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RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR ST. LOUIS COUNTY’S RAISE GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE RICE LAKE RD (CSAH 4) CORRIDOR PROJECT.
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CITY PROPOSAL:
WHEREAS, Rice Lake Rd (CSAH 4) is a regionally significant roadway that serves the city of Duluth and the greater Twin Ports metropolitan area; and
WHEREAS, Rice Lake Rd (CSAH 4) is currently experiencing tension between multiple factors such as the roadway function, traffic operations and safety, controlled access designation, requests for access and designation by the City of Rice Lake’s Comprehensive Plan that the city’s commercial development be centered on Rice Lake Rd (CSAH 4); and
WHEREAS, if nothing is done to address these competing factors, this vision for development will likely not be fully realized and traffic operations and safety will continue to deteriorate thus harming the transportation utility of Rice Lake Rd (CSAH 4), which will result in negative spillover effects to the greater Twin Ports metropolitan area; and
WHEREAS, in response, St. Louis County has been working on the development of the Rice Lake Rd (CSAH 4) Corridor Project, located within the cities of Duluth and Rice Lake; and
WHEREAS, the goal of this project is to better balance these competing factors through a comprehensive project that improves the local transportation network by respecting the function of Rice Lake Rd (CSAH 4), while improving traffic operations and safety, constructing new street infrastructure, constructing trails to support a multi-modal transportation system, and supporting future development through sustainable access management strategies; and
WHEREAS, the future success of Rice Lake Rd (CSAH 4) is expected to benefit the residents and businesses located within the greater Twin Ports metropolitan area; and
WHEREAS, St. Louis County is seeking funding for the Rice Lake Rd (CSAH 4) Corridor Project through the RAISE Grant which is a grant program included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA); and
WHEREAS, if awarded funding, the Rice Lake Rd (CSAH 4) Corridor Project does not require cost participation by the City of Duluth, and will not construct new city infrastructure or modify existing city infrastructure owned by the City of Duluth; and
WHEREAS, if awarded funding, St. Louis County would be responsible for design engineering, environmental documentation and permitting, right-of-way acquisition, bidding, and construction engineering and administration at the cost of St. Louis County.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the CITY OF DULUTH supports St. Louis County’s vision to improve the Rice Lake Rd (CSAH 4) corridor and the county’s submittal of the RAISE grant.
RESOLVED FURTHER, that the CITY OF DULUTH commits to cooperatively working with St. Louis County to provide municipal consent for the future Rice Lake Rd (CSAH 4) Corridor Project.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This project is located within both cities of Duluth and Rice Lake. The project begins at Technology Dr with the construction of a new trail. The roadway reconstruction begins on Rice Lake Rd at a point approximately 1,200 ft south of Ridgeview Rd (CR 694). Ridgeview Rd is the north boundary for the City of Duluth.
St. Louis County will be submitting a RAISE Grant funding application for this project in February 2024. The County is asking the Duluth city council to provide a resolution of support. See attached exhibits A and B that explain the history and project construction components.