Dear Friends/Participants in the Northfield Grass Roots Transit Initiative:
There's a great deal of progress to report regarding the Transit Initiative's Priority Goals (thanks everyone!), and I will write soon with plans for our next meeting. But in the meantime...
I write to call your attention to an important transportation-related meeting/"Open House" that will be held this Wednesday, July 22, 7 p.m. at the Northfield Armory.
(Publicity for this meeting has been inadequate, owing to an accelerated project timeline, so help
is needed in spreading the word).
Background
City staff have identified a potential source of Federal Stimulus funds for a large-scale local engineering project that would introduce safe and convenient non-motorized and pedestrian transportation routes
throughout Northfield's Highway 19/ Highway 3 corridor! (!) This project follows a stated priority in Northfield's Transportation Plan, and the potential for Federal Sitmulus Funds has put it on a unusually fast track.
City Staff have commenced a study (the "TH 3/ TH19 Modal Integration Study") to identify design options (including 'grade-separation concepts') that would "promote and enhance non-motorized transportation and build a more cohesive community" in the Highway 3/19 Corridor.
This potential project is of enormous significance for Northfield, and the involvement of local residents is crucial if the project design is to best meet the needs of local residents.
This project potentially advances two of the Priority Goals identified by our Transit Group: The improvement of connectivity to Northfield's neighborhoods along north highway 3, and
consideration of the optimal location for the proposed Northfield Transit Hub within the Highway 3/19 corridor.
PLEASE come to the Armory on Wednesday night to lend your views. City Staff have requested public input on the scope (i.e. how much of Highways 3 and 19 should be included), and design of this project. Public input is needed!
Input regarding the project's scope: Public input is requested to determine the scope of the project. The proposed project could potentially extend north on Highway 3 to introduce much-needed pedestrian and non-motorized connections to and from the Northfield's residential and commercial areas just north of Greenvale Avenue. To the south, the project could also extend to Woodley to improve pedestrian access to the parks (Seckler, Babcock, Ames) and trails on both sides of Highway 3 and the River.
The above-stated north-south scope
for the project is essential to achieving the "cohesive community" stated in the City's objective for the project. Please come to the Armory on Wednesday night to help determine the scope of this project.
Input on design content: Your input is also needed to inform the specific design options. As stated on the City's web site (excerpted
below), City staff are considering "grade separation" concepts, which mean passes and paths under and over, and through the Highway 19/3 corridor. What are the opportunities here? And what are the risks! How will the remainder of the project (if we are fortunate to receive Stimulus Funds) be funded?
Please come to the Armory on Wednesday night at 7 to hear more about the proposed study and to share your views and suggestions an the corridor's re-design.
1. What are your experiences on the TH 9/ TH 3 traffic corridor: whether in your car, or on foot, on your bike, or with a stroller? What do you feel when you travel through it?
2. What would you like to see there in the way of paths, bridges, tunnels, overpasses to facilitate a safer and smoother connections for all forms of transportation on that corridor?
3.
Now add to that picture consideration of the location of the future Transit Hub for Northfield: a facility that would facilitate access to public transportation such as the new Northfield Metro Express Bus as well as to Northfield Transit and our local taxi companies. Where should that Hub be located within the specified corridor to be of maximum benefit to Northfield residents? What ought it to include?
And, finally 4. What should be the project's scope?? How much of the Highway 19 corridor should be considered in order to achieve the City's objectives for this project?
Your input on these and other questions is encouraged! If you are unable to attend the meeting, you may forward your comments and questions to City Engineer Katy Gehler-Hess: Katy Gehler-Hess" <Katy.Geh...@CI.NORTHFIELD.MN.US
Process Timeline:
Comments from the Open House will be used to develop a set of highway corridor re-design options that will in turn be presented at a second public "open house" on Wednesday August 26, 7 - 9 p.m., also at the Northfield Armory. The final design options will then be incorporated into the City's proposal for Federal Stimulus Funds, due on September 15.
The "window" for public input is unfortunately short, owing to the September 15 deadline for the Stimulus
Funds. So involvement is needed now! Please plan to attend the meeting on Wednesday. And spread the word to your friends and neighbors (and email distribution lists).
Thank you for your consideration of this information! I hope to see you on Wednesday night !
With warm regards,
Suzie Nakasian Facilitator, Northfield Grass Roots Transit Initiative
P.S. For your convenience, a project description, and Announcement of the City Open House follow:
From the City of Northfifled, Engineering Department
"TH 19 and TH 3 present various
transportation challenges to travelers in the Northfield area. The expanse of the highways and speed of vehicles moving through the area create
obstacles in connecting pedestrians and bicyclists to and from different parts of the City. In particular, non-motorized mobility needs to be improved to connect northwest Northfield and St. Olaf to the downtown, as well as across TH 19. Given the traffic volumes and the width of highway to cross, a grade separated non-motorized crossing has been recommended in the City's Transportation Plan.
Additionally, the north and south junction intersections of TH 19 and TH 3 are currently near-congested or congested during the morning and evening peak travel periods of the day and are forecasted to be congested in the future.
The City is planning for a future transit hub to be potentially located near the southwest quadrant of the south junction of the intersection in close proximity to the Mill Towns Trail and existing rail line. The City is underway with this study to carefully consider how all modes of traffic and transportation users will be able to safely and efficiently access the future transit hub in conjunction with completion of the TIGER funding application. This is especially important given the high traffic volumes on TH 19, short distance between the railroad tracks and the TH 19/TH 3 intersection, and heavy truck traffic in the area."
[Open House Announcement ] "Your attendance is requested at the first open house for the TH 19 / TH 3 Modal
Integration Study. This open house will define the scope of the project and gather information on motorized and non-motorized issues and concerns in the area. The
purpose of this study is to identify and evaluate potential grade-separation concepts that would promote and enhance non-motorized
transportation and build a more cohesive community. In addition, this study will need to identify concepts and identify
an implementation and funding strategy to achieve this vision. This multifaceted study will need to recognize and address the following challenges and opportunities:
TH3/TH 19 Modal Integration Study • Transit Hub/Trail Head Plans
• Intersection of TH 3/TH 19 • Downtown/Water Street Pedestrian Demand
• Union Pacific and Progressive Rail Crossings • Malt-O-Meal Plant and Pedestrian Crossing
July 22, 2009, 7:00-9:00 PM, Northfield Armory, 519 Division Street
For more information, please call the Engineering Department at 507-645-3020.
| 
