City Council - 03/07/2023 - Workshop
APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY, MARCH 07, 2023 CITY CENTER
5:00 – 6:25 PM, HERITAGE ROOMS
6:30 – 7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER
CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Ron Case, Council Members Kathy Nelson, Mark Freiberg, PG
Narayanan, and Lisa Toomey
CITY STAFF: City Manager Rick Getschow, Police Chief Matt Sackett, Fire Chief Scott Gerber,
Public Works Director Robert Ellis, Community Development Director Julie Klima, Parks and
Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer, Administrative Services/HR Director Alecia Rose,
Communications Manager Joyce Lorenz, City Attorney Maggie Neuville, and Recorder Kelsey
Engelen
Workshop - Heritage Rooms I and II (5:30)
A. HIGHWAY 4 & 5 INTERCHANGE
Public Works Director, Robert Ellis, provided an overview of the topic for the evening,
asking that Council consider the ideas presented and inform as to whether they support City
staff in moving forward with the project.
Assistant City Engineer, Carter Schulze, began by specifying the area of the study which
includes the roadway corridors and intersection area of Trunk Highway (TH) 5, County State
Aid Highway (CSAH) 4—also known as Eden Prairie Road, and US Highway 212.
Schulze briefly covered the history of area improvements beginning in 1991 when the current
signal was installed at TH 5 and Eden Prairie Road. In 2000, the signal was installed at Fuller
Rd and TH 5. The US 212 Interchanges at Mitchell, Wallace, and Eden Prairie Road were
constructed in 2002. And in 2008, US 212 was built west to the city limits and beyond.
Next, Schulze laid out the various key focus issues that have been considered for the study,
before diving into each issue: safety; operations and capacity; queueing; access; pedestrians
and bicycle connections; and analysis of alternatives.
Beginning with the issues of safety, Schulze noted that the 4 and 5 interchange is above the
critical crash rate with 101 crashes during the five-year analysis period, during which there
were no fatal or serious injuries. An analysis of crash severity exhibited the vast majority as
rear end crashes, with a fair amount of angle crashes as well.
City Council Workshop Minutes
March 7, 2023
Page 2
In his breakdown of operations and capacity, Schulze stated the intersection is at or near
capacity during peak hours and detailed the routes and side streets affected during AM peak
hour, PM peak hour, and school PM peak hour.
Looking ahead to 2040 traffic volume forecasts, Schulze described worsening conditions at
the intersection. Currently, during peak hours the intersection experiences Level of Service
(LOS) D which is characterized as high-density traffic flow where speed and freedom to
maneuver is restricted. By 2040, forecasts exhibit LOS at E or F which is characterized as
unstable flow at or near capacity or forced flow in which the amount of traffic approaching a
point exceeds what can be served. At this level we experience stop and go waves and poor
travel times. Schulze described where it is expected that queues would extent during AM-,
PM- and PM school peak hours, and the issues off road access during those times.
In evaluation of alternatives, Schulze explained, numerous criteria were examined including
safety, traffic operations, pedestrian and bicycle connectivity, local circulation, property
impacts, environmental impacts, and construction cost and feasibility. Eighteen initial
improvements were identified before being narrowed to four viable options.
Many considerations were factored into the interchange alternatives including added
capacity; reduction of specific crash types; reduction of pedestrian and bicycle conflicts;
right-of-way needs and major business impacts; reduced local access leading to new
connections and closures, authorization from various agencies such as MnDOT, Hennepin
County and Met Council; functional classification change which promotes higher speeds and
mobility, and reduced access; and high cost.
Schulze displayed visual representations of each of the four alternatives, beginning with No
Build. This option offers very little construction but does much less to mitigate traffic issues
than the other three alternatives. In the No Build alternative, there are suggestions to
consider reconstructing/extending acceleration lanes for the northwest and southeast
quadrants; reconstructing the northeast and southwest channelized right-turns to improve the
positioning angle and pedestrian safety; extending the west bound lane turn lane storage; and
extending the east bound lane turn lane storage.
The second alternative, the SPUI (Single Point Urban Interchange), directs all traffic off the
highway into a single interchange signal at the top of a TH 5 bridge over Eden Prairie Road.
While these alternative operations would allow TH 5 traffic to flow freely, Schulze explained
the downside involves modified access to TH 5 in multiple locations, and the expansion of
right-of-ways beyond the property they currently occupy. The SPUI would include access
closure at Fuller Road, replaced by an underpass beneath TH 5, which pushes the need for
internal roadway connection elsewhere. Access at Carnelian Lane would also be affected.
City Council Workshop Minutes
March 7, 2023
Page 3
Next, Schulze described the third alternative, the Partial Interchange. In this model the on
and off ramps are only on the north side of TH 5, lessening the right-of-way impacts on the
south side. The Partial Interchange relies on an Eden Prairie Road round-about on the north
side of TH 5 for vehicles turn arounds to travel south on Eden Prairie Road. This model
incorporates the same modified access at Fuller Road as the SPUI.
Schulze continued to present the final alternative, the Peanut. This alternative allows the
option for TH 5 to have a bridge over CSAH 4, or an underpass beneath it. The interchange
incorporates a peanut-shaped roundabout system and includes the same modified access west
of CSAH 4 onto TH 5. It also includes the same bridge and modified access at Fuller Road as
the SPUI and the Partial Interchange.
Schulze presented multiple access alternatives between Eden Prairie Road and Fuller Road
that could be utilized if a Fuller Road bridge were to drive necessity for modified access to
TH 5.
Having presented the top viable options, Schulze asked Council for their thoughts and
recommendations based on the information laid out. Schulze outlined the various paths that
they could take, beginning with not taking any action. Engineering staff could package the
preceding concepts into a planning document so that it could be utilized in the future.
The next option is to pursue the project and improvements to the interchange. Schulze
explained MnDOT does not have this project high on a priority list, meaning that City of
Eden Prairie would be acting as the lead agency in the project, seeking funding for
engineering and environmental work, engaging with property owners and neighborhoods,
and seeking funding for final design construction. While leading the effort would involve a
great deal of work for the City, it would also allow Eden Prairie to pursue its interests and the
interests of its residents more than if MnDOT were driving the efforts. Schulze pointed out a
bonding bill and grants as funding options.
Ellis added this road interchange concern was not at all on MnDOT’s radar until the City
brought the issue to the MET Council. At this time the State is unable to drive the project,
but they are supportive of the project if Eden Prairie can take the reins.
Narayanan asked what the funding, timeline and process of the potential project would entail.
Ellis discussed the various agencies, planning and funding needs that come into play for the
project, explaining the first step as looking to the State Legislature for $5 to $10 million for
concept engineering. Once project details are known, the next steps are holding
neighborhood meetings, open houses, and meeting individually with property owners most
impacted. At this point, if MnDOT, City Council, residents, etcetera are still in support of the
project, the City would go back to State Legislature to request around $20 million for final
City Council Workshop Minutes
March 7, 2023
Page 4
engineering and environmental reviews. Then, approximately $70 million would be needed
for construction.
Mayor Case expressed understanding of the City’s view that we should either do nothing and
wait or go all in with a strong alternative like the Peanut or the SPUI. Case asked if there is
much, if any, cost differential between the alternatives, to which Ellis responded that the cost
is essentially the same cost range for construction.
Council voiced their support for moving forward with next steps. Case added that
municipalities west of Eden Prairie would certainly provide legislative support for the project
which would help their traffic flows that are increasing due to their own growth.
Open Podium - Council Chamber (6:30)
I. OPEN PODIUM
A. RENEE AND JIM DIVINE – NEIGHBORS UPKEEP OF HOME
EXTERIOR AND CITY CODE
Renee Divine and Jim Divine, 6930 Rosemary Road, outlined their background as
Eden Prairie residents and summarized the work they have done on their older
home. The Divines described the many issues they have had with a neighbor in
the past several years, mostly surrounding the individual’s business having been
run out of their home, which led to long-term placement of a storage pod on the
edge of their property, numerous work-vehicles in the driveway, unsightly trash
on the property, among other things. They noted that Jim Schedin, Zoning
Administrator for Eden Prairie, has been very helpful throughout the many code
violations, and noted that the neighbor was no longer in violation of city code.
The Divines voiced grievances about degrading exterior conditions of some
neighboring homes, and the impact this has on their own property value.
The two expressed interest in city staff and council digging in to the language of
various city ordinance to determine if anything should be amended.
III. ADJOURNMENT