Planning Commission - 10/09/2000 - Workshop APPROVED WORKSHOP MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD WORKSHOP
MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2000 7:00 p.m., CITY CENTER
Council Chambers
8080 Mitchell Road
BOARD MEMBERS: Ken Brooks, Frantz Corneille, Randy
Foote, Kathy Nelson, Susan Stock,
Ray Stoelting
STAFF MEMBERS: Krista Flemming, Planner I
Stu Fox, Manager of Parks and
Natural Resources
Alan Gray, City Engineer
Mike Franzen, City Planner
Scott Kipp, Senior Planner
Leslie Stovring, Environmental
Coordinator
I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE—ROLL CALL
Chair Corneille opened the meeting at 6 p.m. Present: Chair Corneille,
Commissioners Nelson, Brooks, Foote, Clinton, Stoelting, Koenig, and Stock.
Staff: Uram, Franzen, Gray, Newton.
II. WORKSHOP TOPICS
A. Transportation Plan
Alan Gray, City Engineer, said the city was unique with 494, 212, 5, 169, 62 and
the new 312. Major regional corridors extend through town. The city has
developed a partnership process with Hennepin County. Traffic plan was
developed in 1996 and 1997; traffic was forecasted to 2015, estimated build-out.
Regional models were programmed in with met council projections. All major
corridors exista lot of environmental features exist that would preclude
additional corridors. Transportation plan was based on expansion of existing
corridors. There is a partnership with MnDOT/Hennepin County; there will be
objections from the residential population. When roadway improvements take
place there will be various objections; they need to look at the plan as a whole and
not just certain parts. If tributary corridors are restricted there will be more traffic
on collector streets. Think of the plan as a system that all needs to be developed.
The other strategy is supporting regional system improvements. Most corridors
are on the county and state system—improved trunk highway 5 and Pioneer Trail
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October 9, 2000
Page 2
will assist greatly. Financial partnership from state aid assists. Another issue is
access management. Capacity and safety of trunk highways is influenced by
access.
Brooks asked about the number of signals on 212.
Gray said there are too many intersections on old 212. There should be a limit on
the number of intersections. Access management philosophy if applied 20 years
ago would have helped. Developing frontage road systems and having less
accesses would help but would be cost prohibitive. The system needs to be
developed over time and the plan should be supported although it may not seem
correct to neighborhoods. Expanding corridors, supporting regional system
improvements, access management, support systems that reduce traffic.
Uram said there are a number of property owners there and they have the right to
access the highway; the city would have to buy the property.
Gray said there was also pedestrian bike traffic.
Brooks asked whether with the addition of Grace Church off Pioneer there needs
to be a stoplight addition.
Gray said that traffic will use Spring Road and Eden Prairie Road and will use the
existing signals on Pioneer. Systems to remember are pedestrian bike traffic,
mixed use development with office and housing to balance traffic flows, flexible
work hours, and car pooling.
Foote asked whether Minnetonka had a plan to go forward with County Road 4
because it goes from a four lane to a two lane.
Gray said he was unaware of plans by Minnetonka for County Road 4. The scope
of this plan is mandated by the Met Council.
B. Transportation Demand Management (TDM)
Randy Newton, traffic engineer, discussed traffic demand management. In the
mid 80s I-494 corridor commission worked to have 494 expanded between 694
and the river and to encourage travel demand management. The consensus with
shutting off the on-ramps is that traffic will be worse. Traffic Demand
Management plans are required for all new office and commercial development.
The plans typically include financial incentives and an in-house TDM
coordinator. This is being done now through the developers agreement. A formal
TDM policy/ordinance is being developed.
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October 9, 2000
Page 3
The goal of the Golden Triangle Area Demonstration project is to reduce
congestion in the area bounded by 212/169/494. There are approximately 26,000
employees in this area. The first step is to get a Transportation Management
Association formed to leverage funds, concentrate on TDM, and encourage mixed
land use. HOV and general roadway improvements are also an important step.
Newton stated they are currently working on a GTA traffic study that evaluates
the impact of TDM, mixed land use, and infrastructure on reducing congestion.
TDM measures are increased vehicle occupancy, alternative transportation,
decrease peak hour trips, and incentives. Southwest Metro Transit is working with
some employers in the area to increase carpooling. Mixed land use is something
the city can control through the planning process. It can decrease the number of
out bound peak hour trips. There are different peak hours of traffic demand
between commercial and office.. Infrastructure improvements are needed and
include adding capacity and additional access to and from GTA. Additional acess
locations include a Washington Avenue bridge, a Flying Cloud bridge, and a full
diamond interchange at Prairie Center Drive and 494. HOV improvements
include 8 to 9 slip or bypass ramps for high occupancy vehicles. Shady Oak and
212 has been identified as one location. Working with MnDOT on design. Goal
is to have project in place by Summer, 2001. Plan may include a bus turnout.
Nelson said she looked at the park and ride to move in and out, running a shuttle
bus through more congested areas. The problem with the park and ride is getting
cars in and out.
Newton said there were no specific locations.
Gray whole area in Opus needs to get on a regional system. Choices are Bryant
Lake Parkway or up through Minnetonka and Hopkins on Shady Oak. We are
located on top of a congested intersection.
Newton said over 50 % coming to/from the Golden Triangle area are from the
east and north.
Stoelting asked about the 2015 plan and the arterials. Increased development of
Chanhassen, Chaska, and Waconia will impact the traffic in Eden Prairie. He
asked whether that was considered in the study.
Gray said they had not looked at it in five year increments; there is intuition
involved in attempting to figure what projects to do when. They are behind in
regional traffic improvement.
Nelson said the gas tax needs to go up to 25 cents to do what needs to be done;
the situation will get worse.
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October 9, 2000
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Gray said the tax goes into the road system, Minnesota has been good about
getting federal dollars back. The transportation plan was estimated at$40 million
for the city's share. Costs have become higher than estimated. This has to come
from new development.
Brooks said looking at Eden Prairie, 494, he does not see TDM on a small scale
relieving congestion.
Gray said the best thing would be carpooling to become socially acceptable.
Corneille asked whether the city would adopt a TDM policy?
Gray said a policy has been drafted.
Uram said one thing the council is proposing is a $400,000 tax levy to fund
transportation improvements. Analyzing bus subsidies versus infrastructure shows
that infrastructure improvements are clearly better.
Stoelting said 212 funding was up to CSAH 4 and asked about 2015.
Gray said in the long range improvement plan, 212 is not part of it. The plan is
constantly reviewed. Eden Prairie needs to keep trying for funds for 212.
The workshop adjourned at 6:59 p.m.