Highway 371 North Improvement Project

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Pequot Lakes - Hwy 371 North July 19, 2005 Page 2of12 4. MnDOT is through the Final Environmental Impact Statement(EIS)phase and the Federal Highway Administration has signed the Record of Decision(ROD). 5. Funding for the first stage of construction is currently identified in 2011; however, this is highly dependent on the availability of state and federal funding. The number of construction stages and their limits will be determined during the development of the final design plans for the project. A schedule of the key project tasks remaining is given below: • Complete Final Layout/Obtain Municipal Approval 2005 • Begin Right-of-Way Acquisition 2008/2009 • Prepare Final Design Plans 2009/2010 • Start First Stage of Construction 2011 The City needs to keep working through the various issues with MnDOT so the City knows what its costs are estimated to be(the sooner the better) and also so the project is ready when the funding is available. 6. After working with the Committee and the City, MnDOT will then present a Final Layout for City concurrence in accordance with the Municipal Consent Law. At this time, the City will once again be asked to pass a resolution to accept MnDOT's latest version of the Plan. 7. Since the City's population is less than 5,000, MnDOT's policy is to cost share 90% State— 10%City on selected project items. These will need to be worked out in a cost participation Agreement between the City and MnDOT after both the State and the City approve the Final Layout. The City also needs to be looking ahead and consulting with a financial consultant on possible bond sales. Most likely there will be City costs that will have to be spread out over several years. Also, even if the City is receiving funding assistance from MnDOT or other agencies, many times a City will have to upfront these costs and will require a temporary or bridging loan during the construction phase before the permanent loan can be closed. In reviewing all of these issues and items, the Committee will be preparing a priority list of required/desired improvements or expenditures on this project. 8. The completion of service roads before any Trunk Highway construction/access interruption begins (to enhance safety, access, and circulation during construction) will be a decision that will be made as MnDOT determines the actual construction phasing (not yet to this point in the process). 9. The City will be working with the County, as there will be several interactions of between City streets-service roads and County Roads. JAI30PQLAK\025-MnDOT TH371 Improvements\Meetings\071905 Council Workshop update-memo.doc