2023.02.21 Work Session Packet
4141 Douglas Drive North • Crystal, Minnesota 55422-1696
Tel: (763) 531-1000 • Fax: (763) 531-1188 • www.crystalmn.gov
Posted: Feb. 17, 2023
City Council Work Session Agenda
Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 at 6:50 p.m.
Council Chambers/Zoom
Pursuant to due call and notice given in the manner prescribed by Section 3.01 of the City Charter,
the work session of the Crystal City Council was held on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 at ______ p.m. in
the Council Chambers at City Hall, 4141 Douglas Dr. N., Crystal, MN and via Zoom. If the agenda
items are not completed in time for the regular City Council meeting at 7 p.m., the work session
will be continued and resumed immediately following the City Council meeting. The public may
attend the meeting via Zoom by connecting to it through one of the methods identified on the
City Council Meeting Schedule for Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023.
I. Attendance
Council members Staff
____ Eidbo ____ Bell
____ Kamish ____ Therres
____ Kiser ____ Gilchrist
____ LaRoche ____ Elholm
____ Adams ____ Larson
____ Budziszewski ____ Ray
____ Cummings ____ Revering
____ Sutter
____ Serres
II. Agenda
The purpose of the work session is to discuss the following agenda items:
1. City manager monthly check-in.
2. 2023 Bituminous Street Resurfacing Project bid opening.*
3. City Council liaison reports.*
4. Constituent issues.*
5. New business.*
6. Announcements.*
7. Proposed design comments on the Blue Line Extension project.
III. Adjournment
The work session adjourned at ______ p.m.
* Denotes no supporting information included in the packet.
Auxiliary aids are available upon request to individuals with disabilities by calling the city clerk at
(763) 531-1145 at least 96 hours in advance. TTY users may call Minnesota Relay at 711 or 1-800-627-3529.
CITY MANAGER
MONTHLY CHECK IN - FEBRUARY 2023
Objective 1 - Strategic planning for continued implementation of Council
priorities:
o Thriving Business Community+Open To Business assistance available+Community Development staff a resource for local business
community+Community Development staff continuing to work with
developers regarding redevelopment opportunities+Continuing to work through and advocate for city and
community's interest with Blue Line Extension
o Strong Neighborhoods+Code enforcement - on-going+Continued implementation of Master Parks System Plan
improvements+Home improvement loans/rebates available through CEE-
ongoing
o Sound fiscal policies and practices+2023 budget and levies are being implemented and tracked +Beginning to look at '24 budget and levy+2022 Audit prep ongoing - field work sched. in April+Implementing and updating long term plan (2023 - 2032)
approved in '22
o Welcoming and inclusive community+Inclusion & Diversity Commission - met Feb. 1 and
discussed developing work plan per establishing Ord. and
communications/outreach opportunities
Objective 2 - Work-life balance + City office was closed on Monday, Feb. 20 in observance of
Presidents' Day holiday.
+ Supporting various staff with family, health, and personal leave
issues+ Staff has been very supportive during the on-boarding process
Objective 3 - Monitor difficult conversations regarding Council effectiveness + Continue to work with new council and city manager
+ Managing Council vacancy and appointment process
4141 Douglas Drive North• Crystal, Minnesota 55422-1696
Tel: (763) 531-1000 • Fax: (763) 531-1188 • www.crystalmn.gov
Page 1 of 5
___________________________________________________________________________________
FROM: John Sutter, Community Development Director
TO: Adam R. Bell, City Manager (for February 21 work session)
DATE: February 16, 2023
SUBJECT: Discuss proposed design comments on the Blue Line Extension project
___________________________________________________________________________________
In response to previous discussions and the city’s July resolution, the Blue Line Extension has
prepared concept plans and traffic simulations for six scenarios. At the Feb. 9 work session,
the City Council reviewed concept drawings for three scenarios, #3, 4 and 5 (bold below):
1. Existing (no-build) - 6 lanes at grade, no LRT
Baseline required for the environmental review.
2. LRT with 4 lanes at grade
This was the initial concept and all parties seem to agree that it would not work
due to the intersection volumes and delays at Bass Lake Road.
3. LRT with 4 lanes, an interchange at Bass Lake Road and a third southbound lane
south of Corvallis
#3 is the concept currently preferred by the Blue Line Extension.
4. LRT with 4 lanes, at-grade with additional lanes through Bass Lake Road
intersection and a third southbound lane south of Corvallis
#4 is intended to address the Bass Lake Road intersection capacity issues
without constructing an interchange.
5. LRT with 6 lanes, at grade
#5 is an alternative requested for evaluation by the city.
6. LRT with 6 lanes and an interchange at Bass Lake Road
Both Blue Line and city staff agree that this concept would be an overdesign and
would not recommend.
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Blue Line Extension
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On March 9 the project’s Corridor Management Committee (CMC) will hear a presentation
from project staff about the Crystal scenarios. It is anticipated that project staff will state their
preference for Scenario #3 (4 lanes with interchange). However, other options will continue to
advance through the environmental review process.
City staff recommends that the City Council provide comments to the CMC on scenarios #3, 4
and 5. One way to do this would be to adopt a resolution at the March 7 City Council meeting.
Alternatively, the Council could approve a motion directing staff to prepare a letter to the CMC.
To guide staff in preparing either a resolution or letter for Council consideration on March 7,
staff requests City Council discussion of the following items and any others that
Councilmembers wish to bring up for discussion.
A. ALL SCENARIOS
1. Replacement of median landscaping being removed by the project
Replace, in new locations, the recently-installed median treatments and
landscaping which will be removed to make way for LRT (Exhibit A-1).
The county recently installed new landscaping with irrigation in the median of
Bottineau Blvd. due to the failure of the much of the landscaping installed in
the 2011-2012 reconstruction project.
These recent improvements were essential to achieving the vision for the
roadway when the reconstruction plans were approved in the late 2000s.
Because the LRT project will replace this landscaping with ballast rock, track,
LRT equipment and hardscape, landscaping of equivalent quality and quantity
should be included in the project in areas alongside the roadway.
Specific locations and designs would be determined later in the project. For
example, it may be more beneficial to concentrate the enhanced landscaping
near major intersections or adjacent to residential uses rather than in a strictly
linear fashion.
2. Wilshire Blvd. intersection
Include two left turn lanes from eastbound Wilshire Blvd. to northbound Bottineau
Blvd. (Exhibit A-2).
Due to traffic generated by vehicles leaving the park and ride facility and
limited stacking space between Lakeland Ave. and Bottineau Blvd., two left
turn lanes are needed from eastbound Wilshire Blvd. to northbound Bottineau
Blvd.
This was in the 90% plans for the previous alignment
3. 47
th Ave. intersection
Optimize intersection performance with minor adjustments to signal and
approach lanes (Exhibit A-3).
For eastbound 47th Ave. turning right to go south on Bottineau Blvd., install a
right turn green arrow to overlap with the left turn green arrow from
northbound Bottineau Blvd. to westbound 47th Ave. This will increase the
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green time for the dominant movement on that approach with no penalty to
the other approaches, except that U-turns from northbound Bottineau
Boulevard to southbound Bottineau Blvd. / TH100 would need to be
prohibited.
For westbound 47th on the east side of Bottineau Blvd., due to limited stacking
space, straighten the north side curb to create two lanes for the full distance
between Lakeland Ave. and Bottineau Blvd., designate the right lane for
straight movement or right turns, and designate the left lane only for left turns
because that is the dominant movement on this approach.
4. Bus shelters and crosswalk at Elmhurst/Bass Lake Road
Add bus shelters on Bass Lake Road at Elmhurst, modify the south curb of Bass
Lake Road, and construct an enhanced crosswalk including a median extension
with a pedestrian cut (Exhibit A-4).
Shelters for east-west buses on Bass Lake Road are needed to improve the
rider experience and facilitate transfers to and from LRT.
Elmhurst is an existing, but unmarked, crosswalk that should become more
prominent to discourage mid-block crossing. This should include an
activatable beacon to warn drivers of pedestrians crossing so they have time
to yield as required by law.
These elements were in the 90% plans for the previous alignment.
The city reserved space and aligned its trails/sidewalks to accommodate the
planned bus shelters and crosswalk in its 2018 Bass Lake Road Streetscape
and 2019-2020 Becker Park projects.
5. West Broadway jurisdictional transfer - 42
nd Ave. to Douglas Dr. segment
Complete a jurisdictional transfer agreement with the cities of Robbinsdale and
Crystal for the segment of West Broadway (CSAH 8) from 42nd Ave. (CSAH 9) to
Douglas Dr. (CSAH 102).
The county has identified this segment for jurisdictional transfer to the
respective cities (Exhibit A-5a).
The segment from Fairview Ave. south into Robbinsdale has never been
constructed to urban standards and is essentially the same rural highway it
was 80 years ago (Exhibit A-5b).
The 2040 “no build” traffic forecast shows an estimated 1,000 vehicle per day
diversion from Bottineau Blvd. to this segment of West Broadway (Exhibit A-
5c).
Additional diversion will likely occur due to the project and the lane reduction
on Bottineau Blvd. West Broadway is the primary alternate route for vehicles
avoiding congestion and delay on Bottineau Blvd.
Due to the presence of city utilities, the most practical approach would be for
the agreement to provide for a jurisdictional transfer payment to the cities in
lieu of county reconstruction. The utility reconstruction costs would be the
responsibility of the respective cities, and the actual construction work would
be completed by the respective cities after jurisdictional transfer.
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Acceptance of this jurisdictional transfer would be consistent with the adopted
policy of the city, which states: “The city would accept responsibility for this
roadway only after it is reconstructed to the city’s urban standards with
municipal consent or the county provides the city with funds to accomplish
same.” (Crystal 2040 Comprehensive Plan, p. 31)
6. Replacement of city facilities
To whatever extent the project removes existing city facilities and infrastructure,
replacement must be part of the project and not at city expense. Examples
include but are not limited to the Welcome to Crystal sign and the access route
for pedestrians and cell tower maintenance vehicles, both located near the
southwesterly quadrant of the Bass Lake Road intersection with Bottineau Blvd.
(Exhibit A-6).
7. Continue traffic counting through 2023
Conduct traffic counts in spring and fall 2023 using the same locations and
methods as in 2022.
The proposed lane reduction on Bottineau Blvd. is contrary to the traffic
forecasts used in the mid-2000s when the county determined that a 6 lane
facility was needed.
While some data suggest qualitative and quantitative traffic changes have
occurred in recent years, it is unclear whether these are temporary pandemic
effects or permanent changes.
A new set of traffic counts in spring and fall 2023 would help determine
whether a 4 lane roadway would be adequate.
B. SCENARIO #3 (4 LANES WITH INTERCHANGE)
1. Southbound on-ramp merge lane
Include a third southbound lane from the terminus of the southbound on-ramp to
approximately the same location where the third lane terminated south of
Wilshire Blvd. prior to the restriping in summer 2015 (Exhibit B-1).
2. Northbound auxiliary lane to off-ramp
Include a third northbound lane from approximately the same location where the
third lane started south of Wilshire Blvd. prior to the restriping in summer 2015 to
the beginning of the northbound off-ramp (Exhibit B-2).
3. Shoulders in the 4-lane segment
In the segment between Wilshire Blvd. and 47th Ave., include shoulders on the
roadway wherever it will be reduced to 2 lanes in one direction. This is necessary
to ensure emergency vehicles can pass through the area during periods of heavy
traffic. It is especially critical for the segment from Wilshire Blvd. to Corvallis Ave.,
because that is the city’s only grade separated crossing of the Canadian Pacific
Railway main line which sees 20-25 trains per day, some two miles in length.
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4. 3-to-4 lane “gore” at the ramp to southbound Trunk Highway 100
The project currently proposes to start a third southbound lane just south of
Corvallis Ave. to provide space for vehicles queuing in a single lane to go south
on TH100. Instead of creating a 2,000 foot long third lane for this purpose, the
project should improve the throughput to TH100 by starting the third southbound
lane much closer to 47th Ave. and allowing the middle lane to choose either
southbound Bottineau Blvd. or TH100. This change would reflect the fact that
approximately half of the southbound traffic during the peak hour exits to
southbound TH100 rather than staying on Bottineau Blvd.
C. SCENARIO #4 (4 LANES WITH ADDITIONAL LANES AT BASS LAKE ROAD)
1. Southbound lane drop
Extend the third southbound lane through the Wilshire Blvd. intersection to
approximately the same location where the third lane terminated prior to the
restriping in summer 2015 (Exhibit C-1).
2. Shoulders in the 4-lane segment
In the segment between Wilshire Blvd. and 47th Ave., include shoulders on the
roadway wherever it will be reduced to 2 lanes in one direction. This is necessary
to ensure emergency vehicles can pass through the area during periods of heavy
traffic. It is especially critical for the segment from Wilshire Blvd. to Corvallis Ave.,
because that is the city’s only grade separated crossing of the Canadian Pacific
Railway main line which sees 20-25 trains per day, some two miles in length.
3. 3-to-4 lane “gore” at the ramp to southbound Trunk Highway 100
The project currently proposes to start a third southbound lane just south of
Corvallis Ave. to provide space for vehicles queuing in a single lane to go south
on TH100. Instead of creating a 2,000 foot long third lane for this purpose, the
project should improve the throughput to TH100 by starting that third southbound
lane much closer to 47th Ave. and allowing the middle lane to choose either
southbound Bottineau Blvd. or TH100. This change would reflect the fact that
approximately half of the southbound traffic during the peak hour exits to
southbound TH100 rather than staying on Bottineau Blvd.
D. SCENARIO #5 (6 LANES)
1. 3-to-4 lane “gore” at southbound Trunk Highway 100
Rather than force all traffic exiting to southbound TH100 into a single lane,
improve the throughput to TH100 by allowing the middle lane to choose either
southbound Bottineau Blvd. or TH100. This change would reflect the fact that
approximately half of the southbound traffic during the peak hour exits to
southbound TH100 rather than staying on Bottineau Blvd.
EXHIBIT A-1
Existing median landscaping
EXHIBIT A-2
Excerpt from 90% plans (previous alignment)
Wilshire Blvd. intersection
EXHIBIT A-3
Westbound 47th Avenue at Bottineau Blvd.
Eastbound 47th Ave. at Bottineau Blvd.
EXHIBIT A-4
Bus shelters and crosswalk at Elmhurst and Bass Lake Road
Excerpt from 90% plans (previous alignment):
EXHIBIT A-5a
EXHIBIT A-5b
West Broadway looking northwest from 47th
West Broadway looking southeast from Welcome
EXHIBIT A-5c
2040 forecast model - shift from Bottineau Blvd. to West Broadway
EXHIBIT A-6
Crystal sign and shared pedestrian and cell tower maintenance access
EXHIBIT B-1
April 2015 aerial photo showing southbound third lane drop
EXHIBIT B-2
April 2015 aerial photo showing northbound third lane add
EXHIBIT C-1
April 2015 aerial photo showing southbound third lane drop