TH 100 Visual Quality Advisory Process - Project Overview

1. TH 100 Visual Quality AdvisoryProcess VQAC Meeting One 6 December 2012

2. Project introductionParticipants • MnDOT and city staff • Community representatives • Consulting landscape architects

3. Project introductionTonight’s meeting • Meeting focus: Context and conceptual vision • Project overview • Visual quality process for TH 100 • TH 100 visual quality • Guiding visual quality • Summary

4. Project overviewScope and schedule • Project area • TH 100 between 36th Street and 25-½ Street • Schedule for design and construction • Construction start in Fall 2014 • Construction complete in late 2016 • Project purpose • The improvements will provide motorists with ah more efficient, smoother, and safer ride.

5. Project overviewScope and schedule • Improvements • Reconstruct TH 7 and CR 5 (Minnetonka Boulevard) interchanges including replacement of bridges • Reconstruct roadway pavement (12 foot lanes) • Improve safety and efficiency through ramp modifications and addition of acceleration lanes • Replace two railroad bridges • Replace concrete barrier • Improve drainage • Install noise walls (if elected by noise barrier beneficiaries)

6. Project overviewPurpose • Generate ideas for establishing the visual character of the corridor through dialog with the community • Produce a Visual Quality Manual that guides the design of visual quality elements • Define key concepts and directions for visual quality that may be used in the final design of constructed elements

7. Project overviewVisual Quality Advisory Committee • Composition • neighbors from each side of the corridor • major institutions • representatives of city commissions • city and county staff representatives • Roles and Responsibilities • consistency in participation • representative of a constituency • committed to a visual quality dialog • engaged, not spectating • Process • seven VQAC workshops • one open house

8. Visual quality process for TH 100Products • Conceptual vision • Corridor influences • Visual quality elements • Visual Quality Manual

9. Visual quality process for TH 100Conceptual vision • Responsive to place: the community and geographic contexts • Responsive to people: neighbors and travelers • Narrative and graphic reference point for design of visual quality elements

10. Visual quality process for TH 100Corridor influences • Corridor continuity • Existing and future roadway layouts • Local requirements and guidance • SWLRT and the HCCRA bridge • Noise wall voting • Other local influences

11. Visual quality process for TH 100Visual quality manual • Conforms to MnDOT parameters and responds to local guidance • Based on community, geographic, and demographic contexts • Illustratedby precedent images and informative drawings with a supportive narrative • Articulates design intent for visual quality elements

12. TH 100 visual qualityCorridor components Major mainline structures • Bridges • Retaining walls • Noise barriers

13. TH 100 visual qualityCorridor components Supporting elements • Grading and ponding • Signs • Highway lighting • Fencing • Vegetation

14. TH 100 visual qualityCorridor components Local features • Exit ramps and local streets • Pedestrian and bicycle facilities • Streetscape on local streets • Gateway elements • Public art

15. Guiding visual qualityEstablishing a conceptual vision • Exercise One: Identity • Exercise Two: Issues • Exercise Three: Ideas • Sharing directions

16. Exercise One:Identity Guiding visual qualityEstablishing a conceptual vision • What is the nature and character of St. Louis Park? • Describe your community using single words or short phrases. • Create a separate card for each description. • You will have a chance to share your descriptions with VQAC members.

17. Exercise Two:Issues Guiding visual qualityEstablishing a conceptual vision • Based on thoughts articulated as a part of Exercise One, think about TH 100 in St. Louis Park. • As a small group, list the five most significant visual quality issues from a traveler’s perspective. • Again as a small group, list the five most significant visual quality issues from a neighbor’s perspective.

18. Exercise Three:Ideas Guiding visual qualityEstablishing a conceptual vision • How might the issues identified in Exercise Two be addressed? • As a small group, brainstorm ideas that relate to concerns of travelers. • Similarly, brainstorm ideas that relate to concerns of neighbors.

19. Sharing directions Guiding visual qualityEstablishing a conceptual vision • Spend a few minutes deciding on a few things that your group found to be most relevant, important, intriguing, or exciting. • Pick a representative to share highlights of your small group discussion.

20. Meeting summaryQuestions and next steps • Questions • Upcoming VQAC meetings • First Thursday of the month • December 2012 through July 2013 • Evenings 6:00-8:00 • St. Louis Park City Hall • Selection of Art Committee representative • Other announcements

21. Meeting summaryVQAC Meeting One Thank you! http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/hwy100slp/

22. Additional informationProject layout <<<insert layout>>>

23. Additional informationPlanning references • Television Documentaries • Highway 100 “Lilac Way” • City of St. Louis Park Planning Documents • Vision St. Louis Park • Minnetonka Boulevard Design Plan