03-25-1991 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

PLANNING COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING HELD FEBRUARY 20, 1991 will change life in area as you have never seen. Freeways set up major division lines. I am also a member of the Orono School Board. I am not speaking for the School Board, because they have not discussed this issue. M/ personal opinion is construction that occurs i' Orouo through Schoo. Distric boundaries, i^ going to cause miDor problems. Tne S-nool District does not have any additiona* funoing for more av-hool buses. If construction of a new corridor, or a ma^or to change to the existing corridor occurs, it would be necessary to aco ous routes. It now costs the S:hooi District $30,000 per year for each bus. Any additional costs would have to passed on to the taxpayers. I think the best location tor this improvement, which I believe is going to be a freeway, is on Highway 5o, out of our .3 ool District entirely. The S'hool Board wis recently contacted by MNDOT. They indicated that they will begin safety improvement construction next June. The proposal is to first construct center islands at every intersection from Maple Plain to Delano and then to install two extra stoplights when the project is completed. Even if Highway 55 is the chosen corridor, there will still be a fair volume of traffic using Highway 1^. I think we need to encourage MNDOT to improve Highway 12 in such a way that it can handle the traffic going through there in a safe, slow manner. I think a four-lane road. 35 to 40 mph from 1-3)4 to Maple Plain would best serve that purpose. I would hope that is the position that the City takes." Kelley asked whether the School District is going to make its own recommendation to .MNDOT. begun its are being Maresh replied, "The School Board has not discussions on this issues. I think discussions delayed until the routes become more defined." Kelley asked how the School Board intends to iiiteract with all of the various cities it serves. He asked. "Viill the School Board work vith each city council prior to makinj a public statement about its position?" Maresh did not know how the School Board would approach the recommendation process in that respect. He added, "I only know that if the construction occurs anywhere in Orono, it will have a devastating effect on the entire Community. I think the Planning Commission should take the position that the City does not want the corridor here. The pressure for the con idor is coming from the western cities t'nat want a super highway to access Minneapolis." Kelley asked what time frame the School Board may have for discussing this issue in an open forum. 1.. - 8 -