Highway 169 Phase 2 (Part 2) – Cross Range Expressway

Highway 169Phase 2 (Part 2) – Cross Range Expressway April 30, 2014 Public Information Meeting Taconite Community Center

Today’s Meeting Agenda Overview Short Presentation ~ 15 min Questions/Comments

Agenda History of the Cross Range Expressway Corridors of Commerce (COC) Program MnDOT District 1 COC Project - TH 169 • Proposed Improvements • Project Update • Next Steps ROW Acquisition Process Questions

Cross Range Expressway

Project History 1986 Draft Environmental Impact Statement 1989 Final Environmental Impact Statement 1994 Phase I Construction 2003 Phase II Environmental Assessment 2006-2007 Phase II (Part 1) Construction 2016 Phase II (Part 2) Construction (COC)

Expressway Segments Phases Length Constructed Remaining Phase I 6.7 mi. 1994 Phase II (part 1) 2.8 mi. 2006 & 2007 Phase II (part 2)1.6 mi. X Phase III 3.8 mi. X Phase IV 1.9 mi X Phase V 2.1 mi X Total 18.9 miles 9.4 miles

Corridors of Commerce Program The 2013 Minnesota Legislature created the Corridors of Commerce program by authorizing the sale of up to $300 million in new bonds for the construction, reconstruction and improvement of trunk highways. District 1 proposed TH 169 Expansion Project • Selected November 2013 • Legislature allocated $14M to $20M

Corridors of Commerce Program TH 169 Freight Route

District 1 – Corridors of Commerce Project TH 169 2-lane to 4-lane expansion 1.55 mile segment Existing AADT 6,600 (2011) TH 169 – Supplemental Freight Route Part of Phase II of the Cross Range Expressway Environmental Assessment completed for this segment in 2003 Const. Cost Estimate = $9.5M

Phase 2 (Part 2) East End of Bovey Bypass 0.3 Mi E. of CSAH 7

Project Improvements • TH 169 • Better Clear Zone, Center Median • Install Intersection Lighting (CSAH 15 and CSAH 7) • Construct designated Turn Lanes • Access Control (Combine Access in Holman) • Replace Plate Steel Box Culvert • CSAH 15 • Realign Intersection to 90 degrees • Realign Intersection with Rail Corridor to near 90 degrees • CSAH 7 • Replace Plate Steel Box Culvert

Project Update Project Alignment and Limits Established Wetland Delineation – completed Fall of 2013 Preliminary Design - continued Field Surveys – nearly completed Property Acquisition – Titles Acquired Agency Coordination – • MnDNR - permit • Corp of Engineers – wetland permit • MPCA – stormwater treatment

Project Update (cont’d) Project Outreach and Coordination started– • Itasca County • City of Taconite • Western Mesabi Mine Planning Board • Canadian National Railway • Mesabi Bike Trail • Local Snowmobile Clubs • Utility Companies

Next Steps Survey Mapping, Soil Investigations – May 2014 Environmental Assessment (Re-Evaluation) – Fall 2014 ROW Acquisition Complete – Spring 2016 Final Design – Start July 2014 & Finish Spring 2016 Project Permitting Project Letting – June 2016

ROW Acquisition Process MnDOT Determines Land Ownership - MnDOT Design Finalizes Construction Limits MnDOT Notifies Affected Property Owners- - Anticipated Late 2014 or Early 2015 MnDOT has affected Parcels Appraised MnDOT prepares written Offers to Purchase

Questions / Comments?

Expressway Segment Costs Project Estimated Phases Cost Total Project Cost Phase I $10.0 M Phase II (part 1) $14.6 M Phase II (part 2) $11.5M - $12.5M Phase III $35M - $46M** Phase IV $17M - $22M** Phase V $58M - $77M** Total $121.5M – 157.5M ** 2018 Dollars

Traffic Data (AADT) Segments 2000 2011 2032* 2032 ** Bovey to CSAH 7 5,800 6,600 7,700 9,500 CSAH 7 to Marble 5,500 5,800 7,300 9,100 Marble to Calumet 4,900 5,600 6,200 8,000 Calumet to Pengilly 4,750 5,600 7,200 9,000 * Based on MnDOT Projections ** Based on Projected AADT of 1800 from SEH Traffic Analysis for Essar Steel Project

Highway 169 Phase 2 (Part 2) – Cross Range Expressway