Union Park District Council Ayd Mill Road Task Force St. Paul Capital Improvement Budget Proposal

 Background 2

  1965: Opened as I-35E to I94 connector, but NOT connected  1993: EIS process started  2002: Connection to I-35E opened  2005: EIS Completed, with Record of Decision issued for “4-lane Extended to St. Anthony.”  2005-present: No action.  2010: EIS expires. New action requires a Supplemental EIS. 3 (Very) Brief History

 Ayd Mill Road Today  Four lanes.  A speed limit of 45 mph.  A connection to I-35E on the south end.  A northern terminus on Selby between Pascal and Saratoga.  Several entrances/exits closed with temporary barricades. 4

 Ugly… but with potential 5

 6 Temporary Barricades

 Current North-End Connect Hamline to St. Anthony Selby to Snelling 7 7 stoplights thru residential area and Concordia U4 stoplights through bustling retail area Congestion

 8 Shortage of Parks No parks

 9 EIS-Proposed Extension (2005)  Roughly 1/3-mile, in effect re-creating Albert Avenue between Selby and St. Anthony Aves.  Behind Concordia U athletic fields  Just west of Higher Ground Academy  Across I-94 on new bridge to St. Anthony Ave.  Just east of US Post Office  Through nonresidental area

 The Proposal 10

 Summary This study uses a community process to identify a preferred disposition of the north end of Ayd Mill Road, prior to the legally-required Supplemental Environmental Impact Study. 11

  Enhance livability in north end neighborhoods.  Improve car, bicycle and pedestrian connectivity.  Encourage pedestrian and bicycle activity.  Increase multi-modality and sustainability.  Move some traffic (and associated congestion, accidents and pollution) out of residential areas. Why Change Ayd Mill Road? 12

  Support redevelopment at Selby and Snelling.  Support redevelopment near Snelling and I-94.  Foster use of the light rail system.  Correct the long-noted absence of parks in area.  Aesthetically improve the area. Why Change… (Continued) 13

  Changes in 2002 made the north end particularly unlivable.  Some of the trickiest resolution problems are in the north end. Why Just the North End? 14

  It’s overdue: Since 2002 traffic at the north end has become too congested, too dangerous to residents.  New development at Snelling and Selby.  Imminent opening of the Green Line LRT.  Likely new development near Snelling and I-94.  The reconstruction of the Hamline Avenue bridge. Why Now? 15

  Directed by DPED with City Council and DPW.  Including a Community Process, preceding data collection.  Including Data Collection and Analysis conducted by DPW and reviewed and approved by outside consultant. Study Components 16

  Using “ Context Sensitive Solutions ” approach.  Facilitated by a nationally-recognized Consultant.  Credible, engaging all stakeholders, including representatives from the south end.  Investigating New Design Ideas as well as long- identified ones.  No preconceived outcome. Community Process 17

  Reduce accidents, noise, congestion and pollution at the north end.  Reduce cut-through traffic on north end residential streets.  Restrict truck traffic on Ayd Mill and in neighborhoods.  Provide a bicycle and pedestrian trail along Ayd Mill.  Add green space for neighborhood use. The Preferred Solution MUST: 18

  Traffic calming on Ayd Mill Road and in neighborhoods.  Alternatives to removal of the Pascal Avenue bridge.  Noise and pollution remediation along Ayd Mill Road.  Aesthetic and safety improvements in affected north end streets and intersections.  Increased transit options.  Bike and pedestrian connections to Light Rail. Add’l Issues to Study 19

 20 Park Opportunity  2008 UPDC proposal  Expanded Community Garden space to include Hamline Ramp and “Ashland Park.”  Conceptual plan includes:  Picnic space  Playgrounds  Open space for recreation  Walking paths  Edible plants and trees that attract wildlife.

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