1i. TH 41 MN River ScopingCITYOF
CHANHASSEN
776)6) Market Boulevard
PO Bc)~ 147
C~arflassen MN 55317
Admioislralion
Pho ~e 952 227 1100
Fa~:: 952227 1110
Building Inspeclions
Phcr e 952 2271180
Fax 9522271190
Fngineenng
PI o~e 952 227 1160
Fax 952 227 1170
Finance
P?,)r~( 9522271140
Fax 952 227 1! 10
Park & Recreation
Phone: 952 227 1120
Fax 952 2271110
Recrealio~/Oelter
23!0 Couiter Bo:J!evard
Phor e: 952227 1400
Fax: 952 2271404
Planning &
Natural Resources
Phone: 952 227 1130
Fax 952 2271110
Public Works
1591 Pa,k Roac]
?hor~e: 952 2271300
Fax: 952 227 1,~}10
Senior Center
Phone~ 952 227 !125
Fax 952 227 1110
Web Site
wWW si Crl~,n~'asssn F'n [JS
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
Paul Oehme, City Engineer/Dir. of Public Works
May 18, 2004
SUB J:
Approval of Comment Letter for TH 41 Over the Minnesota River
Scoping Document/Draft Scoping Decision Document
PW067E2
REQUESTED ACTION
Approve comment letter for TH 41 Over the Minnesota River Scoping
Document/Draft Scoping Decision Document.
DISCUSSION
At the May 10, 2004 worksession, staff presented an overview of the TH 41 Over
the Minnesota River Scoping Document to Council. Included with the overview
were several concerns staff had with several alignments MnDOT is planning to
review in a Tier 1 EIS. These concerns include possible right-of-way acquisition
of residential and industrial properties, environmental impacts to the Minnesota
River ecologically sensitive areas, and additional traffic impacts. These issues
plus Council's comments have been summarized in the attached comment letter.
Staff will send out this comment letter to MnDOT prior to the May 26, 2004 due
date.
g:\cng\public\pw067c2 (hwy 41 crossing)\approvc comment letter.doc
The City of Chanhassen ® ~ gr,,',,~rlg con~mu~nitv ~%,ith ciear/labs,s .... ~'
CITYOF
CHANHASSEN
7700 Market Boeleva 4
PO Box 147
,Snal a;¥rx! 'v1'1 55317
Adminislralion
Pi!,c)re 952 227 !100
Fax: 952227 1110
Building Inspections
Phone 952227' 1180
Fax: 952227 1190
En~lineering
Ph,r, ne 952227 1160
Fax 9522271170
Finance
Phor/e: 952227 !140
Fax: 952 2271110
Park & Recreation
Phone: 952227 1120
Fax 9522271110
Recreation Center
2S!00oul[cr Boulevard
Pi!( le 9522271400
Fax 9522271404
Plannin~ &
Natural Resources
Pnor e: 9522271130
Fax: 952227 1110
Public Works
1591 Park Roaa
Phone 952227 11300
Fax 9522271310
Senior Center
Ph,c,r e 9522271125
Fa~ 952227 1!!0
Web Site
e;ww ,ti cr'anhasser/r~x/us
May 19, 2004
Mr. Brian Isaacson
Project Manager
Minnesota Department of Transportation, Metro Division
Water' s Edge
1500 West County Road B-2
Roseville, MN 55113
Re:
TH 41 Over the Minnesota River Scoping Document/Draft Scoping Decision
Document Comments - PW067E2
Dear Mr. Isaacson;
The City of Chanhassen thanks the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT)
for continuing the process and dialogue for a new Minnesota River crossing in the
southwest metro area. The SD/DSDD identified some areas of concern for the City of
Chanhassen. The SD/DSDD recommended that four alternatives be advanced to a Tier I
ElS document. The eastern most alternatives E2 and the E1 eastern fork may have
significant impacts to the City of Chanhassen residents, businesses, and the ecological
environment along the Minnesota River Corridor.
The environmental impacts of the El and E2 alternatives could significantly impact
ecologically sensitive areas along the Minnesota River Corridor. The City's
Comprehensive Plan expressed the need for a new regional river crossing as well as the
need to improve the existing TH 41 facility; however, the comprehensive plan also
specifically called for the protection of Minnesota River Corridor natural environment.
The easterly alignment of E2 and the east fork of E1 appear to cross through the west
portion of the Seminary Fen complex. Even if the new TH41 crossing were to bridge this
area, storm water, salt spray, potential changes in ground water flow, and debris could
significantly alter the native communities in this area. We understand that the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has also expressed some of these same
concerns, and that the DNR, in conjunction with MnDOT, will be completing a
monitoring program to quantify the impacts of these alignments on the ecological
sensitive areas.
The scoping document included an alternative (E3) was not recommended for further
evaluation in the Tier 1 EIS. This alternative connects TH 169 near CSAH 69 to Blnff
Creek Drive at TH 212. As the scoping document indicated, this alternative significantly
impacted Bluff Creek Drive and the properties adjacent to it, and also impacted the
ecological areas along the Minnesota River Corridor. Since alternative E3 was
eliminated based on impacts to the ecological areas and the residents along the Bluff
Creek Drive, the City requests that alternative E2 and the east fork of E1 also be
eliminated from consideration in the Tier I ElS based on the same criteria.
The City recommends that MnDOT evaluate if upgrades to TH 101 from old TH 212 to
Lyman Boulevard could help offset some of the traffic problems at TH 41 during non-
flood events. Currently, the TH 101 river crossing has more traffic than the TH 41
crossing, and it is anticipated to have more traffic than TH 41 in 2040 under the current
roadway system. If the new river crossing will not be built for another 20 years, it is
The City of Chanhassen · A gro~lnq corqmilr ~ty with clean lakc~,s qu~di*,v soho( is ~ ch[;rq in',j lo,', lc,',! ~Ii ,,:~1; i ,: e5~ ,x[:5 ;; rtl }re,. h;e,~h',ifli: ~: ; 1',;: , :
Page 2
perceived that some benefits could be realized if this segment of TH 101 is upgraded.
TH 41 has recently been improved north of old TH 212. The bridges at TH 101, TH 169
and TH 41 have recently been improved to minimize susceptibility to flooding. The
upgrade of TH 101 north of old TH 212 would provide another north-south route for
traffic in the area.
The SD/DSDD discussed the future growth and development west in Scott County and
Carver County as the driving force for a new river crossing. The LOS of TH 41 at the
existing river crossing in downtown Chaska will only degrade over time with additional
development south of the Minnesota River. The SD/DSDD determined the need for a
north-south principal arterial connection that crosses the Minnesota River above the 100-
year flood plain based on the future growth. The preliminary traffic study shows that the
easterly alternatives would provide the most traffic benefit, although the most westerly
alternatives showed some of the same benefits. The City suggests that efforts be
concentrated on a westerly alternative principal arterial river crossing since the growth is
taking place in the west and south, right-of-way corridors are more available, and
environmental impacts are substantially less than for the easterly alignment alternatives.
In summary, the City of Chanhassen is opposed to the eastern most alternatives E2 and
E1 given the significant impacts to the city's residents, businesses, and the ecological
environment along the Minnesota River Corridor. The City of Chanhassen recommends
MnDOT pursue an upgrading of TH 101 from old TH 212 to Lyman Boulevard in
combination with a more westerly alternative for the new Minnesota River crossing,
which we believe will better meet the SD/DSDD's stated objectives at lower fiscal and
environmental costs.
Thank you for providing the City the opportunity to comment on this document. We look
forward to continuing our participation in this important project.
Sincerely,
CITY OF CHANHASSEN
Thomas A. Furlong
Mayor
g:\eng\public\pw067e2 (hwy 41 crossing)\let 5 17 04 sd coinments.doc