DEPARTMENT: Transportation
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Execute Joint Powers Agreement With City Of West St. Paul For Preliminary Engineering Of Multi-Use Trail Along County State Aid Highway 8, County Project 08-035
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize execution of a joint powers agreement (JPA) with the City of West St. Paul for preliminary engineering of a multi-use trail along the south side of County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 8 (Wentworth Avenue) between Robert Street and CSAH 73 (Oakdale Avenue), County Project (CP) 08-035 (see Attachment: Project Location).
SUMMARY
To provide a safe and efficient multi-modal transportation system, Dakota County partners with cities to plan and construct multi-use trails along County highways. City and County staff have identified the trail gap along the south side of CSAH 8 between Robert Street and CSAH 73 as a priority to provide safe pedestrian and bicycle access to local destinations. If completed, this missing trail segment would connect the existing trail along CSAH 8 east of Oakdale to destinations including retail, the Winslow Apartments, and transit stops along Robert Street (Attachment: West St. Paul Trail Gap Map).
A preliminary engineering study for this trail gap was included in the Dakota County 2024-2028 Capital Improvement Program (CIP), CP 08-035. The effort will assess feasibility, identify property impacts, provide opportunities for public engagement, and estimate trail construction costs. This information will inform decisions about programming additional project phases in future CIPs and may also help advance external grant applications for active transportation funding.
Prior to starting project development, a JPA with the City is necessary to define project responsibilities and cost share. The City is the lead agency for the project with strong participation from County staff. The cost participation for preliminary engineering will be in accordance with the adopted ...
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