Sponsor: Public Works
Title
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Minnesota Department of Transportation Corridors of Commerce Grant Application for Interstate-35E / County Road J
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Recommendation
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Support submittal of a Corridors of Commerce grant application to the Minnesota Department of Transportation in the amount of $8.7 million for the Interstate-35E / County Road J project.
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Background and Rationale
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The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is currently soliciting projects statewide for its 2022-2023 Corridors of Commerce grant application process. There is $250 million available for this program statewide with approximately 50% available for the metro area and 50% available for greater Minnesota. The Ramsey County Interstate-35E (I-35E) / County Road J interchange project is a good candidate for this funding since it involves a locally-led improvement to the MnDOT highway network and is scheduled for construction in the next four years.
The I-35E / County Road J interchange project will involve adding ramps to the north side of the existing I-35E interchange, reconstructing the County Road J bridge over I-35E and reconstructing County Road J from Centerville Road to Otter Lake Road, including new roundabouts and bicycle/pedestrian improvements.
This project is currently programmed for construction in the Ramsey County Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for 2025 and is undergoing required federal environmental clearances and final design reviews with MnDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). In addition to this Corridors of Commerce grant request, the project was also recently awarded a $10 million federal construction grant from Metropolitan Council through its Regional Solicitation process.
Ramsey County is the lead agency for the project. The policy bodies of other project partners including Anoka County, the city of Lino Lakes, the city of North Oaks and White Bear Township are also providing resolutions of support for the grant application. The White Bear Area Chamber of Commerce has also provided a letter of support for the application.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☐ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Within a 3-mile radius of the project there are 10% people of color, 24% youth under the age of 18, 7% of people with a disability and 2% of people are below the poverty level.
Community Participation Level and Impact
There has been an extensive public engagement process associated with planned I-35E / County Road J interchange project to-date. This engagement has involved a variety of outreach strategies including public meetings, a project website, pop-up events and resident and business surveys. This input has and will continue to influence the design alternatives under consideration and the final design concept that is ultimately selected. Other agencies partnering with Ramsey County on these public engagement efforts include MnDOT, Anoka County, the city of North Oaks, the city of Lino Lakes and White Bear Township.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☒ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
This project is included in the currently held valid Ramsey County 2022-2026 Transportation Improvement Program. Total construction costs in current dollars are estimated at approximately $20 million. Through the Metropolitan Council Regional Solicitation process, $10 million in federal construction funding has already been secured for the project. A Corridors of Commerce grant request has been submitted to MnDOT for $8.7 million. If the Corridors of Commerce grant request is awarded by MnDOT, this will leave approximately $1.3 million of local construction costs to be paid for by Ramsey County, Anoka County, the city of North Oaks, the city of Lino Lakes and White Bear Township. Ramsey County’s share of these local construction costs will be paid for with County State-Aid Highway (CSAH) funding.
Last Previous Action
On January 11, 2022, the Ramsey County Board approved the 2022-2026 Transportation Improvement Program (Resolution B2022-013).
Attachments
None.