Major Project Scoping Committee

 Two previous studies to develop improvements for the I-35W Corridor ◦ Project Limits were from 42 nd to I-94 ◦ Project Cost Estimate in excess of $250 Million ◦ Project Scope:  Reconstruction of I-35W  Access modification  35 th /36 th Streets and 38 th Street  Lake Street  28 th Street  Reconstruction of Lake Street  Reconstruction of SB I-35W Braid Bridge  Reconstruction of NB I-35W flyover to WB I-94  Construction of On-Line Transit Station at Lake Street.

 Current Study ◦ Led by Hennepin County but developed in partnership with City of Minneapolis, MnDOT, and Metro Transit. ◦ Project Limits  31 st Street to I-94 ◦ Project Costs  $150 Million for Lake Street Access Project  $63 Million to $100 Million for Chapter 152 project (Braid Bridge and NB Flyover) ◦ Project Scope:  Reconstruction of I-35W  Access modification  Lake Street  28 th Street  Reconstruction of Lake Street  Reconstruction of SB I-35W Braid Bridge  Reconstruction of NB I-35W flyover to WB I-94  Construction of On-Line Transit Station at Lake Street.

 Transit Needs for the I-35W Corridor  Access needs for Lake Street and 28 th Street  Completion of the Reconstruction of Lake Street  Reliable connection to the Mid-Town Greenway  Determine configuration of the SB Braid Bridge and NB flyover.  These elements developed to a 30% design Level

 Vision for I-35W provides for an On-Line transit facility from Lakeville to Downtown Minneapolis  UPA projects on I-35W advanced this vision  Remaining elements to complete the vision of an On-Line transit facility on I-35W ◦ Lake Street Access Study developing the concept for an On-Line Transit Station at Lake Street ◦ I-494/I-35W Study Developing the concept for an On- Line Transit Station at American Boulevard  Met Transit submitting I-35W Corridor into Small Starts Program to identify funding for remaining elements on I-35W.

 Southbound Exit Ramp to Lake Street ◦ Requires Auxiliary lane on SB I-35W from I-94 commons.  Northbound Entrance Ramp from Lake Street ◦ City of Minneapolis Council recently approved a resolution to remove this access from current project ◦ Project will not construct this access, but will not prohibit the access from being constructed in the future. ◦ Estimated Cost of this ramp is $37 Million, reducing the project estimated cost to $113 Million  Northbound Exit Ramp to 28 th Street ◦ Provides direct access to two major traffic generators (Allina Health Group and Wells Fargo) ◦ Reduces congestion on 31 st Street and Lake Street

 Hennepin County has reconstructed Lake Street from Blaisdell Avenue to the west and from 5 th Avenue to the east.  Upon the determination of the final configuration of Lake Street between Blaisdell Avenue and 5 th Avenue, Hennepin County will program a project to complete the reconstruction of Lake Street.

 The Mid-Town Greenway is a parallel route to Lake Street that provides a multi-modal facility for bikes and pedes  The Greenway Coalition is studying this corridor for the potential use of street cars that would connect the Hiawatha Light Rail Transit Corridor with the future Southwest Light Rail Transit Corridor.  The Lake Street Access Study needs to provide a quality connection between the Greenway and the On-Line Transit Station at Lake Street.

 Mid-Town Greenway Connection

Conceptual Visualization Mid-Town Greenway Connection

 Currently braids over NB TH 65 and merges with SB TH 65 on the left.  Proposed to be re-aligned to braid over NB and SB TH 65 and merge on the right. ◦ This will allow for improved operations of SB I-35W with respect to the traffic exiting at Lake Street ◦ This will also enhance transit within the I-35W corridor by allowing for the development of a managed facility on SB TH 65 out of Downtown Minneapolis.  This is being developed with the Lake Street Access Study, but will be delivered as a MnDOT project in FY I-35W Southbound Braid Bridge

 Ramp currently enters WB I-94 on right side  This study will determine the appropriate treatment of this ramp. ◦ Right hand entrance as it is today ◦ Left hand entrance  This is being developed with the Lake Street Access Study, but will be delivered as a MnDOT project in FY  An issue that will be worked through is the determination of maintaining the 4 th Avenue entrance ramp to WB I-94.

 Funding for Lake Street Access Project  Funding for Chapter 152 Project  Maintenance Responsibilities for Transit Access Project.  Pavement Condition for I-35W  Drainage Tunnels on I-35W

 Project is currently un-funded by the four partner agencies ◦ City and County looking to let project as a whole in 2014 to 2015 timeframe ◦ MnDOT has $25 Million commitment from previous studies, but this is not identified in our program ◦ The Lake Street Access Project had approximately $9 Million of 2004 HPP Funding that was affected by the Federal Government Recission:  $1.5 Million will be used for additional studies for the Lake Street Access Project  $7.5 Million re-distributed, but the commitment will be honored in our program. ◦ Metro Transit is seeking funding via the FTA Small Starts program that would cover the transit elements of the project.  The political pressure to identify funding for the project will escalate as the development of that project moves closer to the 30% design level. This pressure will most likely be pointed to MnDOT and Metro Transit as the majority of the project elements will either be transit related or freeway related.

 Project currently programmed in our Highway Improvement Plan for $63 Million  The determination of the appropriate location for the Northbound Flyover Bridge will impact the project scope and cost.

 The maintenance of the many elements that make up the transit access project will need to be negotiated: ◦ Bridge Maintenance  The Lake Street Bridges will be longer than would be required to bridge Lake Street to facilitate the transit station.  The On-Line Transit Station Bridge ◦ The Green Crescent ◦ The Transit Station Elements

 I-35W Corridor was constructed in 1967  The inplace pavement is Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement Between 42 nd Street and I-94 Commons.  The current preservation cycle for this corridor is a mill and overlay every 5 to 7 years.  A longer term solution for the pavement would extend the project limits, but also impact the project scope and cost.

 The I-35W corridor has drainage tunnels to carry the runoff from I-35W as well as Minneapolis.  MnDOT and the City of Minneapolis have a maintenance agreement to identify maintenance responsibility, but funding for the maintenance has not been identified at this point.  The tunnels currently pressurize during heavy rain events. ◦ The solution to this is to construct a parallel tunnel and split the flow. The estimated cost of this improvement is $70 Million ◦ The Lake Street Study is determining how much work could be done without adding additional flow to the tunnels, but this issue needs to be vetted with further study. ◦ A risk to the I-35W projects is that we can’t treat the additional water and the parallel tunnel would be required as part of the proejct.

 MnDOT Project Contact Scott Pedersen, P.E. Metro District – Water Edge 1500 West County Road B2 Roseville, Minnesota Phone: (651) Project Website: