3(c) Review revisions to Transportation and Infrastructure Sections

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TRANSPORTATION INTENT Maintain a transportation system that provides for a variety of safe and flexible mobility options for people and businesses operating within the City, as well as provides for safe, high-speed access to the surrounding economic region all at a cost that is financially responsible to taxpayers. BACKGROUND lt�� ot.i�;ir�al l�ech lak�F Trdil �ruvid2d basi� ac�e�� l'u tnt c>ut_i�� wu�ld tl�id[ hel�ci �s�dbli�h tfie eari�� Citv of Pequot,after bein�used bv Native Americans to travel from the southern part of the state through the area.The Leech Lake Trail was simplv widened and became the ori�inal Hi�hway 371• The City grew during the rail era, which is visible in the development pattern of the downtown and surrounding areas. Lots are established in a grid pattern,which is characteristic of development in the rail era. The town adapted fairly easily to the automobile. Highway 371 ran through the City two blocks east of the railroad. New development sprang up along this corridor.The area between the highway and the rail line thrived to one degree or another until the rail was discontinued and the highway was realigned. The realignment i�� tl_�t early 195(i's was an attempt to upgrade the highway to modern standards and increase the capacity. Gevelopment patterns shifted west of the abandoned rail line and highway. The old alignment became County Road 112 and �r�o�e recenuy kd�rr,u�,:�n Road. City streets have developed in a mainly piecemeal fashion. In the historic grid portion of the City, many of the streets are paved, but few sidewalks or other pedestrian walkways have been put in. The area surrounding downtown Pequot Lakes,what was Sibley Township,has developed with a different pattern.Old winding trails to lake cabins have been adapted to one degree or another as local roadways. Most of these are substandard in that they lack dedicated public right of way--they exist in a collection of prescriptive easements. The fourth incarnation of the ori�inal Leech Lake Trail is manifested in the Trunk Hi�hwav 371 Expresswav which was completed in 2017 iust east of town. Those improvements were in response to increasing traffic counts as well as safetv concerns. HIGHWAY 371 - The Hi�hwav 371 Expressway was completed in 201/ and is located alon� the easterly border of Downtown Pequot Lakes. Safety concerns for motorists created the need for this increased roadwav corridor. The new four lane expresswav from Nisswa to Jenkins provides enhanced connectivitv to more populous areas, while providin�safe and efficient travel_to.the Ciiv of Pequot Lakes for those that visit and work in our communitY_Future develo�ments of the City's road s s�tem should ca�italize on_this new 1