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12. Update on Highway 101, City ManagerI MEMORANDUM CITY OF la 111 �8AN8ASSEN 690 COULTER DRIVE • P.O. BOX 147 • CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA 55317 (612) 937 -1900 • FAX (612) 937 -5739 ' TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Don Ashworth, City Manager DATE: August 8, 1995 ' SUBJ: " Years of Cooperative Work Pays Off for 101 Citizens "; or "Eden Prairie, Chanhassen, Hennepin/Carver Counties, and MnDOT reach Pact Re: 101 "; or "101 Citizen Voices Finally Heard" t Any one of the above titles would be well deserved. Any one of the titles would acknowledge that city staff, or the Mayor /Council, or our citizens themselves, ' played some major role in solving a dilemma that has plagued Chanhassen for years; i.e. the reconstruction of Highway 101. Ironically, none of the above titles would be correct. "Being in the Right Place at the Right Time Pays Off Again" ' would be a more accurate title. If none of the titles shown above are correct, then how is it that all of a sudden ' 101 is going to be rebuilt after years of frustrating debate /cooperative meetings /50 studies? The answer appears to be a combination of a number of events. The following should be seen as building blocks, and in the absence of one of them the ' solution disintegrates: Commissioner Powers: The state legislature recently gave the State ' Transportation Commissioner the power to change the status of highways from "temporary" to "permanent." As you will probably recall, MnDOT's reason for not being able to participate in previous solutions was because of 101's "temporary" status, even though it had been there for 100 years. As a permanent highway, "turn back" dollars may be available to improve the ' highway before it is turned back; and Highway 169 River Crossing and Shakopee Bypass Nearing Completion: ' Although verbal agreements had been reached between MnDot and Hennepin County in regards to Hennepin County's taking over State Highway 101 north of us and the state building new State Highway 169, the Mayor and City Council August 8, 1995 Page 2 final contracts have not been signed. Similarly, the Shakopee bypass is nearing completion and, similar to the Hennepin County situation, MnDOT has reached agreement with Scott County regarding Scott County's taking back existing 169 with the state taking responsibility for the new bypass. Part of the agreement with Hennepin County would have Hennepin County responsible for maintaining old 101 throughout Hennepin County, including the southerly tip at Highway 5 which is technically in Carver County. Hennepin County appears amenable to amending their agreement with MnDOT and to enter into a joint powers agreement with Carver County and Chanhassen so as to have them responsible for reconstructing State Highway 101 north of Highway 5 to new Crosstown. MnDOT believes a construction contract could be let as early as 1996; and Allowable Uses of "Turn Back' Dollars: Previously "turn back funds" could only be used where a state highway was moved from one place to another. For example, that was the source of funds which moved State Highway 5 out of the center of Chanhassen to its present location approximately 600- 700 ft. south. The "new rules" allow turn back funds to be used for a highway turn back without a new replacement highway route being designated; and Availability of Turn Back Funds: Monies available in the turn back fund are at an all time high as it would apply to reimbursing counties for monies spent on turn back projects completed by a county. A separate pool of money exists for cities who carry out turn back projects. However, that fund currently has a deficit balance and due to the current demands and commitments may not regain a positive position for at least 3 -4 years; and Federal Soenic Highway Legislation: A portion of the ISTEA legislation included a provision to designate certain roadways as "scenic roadways." In doing so, many of the typical federal/state standards regarding horizontal and vertical alignments, minimum design speeds, widths, etc. could be relaxed. The Carver County Engineer would be very interested in seeing this designation given to the lower portion of 101 (south of Lyman Boulevard). That designation would allow for some vertical/horizontal changes, rebuilding to a 30 -40 year standard, and rebuilding some of the curves. However, for the most part, the roadway could maintain its scenic character. By contrast, the section of 101 from the old railroad trestle to 212 should be rebuilt. Specifically, that section of roadway should be realigned to the east from its current western curvature and the entire "Y" should be redesigned to a single cross - section intersection. The relocation would "take" the existing trailers /cabins, and since this would no longer be a I Mayor and City Council August 8, 1995 ' Page 3 state highway, the city could develop this as a very attractive entrance into our community, including parking areas for entrance to the Bluff Creek ' Corridor or to the pathways leading to Hopkins /Chaska. ' As noted above, if one of the above events had not occurred, the Highway 101 dilemma would continue to exist. However, with MnDOT reaching agreement with both Hennepin and Scott Counties on major pieces of the puzzle, MnDOT now realizes that it is time to take a look at the final piece of the puzzle —us. By comparison, we are small potatoes. But without us, the whole plan could fall apart. [Note: Don't be surprised if the final agreement has extra goodies!] ' Hennepin County appears ready to take over the responsibility for the northern part of the turn back, i.e. Highway 101 from Crosstown to State Highway 5. Since it is only the "county pool" that has dollars available for turn backs, it would seem ' logical that Carver County should be the lead agency in reconstructing Highway 101 from Highway 5 to the Minnesota Valley. That section will probably be phased over several years, but all of the above events appear to have produced a means by which all of our Highway 101 problems can be solved. I can honestly state that most of the news brought to this office during this past ' year has not been good. I wouldn't mind having it disappear entirely. Hopefully, with news such as I received yesterday, we're on a new course of "good news days." Yesterday was definitely a good news day. J J MEETING CONFIRMATION August 3, 1995 TO Bob Brown, Metro Division State Aid Engineer Roger Gustafson, Carver County Don Ashworth, City of Chanhassen FROM Mary Alyce Chouinard State Aid Secretary 582 -1353 DATE August 7, 1995 TIME 1:30 - 2:30 PM LOCATION Chanhassen City Hall Conference Rm A 690 Coulter Drive 937 -1900 Ext 114 Chanhassen MN 55317 MEETING PURPOSE: Discussion Jurisdictional change TH 101 RECEIVED �,, 05 uffy OF