07.08 - Update on Highway 371 Project

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PUBLIC I UP 0. 1E A series of public meetings were held to gather, discuss, and distribute project information. The meetings were focused around the four community areas'along the corridor to facilitate the presentation and discussion of information. The areas included: Lakes Area (Nisswa Lake, Cullen Lakes, and Twin Lakes area), Pequot L_akes Area, Jenkins Area, and the Pine River/Wilson Township Area, Lakes Area Meetings Two informational public meetings were held at the Nisswa Community-Center for the Lakes Area (March 11th and April 24th) to discuss the section of Highway 371 from.the intersection of County Road 18 in Nisswa to the intersection of County Road 107/168 in Pequot Lakes. The purpose of the meetings,was to receive input from area residents on highway related issues and concerns and to apply the input to the proposed alternatives Pequot Lakes Community Meetings Three community meetings were held for the Pequot Lakes Area on March 6th, March 18th, and April 24th. The purpose of the first meeting was to conduct a "visioning session" to identify the values and future characteristics sought after in the community Items raised related to both quality of.life issues-as well as transportation related issues. The second meeting used the transportation-related information gathered at the visioning session to create community goals and objectives. Highway design ideas were then brainstormed for an in-town and bypass option that would help achieve the community goals and objectives. Alternative alignment options for reconstructing the highway (in-town and eastern bypass) were presented on April 24th. Jenkins Community Meetings Three public informational meetings were held in the City of Jenkins on February 20th,April 15th, and May 5th. The purpose of the first meeting was to gain a better understanding of the community's , issues and concerns. The second meeting was held to present alternative'alignment options based on the input received from the previous meeting.,A third meeting was held with the Jenkins Planning Commission to further discuss the western bypass alternative. Pine River/Wilson 'Township Area Community Meetings ; Two public informational meetings were held in Pine River (February 25th and April 15th) to gain a better understanding of the community and township issues and concerns and to present several alignment options for reconstructing the highway through town or constructing a highway bypass west of p; the downtown. 11 ,4ik August 6th Public Meeting , A public meeting was held on August 6th at the Pequot Lakes Schools to present the results of the traffic modeling and operations analysis that was conducted to assist in assessing. the feasibility and effectiveness -:; -of bypass alignments at Pequot I Lakes, Jenkins, and Pine River.