Laserfiche WebLink
VIII. CONCLUSION <br />Historically, the TH 12 Southern Bypass alternative has been preferred alternative for handling the <br />expanding traffic requirements of the study area. The alignment and design characteristics permit <br />the Southern Bypass to be the only alternative meeting the project objective of reducing <br />congestion alorrg existing TH 12 while still operating at an acceptable level-of-service. <br />As documented in this proposal, the three-component TSM alternative (CR 6. TH 12. Watertown <br />Road) should be included with previously identified options for further analysis for the following <br />reasons: <br />• It offers the potential to be an economical alternative. <br />• It involves minimal adverse environmental impacts. <br />• It involves minimal 'jdverse social and econcmic impacts. All alternatives must be <br />evaluated for the extent of lost tax base in Long Lake. This is a critical issue for that <br />community and one which is provided for in the MIS/EIS/EA process under equity <br />consideration. <br />• Existing traffic forecasts are flawed or incomplete and therefore do not facilitate a <br />quantifiable assessment the potential for auxiliary roadways to contribute to congestion <br />reduction on existing TH 12. <br />• The scope of work would likely not require a full EIS, thereby expediting the remaining <br />evaluation and a,oproval process. <br />• The combined effect o the three facilities (TH 12. CR 6 and Watertown Road) has not <br />been previously considered. <br />The inclusion of the three-component TSM alternative follows the spirit and context of the MIS <br />process by expanding the scope of an individual corridor study into a transportation system study. <br />The quantifiable benefits of the proposal, combined with the incomplete past traffic analysis basis <br />of previous proposals, offers the potential for considerably advancing the TH 12 decision <br />implementation <br />For these reasons the City of Long Lake request MN/DOT to include the three-component TSM <br />alternative in the updated TH 12 traffic forecasts and the upcoming MIS/EIS decision document <br />i, <br />-.**J <br />PARSONS <br />BRINCKERHOFF <br />w:\longlake\feporl.doc