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6.a 8. TransportationVIII. TRANSPORTATION A. Overview The primary purpose of this Transportation chapter is provide guidance to City staff and elected officials regarding the implementation of effective, integrated transportation facilities and programs through the 2040 planning timeframe. This chapter is consistent with regional requirements for transportation as captured in the Metropolitan Council's 2040 Local Planning Handbook. This section is organized into the following sections: • Existing Roadway Conditions • Roadway System Plan • Transit Plan • Non -Motorized Transportation Plan • Freight Plan • Aviation Plan B. Transportation Goals and Objectives Goal: As new development or redevelopment occurs, provide an integrated, internally - connected, efficient street system connecting village and higher density neighborhoods to the Village Center. Policy: Discourage the creation of permanently long streets with only a single access point (i.e., dead-end streets, looping streets and elongated cul-de-sacs). Policy: Encourage design and land uses that support a range of transportation choices Policy: Guide future development to roadways capable of accommodating resulting traffic. Policy: Develop roadways and street systems with consideration for safety, speeds, congestion, impact and noise pollution Goal: Establish context -sensitive roadway design standards that will protect the narrow and heavily wooded character of identified low -traffic roadways. (Please refer to further information on Context Sensitive Solutions in the Roadway System Plan portion of this Transportation section.) Policy: Protect scenic rural roads, viewpoints and vistas identified through the planning process from visually intrusive or incompatible development. Goal: Maintain Scandia's system of local roadways that is well coordinated with MN DOT and Washington County Roadways. Policy: Develop a capital improvement program to ensure adequate funding for priority roadway concerns. Policy: Cooperate with County and State jurisdictions to keep through -traffic on arterials at minimum disruption of local circulation and residents. Policy: Through the subdivision review process for new developments, require that MN DRAFT Scandia 2040 Comprehensive Plan Transportation Prepared by: Bolton & Menk, Inc. Page 69 m 4a co IA D t co L U C v co L MQ C N x W d L VQ LL c d O1 L � Y Q � O U p� O � O � N @ m M ua V v LL c 0 a 2. Jurisdictional Classification Roadways are classified on the basis of which level of government owns and has jurisdiction over them. In the case of Scandia, roadways are under the jurisdiction of MN DOT, Washington County, or the City of Scandia. Figure VII -B depicts the existing roadway jurisdictional classification system in Scandia. DRAFT Scandia 2040 Comprehensive Plan Transportation Prepared by: Bolton & Menk, Inc. Page 72 oz PW of c a v UJ � L � Y Q � O U p� O � O � N @ m M ua V v LL c 0 a 3. Functional Classification The functional classification system is a roadway network that distributes traffic from neighborhood streets to collector roadways, then to minor arterials, and ultimately the Metropolitan Highway System. Roads are placed into categories based on the degree to which they provide access to adjacent land uses and lower level roadways versus providing higher - speed mobility for "through" traffic. Functional classification is a cornerstone of transportation planning. Within this approach, roads are located and designed to perform their designated function. Within the seven -county metropolitan area, there are six overall classifications of roadway as defined by the Metropolitan Council: • Principal arterial • "A" minor arterial • Other arterial • Major collector • Minor collector • Local street The Metropolitan Council has defined four sub -categories of "A" minor arterials: reliever, expander, connector, and augmenter. These sub -categories have to do primarily with Metropolitan Council's allocation of federal funding roadway improvements, but do not translate into specific design characteristics or requirements. For arterial roadways, the Metropolitan Council has designation authority. Local agencies may request that their roadways become arterials (or are downgraded from arterial to collector), but such designations or re -designations must be approved by the Metropolitan Council. The agency that has jurisdiction over a given roadway (e.g. Washington County or the City of Scandia) has the authority to designate collector status. The current roadway functional classification map for Scandia as identified by the Metropolitan Council is presented on Figure VIII -C. A summary of Scandia roadways by functional classification follows. DRAFT Scandia 2040 Comprehensive Plan Transportation Prepared by: Bolton & Menk, Inc. Page 74 0 p F- CL Q O U o a o 0 � m =a u � LJ Ln a, L LL Q a o cr o a Principal Arterials Principal arterials are the highest roadway classification and make up the Metropolitan Highway System. The primary function of these roadways is to provide mobility for regional trips, and they do not provide a direct land access function. Principal arterials are generally constructed as limited access freeways, but may also be multiple -lane divided highways. There are no principal arterials within the City of Scandia. "A" Minor Arterials These roads connect important locations within the City of Scandia with access points of the Metropolitan Highway System and with important locations outside the City. These arterials are also intended to carry short to medium trips that would otherwise use principal arterials. While "A" minor arterial roadways provide more access than principal arterials, their primary function is still to provide mobility rather than access to lower level roadways or adjacent land uses. The "A" minor arterial roadways within Scandia are identified in Table VIII -A, below: Other Arterinlc Like "A" minor arterials, these roadways also serve more of a mobility function than access function. However, they may not have as much regional importance as "A" minor arterials and are not eligible for federal roadway improvement funding. There are no other arterials within the City of Scandia. Major and Minor Collectors Collector roadways provide a balance of the mobility and land -use access functions discussed above. They generally serve trips that are entirely within the City and connect neighborhoods and smaller commercial areas to the arterial network. Minor collectors generally are shorter in length, with lower volumes and lower speeds than major collectors. Current collector roadways are identified in Table VIII -B, below. DRAFT Scandia 2040 Comprehensive Plan Transportation Prepared by: Bolton & Menk, Inc. Page 76 RoadwaysTable Vill-A — "A" Minor Arterial Roadway From To Number of Travel Lanes (Total) TH 97/Scandia Trl N West City Limit TH 95 2 TH 95/St. Croix Trl N South City Limit North City Limit 2 CSAH 3/01inda Trl N South City Limit North City Limit 2 CSAH 15/Manning Trl N South City Limit North City Limit 2 Other Arterinlc Like "A" minor arterials, these roadways also serve more of a mobility function than access function. However, they may not have as much regional importance as "A" minor arterials and are not eligible for federal roadway improvement funding. There are no other arterials within the City of Scandia. Major and Minor Collectors Collector roadways provide a balance of the mobility and land -use access functions discussed above. They generally serve trips that are entirely within the City and connect neighborhoods and smaller commercial areas to the arterial network. Minor collectors generally are shorter in length, with lower volumes and lower speeds than major collectors. Current collector roadways are identified in Table VIII -B, below. DRAFT Scandia 2040 Comprehensive Plan Transportation Prepared by: Bolton & Menk, Inc. Page 76 n• • Existing gaps and continuity of roadway alignments • Rural topography, wetlands, and other features • Land use and zoning • Market interest, parcel configuration, and anticipated build -out condition Existing gaps in the local roadway network are identified on Figure VIII -D and include those identified below: • Location 1— 230'1' Street N, between Meadowbrook Avenue N and existing 230'1' Street N approximately 2,000 feet to the east. • Location 2 — Meadowbrook Road N between Oakhill Road N and Meadowbrook Road N at the 218' Street N alignment, approximately %2 mile north of TH 97 • Location 3 — Novak Avenue N between current northerly terminus and Oakhill Road N approximately 2,000 feet to the north. • Location 4 — 209t1' Street N from Penrose Avenue N to Quality Trail N (wetlands would likely preclude a direct connection to 209'' Street west of TH 95). • Location 5 — Between Ozark Avenue N at 209' St N and Oxboro Avenue N at Oakhill Road N (north -south continuous roadway) • Location 6 — Between Olinda Lane N at Olinda Trail N and 215t1' Street N at Parrish Road N DRAFT Scandia 2040 Comprehensive Plan Transportation Prepared by: Bolton & Menk, Inc. Page 78 OZ i v I— or md}{ i n O o z m.2c ab CIO 12 � u(U -Z_ m U Qoa ro v, oz a3 u u 0� A a)Lj W o vi ` T IC i •� �.,� 1y� ....\\` yo . _ ,cU Ave N I„L-Y z {� a z Nz r }} vh s srm •1 s,ed to a� N anry o.b9x ' ": Id Marin , i? O, N,1 epui!O !! P � _ z z p601 A" ti 1 • �L_ N I z r ; N (y N � L: 2 eye c � y t 1 Pdeadowbrook � 1� T N antl fllMzeyy. � y o6�a � N H o c �^ _ _ Q A `� � � A yan rl�eY 9 I '1F� a KIrµ AVP 1: N sLL7� 1 J WV 99:9E-69LMUE:P—S.Ie0 P- fTd ILLx98 ONOM.deVINHSa6ELZLLELMONOSI�!6UleN—lM:lu...(I&IN A common problem in developing rural areas is how to address the development of local streets in the absence of a more detailed local street plan. The risks of a poorly planned and developed street system include landlocked parcels, increased needs for direct access onto arterial roads, parcels that require circuitous access, and/or parcels that have only one ingress/egress points (e.g. long dead-end streets). Like other communities, Scandia requires that subdivisions consider the interconnection of new local streets with future subdivisions and with applicable state and county access management guidelines. One concern among communities is the creation of long dead-end streets that become de facto cul-de-sacs. While many communities identify maximum dead-end street length, Scandia currently does not. Scandia should consider including this type of requirement through ordinance restrictions. Context Sensitive Solutions Historically, roadway design was geared heavily towards providing large roads and systems that could move vehicles as quickly and efficiently as possible. More recently, however, this has changed and continues to change, based on the understanding that flexibility in roadway design is needed to limit impacts to the local environment wherever possible. "Environment" is not only used ecological sense, but the social and community character sense as well. This overall trend is captured in the term and design practice "Context Sensitive Solutions." The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) uses the following definition: "Context sensitive solutions (CSS) is a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach that involves all stakeholders to develop a transportation facility that fits its physical setting and preserves scenic, aesthetic, historic and environmental resources, while maintaining safety and mobility. CSS is an approach that considers the total context within which a transportation improvement project will exist. " The FHWA references A Guide to Best Practices for Achieving Context Sensitive Solutions (National Cooperative Highway Research Program) as being an authoritative resource. Numerous other guidance documents are available. As reflected in the City's Transportation Goals at the beginning of this chapter, the City of Scandia embraces this concept, particularly as it pertains to maintaining the relatively narrow and wooded/natural context of many roadways within the City. 2. Trunk Highway 97 at County Road 52 (Oakhill Road N) Study Area This intersection is a key Highway 97 crossing location for vehicles as well as pedestrians and bicyclists. It warrants safety study due to the following characteristics: • Pronounced skew, combined with being on a curve • Topography (rise/fall) affecting sight lines • Proximity of adjacent access points (Oren Avenue N 390 feet to the east, private driveway 300 feet to the west) Scandia Elementary School in the southwest quadrant of this intersection, Lilleskogen Park is in the southeast quadrant, and the intersection provides important access point into the Village Center. Development north of TH 97 in this general portion of Scandia would increase traffic coming down Oakhill Road N, adding to safety considerations. DRAFT Scandia 2040 Comprehensive Plan Transportation Prepared by: Bolton & Menk, Inc. Page 80 For the reasons summarized above, the City of Scandia will work with MN DOT and Washington County to perform safety analysis as appropriate. 3. 2040 Traffic Projections and Capacity Deficiency Analysis a) Assumed 2040 Collector/Arterial Roadway Network Because no new collector/arterial roadways or expansions are programmed or planned over the 2040 timeframe, the assumed 2040 roadway network is the same as the current network for traffic forecasting purposes. b) Assumed 2040 Land Use and Transportation Analysis Zone Information Transportation Analysis Zones (TAZs) are used to project future traffic volumes. Each TAZ has demographic and employment information that translates to vehicular trip origins and destinations. A map of Scandia TAZs is provided in Figure VIII -E. The anticipated future land use patterns discussed in the Land Use chapter of this Comprehensive Plan were assumed for the 2040 TAZ allocations identified in Table VIII -C, below. DRAFT Scandia 2040 Comprehensive Plan Transportation Prepared by: Bolton & Menk, Inc. Page 81 ' •r 1 •�..�..r AveN ro �1 z o 1 laay @ ALo _ I Pa old MarN■TrN 1 �1 Z , ZI 1 NanvwnoN 1 gj 1 P'� N z. "ool `L Meadowb,-k Ave N Nark 11,Maa J.b okGn"V! - 1 N Srnl �' 1 2 N ■ �1 1 ' �W y 1 K �k Ave o W b 8£ 9t 6 B 10ilI�E na.e5 a�0 awamop H d O1 c UJ L � Y Q� o� U b� o � o N ED m u N Q � L LL c 0 a *Please note: the information for these TAZs DRAFT Scandia 2040 Comprehensive Plan Prepared by: Bolton & Menk, Inc. only for the portion of the TAZ within Scandia. Transportation Page 83 040 Scandia TAZ Data TAZ Year Population Households Retail Jobs Non -Retail Jobs Total Jobs 2281* 2020 94 38 0 14 14 2030 110 49 0 14 14 2040 130 55 0 14 14 2282* 2020 113 48 0 0 0 2030 113 48 0 0 0 2040 113 48 0 0 0 2283* 2020 310 130 0 0 0 2030 323 137 0 0 0 2040 339 144 0 0 0 2284 2020 220 80 0 12 12 2030 235 90 0 23 23 2040 250 100 10 25 35 2285 2020 450 180 10 22 32 2030 470 196 10 30 40 2040 490 210 10 30 40 2286 2020 710 280 10 65 75 2030 770 310 10 77 87 2040 801 340 10 79 89 2287 2020 910 356 30 90 120 2030 1,006 413 30 93 123 2040 1,081 460 30 95 127 2288 2020 510 198 10 42 52 2030 550 230 13 50 63 2040 581 250 15 50 65 2289 2020 190 80 0 20 20 2030 220 90 0 20 20 2040 241 99 10 20 30 2290 2020 0 0 0 20 20 2030 10 0 10 20 30 2040 21 9 10 20 30 2291 2020 400 160 50 170 220 2030 430 180 55 180 235 2040 461 199 60 185 245 2292* 2020 353 150 5 50 55 2030 393 167 5 50 55 2040 442 186 8 50 55 TOTALS 2020 4,260 1,700 115 505 620 2030 4,630 1,910 133 557 690 2040 4,950 2,100 163 568 730 *Please note: the information for these TAZs DRAFT Scandia 2040 Comprehensive Plan Prepared by: Bolton & Menk, Inc. only for the portion of the TAZ within Scandia. Transportation Page 83 c) 2040 Traffic Projections Estimated 2040 traffic volumes for roadways in Forest Lake are presented in Figure VIII -F. These projections are based on the following methodology: • Review of forecasts from the 2030 Scandia Comprehensive Plan • Historic trend analysis for volumes on individual roadway segments • Consideration of local context and anticipated development patterns • Comparison with the results of Washington County's 2040 forecasts DRAFT Scandia 2040 Comprehensive Plan Transportation Prepared by: Bolton & Menk, Inc. Page 84 Zu § �w 2 0 ■gƒ - kk 9 ;■ E d) Future Capacity Needs Evaluation A planning level analysis of potential roadway capacity needs was performed, based on comparing the projected 2040 traffic volumes referenced above against the expected traffic capacity for the applicable roadway types that are present in Scandia. The roadway capacity levels were estimated based on Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) guidance and methods. The HCM, published by the Transportation Research Board,' provides transportation practitioners and researchers with a consistent and widely accepted system of techniques for assessing roadway capacity and operational performance characteristics. Table V111-1) — Typical Traffic Capacity by Roadway Type/Configu ration — Roadways in Scandia Roadway Design Planning Level Capacity (vehicles per day) 2 -lane local/residential road 1,000 Rural 2 -lane minor collector 7,700 Rural 2 -lane highway (major collector/minor arterial) 13,000 Source: Bolton & Menk, Inc., Sixth Edition HCM methods The resulting analysis shows that none of the roadways within Scandia are projected to be at or approaching capacity by 2040. Therefore, no capacity expansion projects are identified in this transportation plan. 4. Future Functional Classification Re -designations of roadways involving the A -minor arterial functional classification (e.g. from collector to arterial, from arterial to collector, or changing designations within arterial) is under the authority of the Metropolitan Council. For collector roadways, the functional class designation is under the authority of the agency that owns the given road. The City of Scandia does not feel that any roadways within its borders need to be re-classified from a functional classification perspective. The City is not aware that MN DOT or Washington County wish to advance any such re -classifications. Therefore, Figure VIII -C is the functional classification map for current and 2040 conditions. 5. Future Jurisdictional Classification The City of Scandia does not anticipate a request for jurisdictional transfers regarding roadways within its borders through the 2040 timeframe. Moreover, the City is not aware that Washington County or MN DOT desire any such transfers. Therefore, Figure VIII -B identifies both current and future jurisdictional classification information. 6. Access Management Access management refers to balancing the need for connections to local land uses (access) with the need for network -level movement (mobility) on the overall roadway system. By functional classification, this may be summarized as follows: ' The Transportation Research Board is a unit of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. DRAFT Scandia 2040 Comprehensive Plan Transportation Prepared by: Bolton & Menk, Inc. Page 86 • Arterials generally have limited access in the form of driveways and low volume side streets because their role in the network is to support relatively long, high speed traffic movements • Collectors allow a greater degree of access given their combined mobility/access function • Local streets have relatively few limits on access because their primary function is to provide access to adjacent land uses Appropriate access control preserves the capacity on arterial and collector streets, and improves safety by separating local turning movements from higher -speed "through" traffic. Moreover, it concentrates higher volume traffic linkages at intersections controlled with traffic signals, roundabouts, or other measures. MN DOT and Washington County Roadways in Scandia are identified on Figure VIII -B. For MN DOT roadways, MN DOT access management guidelines apply. Similarly, for County roadways, Washington County's access management guidelines apply. MN DOT's access management guidelines are described in detail in their Access Management Manual.' When reviewing MN DOT's access guidelines, TH 97 in Scandia is classified as 5B (minor arterial, urban/urbanizing), and TH 95 is classified as 5A (minor arterial, rural). Relevant MN DOT and Washington County guidelines, respectively, are provided in Appendix E. Land use planning and subdivision regulation are the responsibility of the City. In conjunction with local land planning, Scandia will require that new land development complies with MN DOT and County access management guidelines as applicable. The City will work with MN DOT and Washington County to consolidate driveway and street access to collector and arterial roadways where applicable and feasible. 7. Future Right -of -Way Preservation The City has not defined specific corridors for roadway development where right-of-way can be defined and preserved at this point. E. Transit Plan 1. Transit Market Area The Metropolitan Council has defined Transit Market Areas based on the following primary factors: Density of population and jobs Interconnectedness of the local street system Number of autos owned by residents In general, areas with high density of population and jobs, highly interconnected local streets, and relatively low auto ownership rates will have the greatest demand for transit services and facilities. Transit Market Areas are a tool used to guide transit planning decisions. They help ensure that the types and levels of transit service provided, in particular fixed -route bus service, match the anticipated demand for a given community or area. Based on this analysis, the Metropolitan Council categorizes the City of Scandia as Transit ' hqp://www.dot.state.inn.us/accessmanagement/resources.html DRAFT Scandia 2040 Comprehensive Plan Transportation Prepared by: Bolton & Menk, Inc. Page 87 Metropolitan Council has designated the Regional Bicycle Transportation Network (RBTN). This consists of prioritized alignments and corridors (where alignments have not yet been established) that were adopted in the Council's 2040 Transportation Policy Plan. There are no RBTN alignments or corridors within or close to Scandia. The largely rural nature of Scandia is not conducive to extensive pedestrian travel. The most significant barrier to non -motorized movement would be TH 97, an east -west highway that passes through central portion of Scandia and the northern portion of the Village Center area. There is currently an all -way stop at the TH 97/01inda Trail intersection that provides protection for pedestrians using the sidewalk along Olinda Trail. Any future north -south trail development would require appropriate crossing treatments at TH 97. Any safety study of the TH 97 County Road 52 (Oakhill Road N) intersection as referenced above will include a non - motorized transportation component. G. Freight Plan One railroad passes through the eastern fringes of Scandia from south to north. The railroad tracks are owned by the Canadian National Railway and approximately two trains per week utilize the railroad tracks, based on MN DOT information. There are no manufacturing or distribution centers in Scandia. Freight movement is not a major factor for the City. Existing HCAADT information is depicted in Figure VIII -A. H. Aviation Plan There are no aviation facilities or navigational aids located in Scandia. At present, the only suggested air facilities considered in Scandia would be a seaplane base on Big Marine Lake. The city is not in an influence area of a regional airport. The closest public -use airport to Scandia is the Osceola Municipal Airport (FAA Identifier OEO) located approximately 2.5 miles to the east-northeast. OEO is categorized as a Medium General Aviation Airport in Wisconsin's 2030 State Airport System Plan. As such, it is primarily used for recreational flying with some business use and is not anticipated to increase operations significantly over the next 20 years. Scandia is outside all federal airspace restrictions and state zoning controls for OEO. Scandia is not in a primary flight path of OEO. There are no structures within Scandia that exceed 500 feet in height. Any applicant who proposes to construct a structure 200 feet above the ground that could affect navigable airspace level must get appropriate approvals. The Federal Aviation Administration and the Minnesota Department of Transportation must be notified at least 30 days in advance in advance of construction, as required by law per MCAR 8800.1200, Subpart 3 and FAA Form 7460-8. It is unlikely such a structure would be proposed in Scandia. DRAFT Scandia 2040 Comprehensive Plan Transportation Prepared by: Bolton & Menk, Inc. 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