US 10- Pre-Design and EA/EAW in Ramsey

Project Update December 8, 2009

A Findings of Fact and Conclusions document was completed in November 2009. This document reports environmental impacts of the project and includes comments received during the EA/EAW formal comment period.  On December 7, 2009, Mn/DOT issued a Negative Declaration Order stating that the project does not have potential for significant environmental impact and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is not required.  The Negative Declaration concludes the Minnesota state environmental review process for right of way acquisition for the US 10 in Ramsey project.  Also, the Federal Highway Administration issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for this project on December 1, 2009.

Click here to review/download the Findings of Fact and Conclusions, Negative Declaration, and FONSI.

In March 2008, following evaluation of several alternatives, Anoka County, the City of Ramsey, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) selected Alternative A5 as the Preferred Alternative  for the U.S. Highway 10 project in Ramsey.  This design includes single-point urban interchanges at both Sunfish Lake and Ramsey Boulevards.  On April 22, 2008, the Ramsey City Council endorsed this alternative.

After the preferred alternative was identified, the agencies started work on preliminary engineering and developed an Environmental Assessment/Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EA/EAW).  The EA/EAW has been released for public review; it discusses the need for the project, project alternatives, and impacts of the project.  Click here to review/download the EA/EAW.

A collaborative approach to planning

Trunk Highway 10

Preliminary Design and Environmental Assessment

 Background

The TH 10 Interregional Corridor (IRC) Management Plan documented the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s (Mn/DOT) long term vision for the improvement of TH 10 as a six-lane freeway between Elk River and Anoka (a high priority IRC).  See Trunk Highway 10: A High-Priority Interregional Corridor.

The City of Ramsey took the lead in defining the future TH 10 improvements in Ramsey with the recent TH 10 Access Management Study.  This study has formed the foundation for future design and environmental assessment through Mn/DOT’s Highway Project Development Process.  The City of Ramsey has also developed and implemented a number of plans and projects that demonstrate the community’s forward-thinking approach to addressing future growth including the advance purchase of $8 million worth of right of way needed for access improvements and the expansion of TH 10.

  Current Project

Anoka County, the City of Ramsey, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT), and the Metropolitan Council continue to work together to address safety and mobility issues along TH 10 in Ramsey in the next phase of the project development process – the environmental documentation and preliminary design for right of way preservation of the future interchanges at Ramsey and Sunfish Lake Boulevards.

This phase of work has included further analysis and alternatives development for future interchanges at Ramsey and Sunfish Lake Boulevards, along with access to the surrounding properties. Alternatives were weighed against a set of criteria designed to minimize impacts to the natural and built environment, address safety and mobility needs, and be compatible with pedestrian and bicycle accommodations and planned development.  This analysis formed the basis to select the preferred interchange alternative for each location.

  Trunk Highway 10: A High-Priority Interregional Corridor

TH 10 provides mobility and access to the residents of Ramsey and serves as a route for commuters, recreational travelers, and freight carriers.

As part of the Interregional Corridor Study (IRC Study) completed by Mn/DOT in 2001, a Corridor Management Plan was developed specific to TH 10 and serves as the foundation for planning efforts in this area.

The TH 10 Corridor Management Plan (TH 10 CMP) (2002)—was completed on a 48-mile section of TH 10 between Interstate 35W and Highway 24 under the Interregional Corridor Program.  The study identified a number of long-range projects that will allow the roadway to meet the safety and mobility performance objectives defined by Mn/DOT, as well as ensure that the roadway will continue to support the state’s economic vitality.  The TH 10 CMP identified $114.7 million (2001 dollars) of medium-term projects in Elk River and Ramsey targeted to be completed between 2010 and 2018.  Ramsey adopted a resolution endorsing the vision and the TH 10 CMP in January 2002. Specifically, the TH 10 CMP recommended:

• Upgrading the current four-lane expressway to a six-lane freeway through the City of Ramsey
• Reducing and/or consolidating a number of access points, or intersections along the corridor; and
• Converting at-grade intersections to interchanges within Ramsey, including one at Sunfish Lake Boulevard, Ramsey Boulevard and Armstrong Boulevard (Ramsey has also expressed interest in maintaining local access at Alpine Drive).

 Project Need

Projections estimate a 35 percent increase in Anoka County’s population by 2030. Considering much of the southern portion of the county is fully developed, communities to the north will likely experience the majority of this growth. For example, the City of Ramsey’s population is expected to more than double by 2030.

Congestion is greatest during peak hours of travel, and additional population in surrounding communities will increase the number of commuters utilizing TH 10 to travel to and from the metropolitan area. Sherburne County is expecting an 89 percent increase in population by 2030, and the City of Elk River 63 percent.

As the population grows, traffic levels will continue to increase. With no improvement to TH 10, traffic will continue to worsen.

  Project Management Team

A Project Management Team (PMT) with representatives from Anoka County, The City of Ramsey, Mn/DOT, FHWA, the Metropolitan Council, and the Consultant Team meets regularly to provide the project direction and serve as the communication conduit with each agency.

PMT Members

• Chris Roy, Mn/DOT
• Mark Lindeberg, Mn/DOT
• Brian Olson, City of Ramsey
• Jacqueline Corkle, Anoka County
• Curt Kobilarcsik, Anoka County
• Ann Braden, Metropolitan Council
• Tim Anderson, FHWA
• Don Demers, SRF Consulting Group, Inc.

Stakeholder Involvement

The Project Management team is committed to understanding stakeholders’ concerns and has identified several potentially affected interests.  A variety of public involvement methods are being employed to ensure information is available in many formats from many sources.  Click here to see list of Stakeholder Involvement Strategy.

Anoka County, the City of Ramsey, and Mn/DOT will continue to engage the business community, the public, and review agencies during project development.

Community involvement events and publications:

• Open House Events

• Newsletters

  • Volume 1 (February 2008)
  • Volume 2 (November 2008)
  • Volume 3 (June 2009)

• Press Releases

  • January 31, 2008
  • November 3, 2008
  • June 25, 2009

Project Status

The project is currently in the preliminary design and environmental documentation phase.  The outcome will be a preferred alternative for the interchanges at Ramsey and Sunfish Lake Boulevards so that Ramsey and Mn/DOT can continue with right of way preservation activities and efforts to secure funding for construction.  A preferred alternative has been selected; the impacts are documented in an EA/EAW.

The current proposed layout includes construction of single-point interchanges at Sunfish Lake Boulevard and Ramsey Boulevard.  Click here to see the proposed layout.  Please note that this is a large file (5 MB) and it will take a significant amount of time to download.

The planned improvements to TH 10 - including the freeway expansion - may not happen for several years.  However, given the rate of growth and development currently occurring along TH 10 in Ramsey, it is important to develop and implement an interim action plan to preserve and protect right of way on TH 10 and maintain the viability of future improvements.

Project Schedule (click here for project schedule)

Environmental Process (EA/EAW)

Since this project will require state and federal approvals, a combined federal Environmental Assessment (EA) and a state Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) has been prepared.  This format is adopted when a project meets both state and federal thresholds for environmental review. 

The Environmental Assessment/Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EA/EAW) has been released for public review.  The EA/EAW document evaluates the physical, social and economic impacts associated with the preferred alternative.  The key issues addressed in the EA/EAW include: 

• Traffic
• Noise
• Air Quality
• Water Resources (runoff and encroachment on water bodies)
• Cultural Resources, including historically significant sites and buildings
• Construction Impacts
• Right of Way
• Parks
• Visual/Aesthetics
• Environmental Justice

Review the EA/EAW by following the links below:

EA/EAW
Appendix A: Figures
Appendix B: Correspondence
Appendix C: Traffic Operations Memo
Appendix D: Memorandum of Understanding