Corridor Investment Management Strategy Duluth Meeting Summary 6/4/2012

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1 Corridor Investment Management Strategy Duluth Meeting Summary 6/4/2012 Revised 8/20/12 The Minnesota Department of Transportation s Corridor Investment Management Strategy (CIMS) is a corridor-based initiative that brings MnDOT together with its local, modal and state partners to identify opportunities for collaborative and innovative investment. It offers a means to share information and identify opportunities to apply MnDOT s suite of lower cost, high benefit investment strategies that address safety, access and mobility. The following summary conveys key themes and specific comments recorded by MnDOT staff during facilitated discussions at the CIMS outreach meeting on June 4, 2012 in Duluth, as well as written comments submitted by participants via completed participant guides and follow-up s. As part of an ongoing, collaborative initiative between MnDOT and its partners, CIMS meeting summaries are intended to document what MnDOT has heard to this point in the CIMS process and offer potential starting points for further discussions around regional/local priorities and opportunities for lower-cost, high-benefit investments. Meeting Overview The CIMS meeting began with a short introduction from MnDOT District Engineer Duane Hill, followed by a presentation from MnDOT staff members Philip Schaffner, Bryan Anderson and Holly Kostrzewski that described the CIMS initiative, the condition of the trunk highway system, MnDOT s fiscal outlook, and the approaches that MnDOT is taking to advance objectives in the areas of preservation, safety, mobility and regional/local priorities (Click here to review the full presentation). The presentation was followed by a discussion of MnDOT s recent investments, programmed investments, and anticipated investment needs on three corridors: US 53 (from Cook to International Falls) MN 61 (from Two Harbors to Canada) I-35 (from the Twin Cities to Duluth) Each corridor was discussed at a workstation where MnDOT staff walked participants through a series of maps that displayed information relating to MnDOT s investment program. Maps were also provided for seven additional corridors: US 2 (from Bemidji to Duluth), US 169 (from Bovey to Keewatin), MN 169 (from Virginia to Ely), MN 210 (from Aitkin to Carlton), MN 73 (from I-35 to US 53), MN 70 (from Pine City to Wisconsin), and MN 38 (from Grand Rapids to Effie). All map series are available for download on the CIMS website. After reviewing the maps, meeting participants were asked to describe their regional/community priorities and the needs, issues, and opportunities they see on the corridor. Examples of the questions posed include:

2 What are your regional/community goals relating to economic vitality and quality of life? What community/economic development strategies is your city or county pursuing, and how could corridor improvements or system management strategies help advance them? Among the investments MnDOT needs to make in the years beyond the STIP to keep the system in a safe and sound condition, which are your highest priorities? Are there local system improvements or development plans that could be coordinated with MnDOT investments? As MnDOT develops improvements to keep the system in a safe and sound condition, what additional needs/issues/opportunities should MnDOT consider in project scope and design? What are the most critical issues on the corridor that may require investment beyond MnDOT s planned improvements? Stakeholder Input US 53 The US 53 serves as important route for tourism, taconite and international transportation. It is a key artery for both Koochaching and St. Louis counties and connects to the international border in International Falls. A significant amount of freight moves across the border, including large volumes on rail. An increase in mining is expected to boost travel on US 53. For area residents, it also provides access to education and medical care. Although there is transit on the corridor, participants expressed a concern that it is getting harder for veterans and seniors to get to appointments at medical centers. Good transit is seen as a key factor in helping seniors stay in their communities longer. Participants expressed general satisfaction with safety and the condition of the highway, but expressed the desire to see US 53 ultimately expanded. Given the efforts to improve the border crossing, an expanded US 53 link to I-35 could serve as an alternate North-South route to I-29 in the Dakotas. Elsewhere in the corridor, efforts are underway to convert municipal solid waste to synthetic gas. Boise Cascade is looking into the process and current plans are to process 60 tons of waste a day. This might bring more heavy truck trips to the corridor, but the by-product of the process could be used for road building or making tile. Other comments Speeding is becoming more prevalent. There should be a North/South bicycle route designated from Duluth to the Iron Range. US 53 is not a desirable route, but a parallel county road with a good shoulder could be considered. The Voyagers gateway in International Falls could be made more scenic for visitors to improve first impressions. CIMS Meeting Summary Duluth 6/4/12 2

3 Use local materials i.e. taconite tailings for road beds, crushed tires, etc. It would be helpful to plan further out than 10 years. MN 61 MN 61 serves both the tourism economy and the mining industry, both of which are the foundation of the region s economic vitality. The corridor is part of the North Shore Scenic Drive All-American Road. Participants described having good access to Northshore Mining, Northshore Manufacturing, Two Harbors Manufacturing, the Stanley La Bounty works, Surefab, and the Louisiana-Pacific Wood Products Plant, which are essential businesses to the region. Much of the discussion focused on the segment between Two Harbors and Silver Bay. Since the taconite processing plant was built in Silver Bay, Lake County residents have pushed for improvements linking this facility to Duluth and beyond. The construction of the expressway between Duluth and Two Harbors and tunnels at Silver Creek Cliff and Lafayette Bluff made substantial strides to achieving that goal. Participants expressed a desire to see continue progress on the remaining segments between Two Harbors and Silver Bay. One suggestion was to target the segments not previously reconstructed and make improvements one or two miles at time. Even if only one or two miles were improved every few years, that pace would go a long way toward achieving the desired outcome. At least once a year, due to a major accident, washouts or roadwork on MN 61, traffic is re-routed onto Lake County 3 parallel to MN 61. Participants recommended paving County Road 3 for its entire length to make a more viable detour route to MN 61. Another major topic of discussion was rumble strips on the corridor. Participants were generally in favor of rumble strips and all supported efforts to improve safety on the corridor. However, MN 61 is primarily a tourism route connecting and passing through several state parks and campgrounds and noise from vehicles hitting the rumble strips can be disruptive. It was suggested that the impact of rumble strip noise levels could be mitigated by placing them further out from the fog line, reducing the depth of the grooves, and avoiding placing them near turn lanes and other areas where shoulder traffic is anticipated. Concerns were also raised about centerline rumble strips given the amount of passing and traffic crossing the centerline. Participants suggested that placing continuous centerline rumble strips on this route will increase noise levels tremendously, something that runs counter to other efforts to calm and quiet traffic with new concrete grooving and asphalt smoothing efforts. Other comments Lake County is willing to partner with MnDOT on potential detours, gravel pit resources, staging, and waste areas. The stretch of road between Two Harbors and Silver Creek Cliff may see sewer improvements. Providing for a safe and efficient roadway with ample room to pull off on the shoulder is essential. Coordination with Lake County and the City of Two Harbors is needed to ensure all opportunities to fix Two Harbors to Silver Bay road segments are done. CIMS Meeting Summary Duluth 6/4/12 3

4 Near Split Rock State Park rumble strips were installed 4 off the fog line and it is just too close. Nonmotorized traffic (bikes) may be eliminated by installation of the stripes. Noise from cars hitting the rumble strips can be heard in campgrounds and in the park. It is an irritating noise. Also, nearby residents hear the noise it carries almost 1/2 mile. Consider a reduced conflict intersection treatment on the south end of Two Harbors. Regular cutting to maintain clear zones on MN 61 would be desirable. More open areas allow for better visibility for wildlife hazards such as deer. Vital road links between Gooseberry Park and Two Harbors along MN 61 are inadequate. The Beaver Bay to Silver Bay segment is also inadequate for tourist traffic and for serving the Silver Bay Marina. The newest highway reconstruction projects along the corridor have been huge improvements for traffic flow, safety and aesthetics. I-35 I-35 is a critical connection for Duluth and the northeast region of the state. As such, the condition of the interstate is of paramount concern. The discussion in the workgroup focused primarily on the condition of pavement as well as efforts to preserve the many bridges along the corridor. Participants indicated that a well maintained I-35 is necessary for the ongoing economic vitality of the region. Comments Received on Other Corridors MN 210 Comments Some communities along MN 210 are working to become bicycle friendly. Aitkin is working to have more active transportation and is applying for a Bicycle Friendly Community designation. Crosby is working very hard to be an outdoor recreation tourist destination. The Cuyuna Mountain bike area is very close to Crosby. US 2 Comments Portions of US 2 are used by cross country cyclists and the Adventure Cycling routes. US 169 Comments There are gaps in the development of the Mesabi Trail and US 169 is used by cyclists to connect to segments of the trail and to destinations. The trail is planned from Grand Rapids to Ely, but the segments near Ely are not all complete. CIMS Meeting Summary Duluth 6/4/12 4

5 Next Steps MnDOT will soon be developing a new 20-year Minnesota State Highway Investment Plan (MnSHIP) for the purpose of guiding future capital improvements on the trunk highway system. CIMS meeting summaries are one of many inputs to MnSHIP (click here to learn more about the process for developing MnSHIP and the various ways in which you can participate). Broadly speaking, the role of CIMS in the development of MnSHIP is twofold: 1. Promote the consideration of regional and community priorities and state/local collaboration opportunities in MnDOT s performance-based planning process. Through MnSHIP, MnDOT districts will develop a universe of highway improvements necessary to meet and maintain system performance targets over the next 10 years. Information obtained through CIMS outreach will help MnDOT districts identify and prioritize performance-based investments with the potential to address local concerns and advance objectives relating to quality of life, economic competitiveness, and environmental health. 2. Provide a transparent, systematic, and collaborative approach to identifying and prioritizing regional/community improvement priorities not tied to system performance targets. Such an approach will help MnDOT and its external partners consider tradeoffs and balance spending levels across regional/community improvement priorities (RCIPs) and other key investment categories in the MnSHIP investment framework (traveler safety, asset management, and critical connections.) MnDOT will also soon be developing a competitive solicitation as part of the CIMS initiative. MnDOT anticipates releasing proposed criteria and details on the application process in fall 2012 with a first round of applications due in early An additional next step is the development of 10-year Corridor Outlooks for all of the corridors that were covered in this initial round of CIMS meetings. As presently conceived, corridor outlooks will function as snapshots of programmed and planned investments, anticipated investment needs, and ongoing planning efforts on corridors over a 10-year period. These outlooks are intended to be short, easy to digest, and regularly updated. Under the current schedule, outlooks for corridors covered in the initial round of CIMS meetings will be rolled out with the adopted version of MnSHIP in spring The outlooks will display what the new investment plan means at the corridor level. The outlooks will also be an opportunity for MnDOT to highlight CIMS-identified needs that are being addressed via a planned project, management strategy, a planning study, or an ongoing discussion between MnDOT and its partners. CIMS Meeting Summary Duluth 6/4/12 5

6 Meeting Attendees MnDOT Bryan Anderson District 1 Lisa Austin Office of Transit Deanna Belden Office of Capital Programs and Performance Measures Todd Campbell District 1 Tracy Hatch Office of Financial Management Duane Hill District 1 Holly Kostrzewski District 1 Joe McKinnon District 2 Nancy Saanes District 1 Krysten Saatela District 1 Philip Schaffner Office of Statewide Multimodal Planning Mike Tardy District 1 Kathy Vesely Office of Aeronautics Non-MnDOT Bob Anderson Joel Astleford John Bathke Brian Boder Bob Busch Tim Campbell Ron Chicka Andy Datko Tarry Edington Earl Elde Kerry Gauthier Pat Henderson Susan Koschak John Krysiak Jon Mason Carol Pavleck Wade Pavleck Lee Radzak Heather Rand Jeanie Rowland Highway 53 Improvement Task Force Bois Forte Tribal Government Private Landowner St. Louis County WSN Explore Minnesota Tourism Duluth - Superior MPO Bois Forte Tribal Government MN Hwy 38 Leadership Board MN House of Representatives Arrowhead Regional Development Commission SNTC SEH, Inc. Arrowhead Regional Development Commission Resident Koochiching County NSSD Council, SNF Scenic Byway, Council, MN Historical Society MN DEED Bois Forte Tribal Government CIMS Meeting Summary Duluth 6/4/12 6

7 Cindy Voigt City of Duluth Click here to provide corrections, clarifications, or additional comments to the meeting summary. CIMS Meeting Summary Duluth 6/4/12 7