City Council Meeting Date: November 4, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Sean Simonson, Engineering Manager
David Bennett, City Engineer/Public Works Director
Title
Consider Motion Authorizing Submittal of Application for the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Grant Program - TH 246 & CSAH 1 Roundabout.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council authorizes Submittal of Application for the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Grant Program - TH 246 & CSAH 1 Roundabout.
Summary Report:
For background information, please refer to the earlier agenda item on the TA Grant - Lincoln Parkway Walking and Biking Improvement Project. Staff will not provide a separate presentation under this agenda item; however, Council members may ask additional questions related to the project prior to taking public comment. Public comment will be received under this item, even though the presentation was provided as part of the previous agenda item.
Background
The Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds cost effective construction projects that reduce fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads. In Greater Minnesota, MnDOT administers two HSIP programs: one focused on safety improvements to local roads and a second focused on safety improvements to state highways. The majority (60 percent) of HSIP funding goes to local roads.
The City of Northfield approved a TH 246 Scoping Study from TH 3 to CSAH 1 within Northfield city limits. The study approved a preferred concept (Attachment 1) for the study area. Included in the preferred concept is the installation of a roundabout at the intersection of TH 246 and CSAH 1 (Attachment 2). The proposed roundabout would be a joint project between the City of Northfield, who would be responsible for the North leg due to the upcoming turnback approval, Rice County, who would be responsible for the East and West legs of the roundabout, and MnDOT, which would be responsible for the South leg of the proposed roundabout.
The City of Northfield has requested that Rice County include this improvement in their Transportation Improvement Plan to deliver this project in 2029. Rice County has not incorporated this improvement in their plan yet, but the Rice County Engineer plans to discuss adding this to their plan at the transportation committee meeting in November.
The prerecorded presentation includes the Transportation Alternatives (TA) Grant - Lincoln Parkway Walking and Biking Improvement Project, the Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) Grant - TH 3 Trail, and the Highway Safety Improvements Program (HSIP) Grant Program - TH 246 & CSAH 1 Roundabout. However, due to the various nuances of each grant, staff proposes that each individual agenda item allow for Council questions and discussion and public comment.
Alternative Options:
Not submitted, however, staff believe in leveraging available funding.
Financial Impacts:
The estimated costs from the Scoping Study is $5,000,000. Currently $4,000,000 of the funding is accounted for, and the remaining unfunded portion of the project will be split between parties. See the proposed costs and funding below:
Tentative Timelines:
Grant Application Due November 26, 2025
Grant Award Notice February 6, 2026