF CHANHASSEN CARVER AND HENNEPIN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA DATE: June 13, 2011 RESOLUTION NO: MOTION BY: SECONDED BY: 2011- RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR A SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL GRANT APPLICATION FOR TRAIL & PEDESTRIAN CROSSING ENHANCEMENTS ON TH 41 AT MINNETONKA MIDDLE SCHOOL WEST PW429 WHEREAS, MnDOT is accepting applications for Safe Routes to School (SRTS) infrastructure projects which provides communities with the opportunity to improve existing conditions and promote bicycling and walking to school with infrastructure and non- infrastructure projects; and WHEREAS, SRTS projects are funded at 100% with no local match required. The SRTS Program is a reimbursable grant program, meaning that recipients of the funds will front the cost of the project and will be reimbursed during the course of the project. All costs submitted for reimbursement are subject to eligibility requirements; and WHEREAS, the Minnetonka School District has expressed concerns about the pedestrian crossing at the middle school in the past. The proposed SRTS project would extend a trail north of the intersection of Chaska Road and have a crosswalk near this intersection. The trail would then be extended on the west side of TH 41 to connect to the existing trail on 64 Street and to the north to the existing trail at the intersection of TH 7. A raised concrete median is proposed to create a safe zone for pedestrians between the two lanes of traffic. Also, additional signage enhancements are proposed including a mast arm for the pedestrian signs and rapid flash LED yellow beacons that would be push button activated when pedestrians are at the crosswalk. NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Chanhassen, Minnesota: 1. Approve a resolution for support of a Safe Routes To School grant application for trail and pedestrian crossing enhancements on TH 41 at Minnetonka Middle School West. ATTEST: Todd Gerhardt, City Manager Thomas A. Furlong, Mayor YES NO ABSENT Proposed Crosswalk Sign Enhancement m p y t - i NPYIE 1 _ A F .rem rt < _ .. eri� .a.•�sr€`a':a > > .». -. � . ��.:� if ... — '_ ". -� _____ _ _ E� .. . y, °'.� i � . y 1r.- R�� ... t < " r f{ e y .. : t w bsM s e c