E-5. TH 212 Improvements: Approve Resolution for Corridor for Commerce FundingCITY OF
CHAhHASSEN
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
E -5
MEMORANDUM
TO: Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
FROM: Paul Oehme, Director of Public Works /City Engineer -�
DATE: October 14, 2013
SUBJ: US Highway 212 Improvements from Chaska to Cologne:
Approve Resolution Supporting Carver County's Application for
Corridor for Commerce Funding
PROPOSED MOTION
"The City Council approves a resolution supporting Carver County's
application for making US Highway 212 Corridor for Commerce Funding."
City Council approval requires a simple majority vote of the City Council
present.
BACKGROUND
Transportation contributes to a growing economy by supporting commerce.
Transportation investments directly and indirectly foster economic growth
through the provision of construction jobs and a commerce - friendly network of
corridors to ship goods and provide mobility to citizens.
Toward the objective of growing the economy, the 2013 Minnesota Legislature
created the Corridors of Commerce program by authorizing the sale of up to $300
million in new bonds for the construction, reconstruction and improvement of
trunk highways. This legislation establishes two major goals: to provide
additional highway capacity on segments where there are currently bottlenecks in
the system, and to improve the movement of freight and reduce barriers to
commerce.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation has developed an implementation
strategy that is intended to be consistent with the overall purpose and specific
direction of the legislation and to allow for project delivery in the short term.
DISCUSSION
The Southwest Corridor Transportation Coalition is recommending Cities in
Carver County support having MnDot include US Highway 212 in current and
Chanhassen is a Community for Life - Providing for Today and Planning for Tomorrow
Todd Gerhardt
US Highway 212: Approve Resolution for
Corridor for Commerce Funding
October 14, 2013
Page 2
future planning for the Corridors of Commerce program. The goal is to upgrade the existing
two -lane segments of the highway to four -lane and fix safety problems.
US Highway 212 remains a critical interregional corridor with growing demands. With freight
traffic forecast to increase significantly in the next ten to twenty years, the already heavy truck
traffic counts on US Highway 212 will grow dramatically. Trucks carrying sugar beets and other
commodities are heavily using this corridor. If current agricultural trends continue, freight
traffic in southwest Minnesota will potentially grow by 200 percent by 2030. In addition to truck
traffic, US Highway 212 faces growing demand from passenger vehicles. With the projected
increase in population in the Twin Cities metropolitan area in the coming twenty years, traffic
volumes in year 2030 are forecast to increase to between 21,000 and 28,000 vpd, or two to three
times the existing traffic volumes, exceeding the capacity of the existing two -lane facility.
If US Highway 212 is classified as a Corridor of Commerce, Carver County will apply for funds
to upgrade the two -lane sections up to four lanes at an estimated cost of $38 million.
Attachment: Resolution
g: \eng \th212 \bkgd 101413 support res 212 corridor of commerm.doc
CITY OF CHANHASSEN
CARVER AND HENNEPIN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA
DATE: July 22, 2013 RESOLUTION NO: 2013-
MOTION BY:
BY:
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF FUNDING FOR
US HIGHWAY 212: A CORRIDOR OF COMMERCE
WHEREAS, US Highway 212 serves a critical role in connecting Greater Minnesota to
Twin Cities markets in the Metropolitan Area and has been designated a High Priority
Interregional Corridor while also being placed on the National Highway System;
WHEREAS, US Highway 212 is heavily used by freight traffic with 1,850 heavy trucks
in the corridor daily;
WHEREAS, freight traffic in Southwest Minnesota will potentially grow by 200 percent
by 2030, increasing truck traffic on Highway 212 dramatically;
WHEREAS, traffic volumes in year 2030 are forecast to increase to between 21,000 and
28,000 vehicles per day or two to three times the existing traffic volumes, exceeding the capacity
of the existing two -lane facility;
WHEREAS, an Environmental Assessment has been approved for the 4.6 mile two -lane
gap between Cologne and Carver and is ready for construction in 2015 upon securing right -of-
way and final design;
WHEREAS, 41 communities and local chambers of commerce have passed resolutions
supporting improvements to Highway 212 to expand the capacity of this highway and the Board
of Commissioners of every county along the corridor has passed such a resolution;
WHEREAS, the current highway poses serious safety problems as it switches from a
four -lane facility west of Chaska to a two -lane highway, then switches back to a four -lane
highway around Cologne and back to a two -lane highway from Cologne to Norwood -Young
America and would be much safer and much better able to handle present and projected traffic
flows if it were a continuous four -lane highway through this area;
WHEREAS, Congress and the State of Minnesota have recognized the need to expand
this critical trade link to the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area and have previously provided
funding through the ISTEA Transportation Authorization bill, TEA -21 Authorization bill, the
2002 Transportation Appropriations bill, the 2003 Transportation Appropriations bill, the 2004
Transportation Appropriations bill and SAFETEA -LU;
WHEREAS, the 2009 Environmental Assessment determined the project has a benefit-
cost ratio of 3.2 or better, exceeding the minimum threshold of 1.0;
WHEREAS, multi-modal connections to or near Highway 212 include: freight rail lines,
intermodal terminals, park -and -ride lots, transit service, state trails and airports.
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Legislature created and funded the Corridors of Commerce
program in 2013 specifically to fund corridors like US Highway 212 that contain two -lane
segments in an otherwise four -lane corridor and that serve an important freight movement
function;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Chanhassen City Council supports
the inclusion of funding from the Corridors of Commerce program to help construct this $38
million project to improve and expand US Highway 212 and that any maps or lists of Corridors
of Commerce highways include US Highway 212.
Passed and adopted by the Chanhassen City Council this 10 day of October, 2013.
ATTEST:
Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
Thomas A. Furlong, Mayor
YES NO ABSENT