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Thoughts on CSAH 11 between the current'TH371 alignment and the future TH 371 alignment. Function:The primary function of this segment of CSAH 11 is to provide a framework for capturing value from the local land use pattern.The primary function is not moving traffic at speed. East of the future TH 371 alignment,the primary function becomes moving traffic at speed—it is important that this corridor remain'a safe and efficient highway for high-speed automobile travel--but west of the future intersection,the movement of traffic at high speeds is counterproductive. Capturing Value:The City of Pequot Lakes has made some enormous investments in—and has some very large obligations for long-term maintenance of—infrastructure within its core downtown.in order to make sufficient use of these investments,the transportation system within the core downtown needs to provide a platform for capturing value. Street segments,including CSAH 11, must provide for a complex,flown environment.We must accommodate the movement of traffic as well as the sudden stopping and turning of cars,the parking of cars,safe interaction with pedestrians and bikers as well as a community ambiance that has a recreational destination feel. For this level of complexity,automobile traffic must be slow and must share priority with other modes of travel within the public realm. It is only with this type of design that downtown Pequot Lakes can attract and retain the level of private sector investment necessary to sustain prior investments.There needs to be natural, market demand for filling in the gaps between existing structures and,over time, making incremental improvements to increase the intensity of use of existing structures.This will only happen if(1) people can get to Pequot Lakes quickly and easily and(2)once in town,can be accommodated in a comfortable,town setting. Concept#1:The concept put forward by the County labeled"Concept 1" is the closest representation of what a future CSAH 11 corridor within downtown Pequot Lakes needs to look like.To that concept,as I presented,we suggest the following modifications: 4 1. In general,the median should be removed and the automobile travel lanes reduced to 10 feet. Correspondingly,the sidewalks should be widened by 5 to 6 feet on each side of the street.The cost difference of moving the concrete from the center of the street—where it has little value— to the edge of the street where it creates immense value for the adjacent property owners, 1 should be negligible. Narrowing the lanes will further slow traffic through this section and allow for a more complex environment to emerge. 2. The space available at County Road 112 provides an opportunity to offset reduced design speeds by providing for a continuous flow intersection.A properly-designed round-a-bout (meaning designed to a neighborhood context, not a highway context)would improve flow and reduce stacking in this area. 3. The intersections at Government Drive and N.Washington Ave.should be designed to emphasize shared space.The intersections should be designed to provide for automobile and