Appendix D: Dakota Rail Regional Trail to Luce Line State Trail Connection Study January 29, 2009 Appendix D inWayzata Prepared for the City of Wayzata and Hennepin County Department of Housing, Community Works and Transit January 29, 2009 Appendix D Appendix D 2 Table of Contents Acknowledgements I. Project Background & History .... ........... 4 VIII. Appendices The City of Wayzata Project Intent................................................. 4 Appendix A: Wayzata Sidewalk & Trail Plan......................... 18 Brian Gadow, City Planner Appendix B: Wayzata ADT Volumes......................... ........... 19 Project History................................... ............4 Mike Kelly, City Engineer Appendix C: Luce Line Trail Map.............................. ........... 20 II. Process & Tasks ............................. ........... 5 Hennepin County Appendix D: Dakota Rail Trail Map........................... ........... 21 Project Outcomes.............................. ........... 5 Appendix E: Wayzata Wayfi nding Plan................................. 22 Patricia Fitzgerald, Senior Planning Analyst Project Schedule............................... ........... 5 Appendix F: Detailed Cost Estimates ....................... ........... 24 Three Rivers Park District Participants........................................ ........... 5 Appendix G: Open House Survey Forms............................. 25 Stakeholder Involvement................... ........... 5 Kelly Grissman, Planner Project Time Line............................... ........... 5 Minnesota DNR Martha Reger, Area Trails & Waterway Supervisor III. Existing Conditions Analysis ................. 6 List of Figures City of Wayzata............................................. 6 Figure 1: Eastern End of Luce Line Trail...................................... 4 Existing Corridor Conditions.............. ........... 7 Figure 2: Regional Trail Map........................................................ 4 IV. Alternative Evaluation .............................. 8 Figure 3: Dakota Rail Trail through Hennepin County................. 4 Trail Route Evaluation Criteria...................... 8 Figure 4: Wayzata Trail Connections Project Schedule ............ 5 V. Preferred Corridor...................................... 10 Figure 5: Wayzata Context and Issues Map............................. 6 Preferred Corridor Selection.............. ........... 10 Figure 6: Existing Corridor Conditions.......................................... 7 Ferndale Road South........................ ........... 11 Figure 7: Trail Route Alternatives................................................. 8 Wayfi nding Plan............................................ 11 Figure 8: Trail Route Alternative Evaluation................................. 9 VI. Recommendations........................ ........... 12 Figure 9: Trail Route Alternatives A, B, C,.................................... 10 Segment 1.................................................... 13 Figure 10: Proposed Trail Route and Wayfi nding Segment 2..................................................... 14 Signage Locations....................................................... 10 Segment 3......................................... ........... 15 Figure 11: Wayfi nding Sign Types................................................ 11 This document was prepared by SRF Consulting Group, Inc. Segment 4......................................... ........... 16 Figure 12: Wayfi nding Sign Placement: Phase I.......................... 11 for the City of Wayzata and Hennepin County Department of VII. Implementation......................................... 17 Figure 13: Proposed Trail Route and Crossings........................... 12 Housing, Community Works and Transit. Cost Estimate Summary................................ 17 Figure 14: Segment 1 Recommendations.................................... 13 SRF Job No. 6595 Suggested Phasing....................................... 17 Figure 15: Segment 2 Recommendations.................................... 14 Related Projects to Be Coordinated.. ........... 17 Figure 16: Segment 3 Recommendations.................................... 15 Potential Funding Sources................ ........... 17 Figure 17: Segment 4 Recommendations.................................... 16 Appendix D 3 I. Project Background and History Project Intent it is natural (mowed grass). The Three Rivers Park District also The intent of the Wayzata Trail Connections project is to develop controls a section of the Luce Line State Trail from Vicksburg a schematic design plan to provide pedestrian and bicycle Lane in Plymouth east to Theodore Wirth Park in Golden Valley, connections between the Dakota Rail Regional Trail and Luce with connections to the Minneapolis Grand Rounds trail system. Line State Trail through Wayzata. Some small sections are under construction and are due to be fi nished in 2009. The plan identifi es alternate routes including suggested amenities and wayfi nding recommendations. The City of Wayzata, Hennepin County, Three Rivers Park District, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are agency Dakota Rail Trail stakeholders in this collaborative planning effort. The Dakota Rail Trail Corridor in Hennepin County extends 13.5 miles from the County line southwest of St. Bonifacius to Existing Regional Project History just west of downtown Wayzata (Appendix D). The Wayzata Trail System The City of Wayzata was awarded funds from Hennepin County terminus is located where the Dakota Rail Trail Corridor meets to conduct a planning effort to identify a potential bike and the BNSF Railroad. pedestrian trail connection through downtown Wayzata, linking the Dakota Rail Regional Trail and Luce Line State Trail. This The Dakota Rail Regional Trail originates at Shaver Park in Project Area planning effort was one of 10 Hennepin County Community Wayzata and follows the former Dakota Rail corridor through Works Corridor Planning grants awarded through a competitive Wayzata, Orono, Minnetonka Beach, Spring Park, Mound, Figure 2: Regional Trail Map (Three Rivers Park District) process to communities in 2008. The City of Wayzata, Hennepin Minnetrista, and St. Bonifacius. While the terminus for the County, and TRPD partnered to conduct this collaborative Three Rivers Park District portion of the trail is at the Hennepin planning effort. SRF Consulting Group, Inc. was retained to County border, the trail itself is planned to be extended 31.5 lead this effort and engage the community in the process. miles to Hutchinson through Carver and MacLeod Counties. Luce Line Trail The Luce Line State Trail is a 63-mile-long former railroad grade which wa developed for biking, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, snowmobiling, and skiing (Appendix C). The limestone surfaced trail runs from Plymouth 30 miles west to Winsted, with a parallel tread way for horseback riding. From Winsted to Hutchinson, the trail is gravel. From Hutchinson to Cedar Mills, it is crushed granite. From Cedar Mills to Cosmos, Figure 1: Eastern end of Luce Line Trail (Minnesota DNR) Figure 3: Dakota Rail Trail route in Hennepin County Appendix D 4 II. Process and Tasks The Wayzata Trail Connections Project followed a process in Participants Stakeholder Involvement which key stakeholders were engaged and involved in order to achieve the desired project outcomes. The City of Wayzata Throughout the process, key stakeholders were engaged, Brian Gadow, City Planner including: Project Outcomes Mike Kelly, City Engineer • Local and regional agencies include Hennepin • Screening of prudent trail alternatives Hennepin County County, City of Wayzata, Three Rivers Park District, • Preferred route identifi cation Patricia Fitzgerald, Senior Planning Analyst and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources • Business community benefi ts Three Rivers Park District • Elected policy-makers • Design recommendations for neighborhood sensitivity Kelly Grissman, Planner • Local businesses, including the Wayzata Chamber • Recommended amenities and wayfi nding Minnesota DNR of Commerce • Preliminary estimate of construction costs Martha Reger, Area Trails & Waterway Supervisor • Private property owners and residents • Roles and responsibilities for implementation • Trail user groups • Supporting graphics and illustrations Project Schedule 2/4/2009 Figure 4: Wayzata Trail Connections Project Schedule Appendix D 5 III. Existing Conditions Analysis City of Wayzata There are multiple existing pedestrian routes that connect the Luce Line State Trail and Dakota Rail Regional Trail through the City of Wayzata via the network of City sidewalks (Appendix A). However, none of the existing sidewalks are of a width that is safe or effi cient for use as a multi-use trail for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other recreational users. The possible routes are further restricted by the presence of the Highway 12 freeway, which has three roadway bridge crossings and one pedestrian-only overpass crossing (Figure 5). The route traverses a mix of land uses ranging from residential to institutional (Wayzata Middle School and several churches), park/open space, commercial, and offi ce. The trail should accommodate these uses and make connections between public open space and various other uses and also maintain consistent and logical wayfi nding objectives. Existing Corridor Conditions Initially, eight alternative trail routes were identifi ed to connect the Luce Line State Trail to the Dakota Rail Regional Trail through Wayzata, lettered