5 - Correspondence with Timothy Bray, Mn/DOT Project Manager

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ao��""ES°'4y°� Minnesota Department of Transportation District 3 Tel: 218/828-5700 a5a° 7694 Industrial Park Road Fax: 218/828-5814 ofVk Toll Free: 1/800/657-3971 Baxter, MN 56425-8096 March 9, 2007 The Honorable Cathy Malecha .Mr. Tom Woog, Chairman Mayor of Pequot Lakes Pequot Lakes Planning Commission 4638 County Road 11 4638 County Road 11 Pequot Lakes, MN 56472-3385 Pequot Lakes, MN 56472 In reference to: Trunk Highway(TH) 371 Alternate Route Dear Mayor Malecha and Mr. Woog: Thank you for inviting me to attend your study group meeting on February 15. I found it helpful to understanding the mission of this group and how it will play a part in moving this project forward. Unfortunately, because of timing and the format of the meeting, I was not able to express a number of points from the Minnesota Department of Transportation's (Mn/DOT) perspective that I feel are important. I would like to take this opportunity to share these with you and the rest of the group so that they are considered as the study group's work is continued. As I mentioned at the beginning of the meeting and in my phone conversation to Mr. Woog, up to this point Mn/DOT has been unclear on the intentions of the City with regard to the final alignment. This relates to the existence of two contrasting resolutions and their interpretation. Although the latest resolution addresses the alternate route, there seems to remain a possibility that after the work is completed by the study group the official recommendation could still be Alternative 2 or the through-town option. It is my understanding that the work of the group is to bring the alternate route layout up to the same level of detail as the other option in order to make an equal comparison. At that time it will be forwarded to the city council for formal action. It is important to note that Mn/DOT has already completed the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for this project required by state and federal law. Throughout this process the alternate route was studied in detail to the level required by these regulations. The decision by Mn/DOT to select the existing alignment as the preferred alternative was based in part on the fact that the City passed a formal resolution supporting such an alignment. Since that time, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has issued a Record of Decision (ROD) that finalized the EIS process and the preferred alternative. An equal opportunity employer