Title
Requesting a variance from Minnesota Municipal State Aid Rules for the Concordia Mill & Overlay Project from Snelling Avenue to Marion Street.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul plans to repave portions of Concordia Avenue and construct pedestrian curb ramps compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act using Municipal State Aid funds; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota State Aid Rules apply for all streets designated as Municipal State Aid Streets (including Concordia Avenue from Snelling Avenue to Marion Street), for which the City of St. Paul receives formula funding for the maintenance and operation of these streets; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota State Aid Rule 8820.9946 Minimum Design Standards, Urban; Reconditioning Projects and Municipal State Aid Rule 8820.9951 Minimum Design Standards, On-Road Bicycle Facilities for Urban; Reconditioning Projects provide dimensional standards only for one-way streets with two or more through lanes; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota State Aid Rules 8820.9936 and 8820.9941 pertaining to reconstruction of Municipal State Aid streets clearly state that one-way streets must have at least two (2) through-traffic lanes; and
WHEREAS, Concordia Avenue is classified as a major collector street between Snelling Avenue and Marion Street with an average daily traffic volume ranging from 2,200 to 4,850 vehicles per day and the city’s Public Works Traffic Engineering Division Works has confirmed that one lane of traffic can accommodate this volume of vehicles; and
WHEREAS, historic speed data collected by the city at midblock locations have found that the average speeds on Concordia range from 31 to as high as 37 mph, despite a speed limit of 30mph (which dropped to 25mph in 2020 with citywide speed limit changes); and
WHEREAS, the city has received neighborhood and resident concerns about speeding and traffic safety on Concordia Avenue for many years; and
WHEREAS, the repaving of Concordia presents an opportunity for the city to re-think the layout of the street to promote improved multi-modal access, lower speeds, and improve traffic safety; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Highway Administration lists “Road Diets” or roadway reconfiguration in the form of reduction of the number and width of travel lanes as one of its Proven Safety Countermeasures to improve safety, calm traffic, provide better mobility for all users, and enhance overall quality of life; and
WHEREAS, to improve safety and mobility options the city would like to explore the potential of reconfiguring Concordia Avenue to have one through travel lane alongside a buffered bicycle lane; and
WHEREAS, reducing the number of through-traffic lanes on Concordia from two to one lane would require a variance from Municipal State Aid Rules subject to the approval of the Minnesota Department of Transportation; and
WHEREAS, the granting of a State Aid variance does not require the city to move forward with the lane reduction, but provides the city the option to do so should it so choose; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, that we do hereby authorize the Director of Public Works to request a variance from the State Aid requirement that one-way Municipal State Aid Concordia Avenue have two through travel lanes, so that the city may have the ability to reduce the number of lanes from two to one and also install a buffered bicycle lane on Concordia Avenue between Snelling Avenue and Marion Street; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Department of Public Works will not initiate these changes until after it has received variance approval for the lane reduction from the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and until it has conducted additional public engagement with neighborhood groups and stakeholders to advise the Department on lane reduction and bicycle lane implementation; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council hereby indemnifies, saves and holds harmless the State of Minnesota and its agents and employees of and from claims, demands, actions, or causes of action arising out of or by reason of the granting of the variance. The city further agrees to defend at its sole cost and expense any action or proceeding commenced for the purpose of asserting any claim arising as a result of the granting this variance.