Res 1997 - 09 Supporting Exemptions of County & City Roadways from State Noise Standards�== CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
~ DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION NO. 97-D 9
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING EXEMPTIONS OF COUNTY AND CITY ROADWAYS
FROM STATE NOISE STANDARDS
WHEREAS, new and reconstructed county and city roadways provide
communities with essential transportation corridors to facilitate economic
development, meet expanding volumes of traffic generated by increased residential
and commercial growth and help to reduce the traffic burdens on major state and
interstate highways, freeways and expressways; and .
WHEREAS, the majority of county highways and high volume city roads in
urbanized areas of the metropolitan region already exceed State noise standards,
and do so only during specific times of the day; and
WHEREAS, it is sometimes not feasible to construct noise mitigation barriers
on county and city roadways due to a variety of planning, land use and zoning
considerations; and
WHEREAS, the cost of constructing noise mitigation barriers has been
estimated by the Minnesota Department of Transportation, where it is feasible to
do so, at approximately S 1 million per mile for each side of the affected roadway; .
and
WHEREAS, the cost of constructing noise mitigation barriers on county and
city roads may render a transportation improvement project infeasible due to high
construction costs, and planning, land use and zoning considerations; and
WHEREAS, the Dakota County League of Governments has formally adopted
the position of supporting the exemption of all county and city roadways from
state noise standards; and
WHEREAS, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners supports the
exemption of county roads from noise mitigation standards due to the extremely
high cost of constructing such barriers and the diminishing noise benefits these
barriers would provide; and
.�*� WHEREAS, Dakota County cities bear the total cost of constructing noise
mitigation barriers within their specific jurisdiction which if required would prevent
� the construction or reconstruction of roadways within their respective
communities.
NOW THEREFORE, BE /T RESOLVED that the Mendota Heights City Council
hereby supports the exemption of all county and city transportation improvement
projects from State noise standards due to the excessive cost of constructing
noise mitigation barriers and the diminished value these barriers would provide to
City residents.
BE /T FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of Mendota Heights hereby
authorizes the appropriate staff to work with Dakota County staff to bring about
the necessary legislative relief from these onerous statutory provisions.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Mendota Heights this 4th day of
March, 1997.
ATTEST:
Q�.�„� �
K thleen M. Swanson
City Clerk
�r
CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
By �� � G�.,��'-.�z'
Charles E. Mertensotto
Mayor