City Council Meeting Date: July 16, 2024
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: David E. Bennett, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Title
Update/Discussion Mill Towns State Trail (Woodley Street to Waterford Bridge).
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council receives an update and discusses the Mill Towns State Trail (Woodley Street to Waterford Bridge).
Summary Report:
On April 16, 2019, the City Council adopted the alignment of Mill Towns State Trail in the City. The City entered into a cooperative agreement with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on September 3, 2019 for the preliminary design of the State Trail. The preliminary design was complete on October 5, 2021.
The City applied for and received 70% - $8.19 Million in state bond funds in the 2023 legislative session to build the trail from Woodley Street to the Waterford Bridge, and the City’s local match 30% Riverside Park to Woodley Street will be built with local projects and will be completed by 2026.
The City entered into a Contract with I&S Group on October 17, 2023 for the final design of the Mill Towns State Trail from Woodley Street to Waterford Bridge. Final design of the plans has been ongoing through 2024; the plans are approaching 90% complete. There has been a lot of coordination with Carleton related to the trail within the Arboretum. The project team has met numerous times to review issues and make adjustments. The MnDNR is coordinating the final easement/appraisal and compensation with Carleton. The main items remaining on the final plans include:
• Final coordination/approval with MnDOT related to the underpass at TH19.
Preliminary approval has been received.
• Permitting related to wetlands.
• Archeological Review/Assessment.
• Storm Water Modeling/No Rise
The City will be meeting with property owners between Wall Street and Woodley Street related to permanent and temporary easements for the trail construction. This will probably go into the fall of 2024 with hopes that easement will be secured by the end of 2024 so the project can be bid early in 2025.
The next step for City Council will be to approve the final plans and authorize bidding late fall of 2024 along with action related to easements.
Alternative Options:
NA
Financial Impacts:
This project is estimated at $8.2 Million
Tentative Timelines:
Fall 2024 - Secure property easement
Dec. 2024/Jan 2025 - Approve Plans and Specs and Authorize Bidding
Spring 2025 - Fall 2025 - Construction