TH 100 Visual Quality Advisory Process VQAC Meeting One 6 December 2012

TH 100 Visual Quality Advisory Process

VQAC Meeting One6 December 2012

Project introduction

Participants• MnDOT and city staff• Community representatives• Consulting landscape architects

Project introduction

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

• 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.

Project overview

Scope 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)

Project overview

Scope and schedule

• 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

Project overview

Purpose

• 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

Project overview

Visual Quality Advisory Committee

• Conceptual vision• Corridor influences• Visual quality elements• Visual Quality Manual

Visual quality process for TH 100

Products

• 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


Conceptual vision

• Corridor continuity• Existing and future

roadway layouts• Local requirements

and guidance• SWLRT and the

HCCRA bridge• Noise wall voting• Other local influences


Corridor influences

• Conforms to MnDOT parameters and responds to local guidance

• Based on community, geographic, and demographic contexts

• Illustrated by precedent images and informative drawings with a supportive narrative

• Articulates design intent for visual quality elements


Visual quality manual

Major mainline structures

TH 100 visual quality

Corridor components

• Bridges• Retaining walls• Noise barriers


Corridor components

Supporting elements • Grading and ponding• Signs• Highway lighting• Fencing• Vegetation


Corridor components

Local features • Exit ramps and local streets• Pedestrian and bicycle facilities• Streetscape on local streets• Gateway elements• Public art

• Exercise One: Identity

• Exercise Two: Issues• Exercise Three:

Ideas• Sharing directions

Guiding visual quality

Establishing 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.

Exercise One: Identity



• 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.

Exercise Two: Issues



• 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.

Exercise Three: Ideas



• 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.

Sharing directions



• 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

Meeting summary

Questions and next steps

Thank you!

Meeting summary

VQAC Meeting One

http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/hwy100slp/

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Additional information

Project layout

• Television Documentaries – Highway 100 “Lilac Way”

• City of St. Louis Park Planning Documents – Vision St. Louis Park– Minnetonka Boulevard Design Plan

Additional information

Planning references