TH 3 & 19 Multimodal Transportation Study -
City of Northfield, Minnesota
The City of Northfield is in the process of defining the details of a modal integration project in the vicinity of Trunk Highway (TH) 19 and TH 3 for submittal to the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery Discretionary Grant Program. The purpose of this project is to identify and evaluate potential grade-separation concepts that would promote and enhance non-motorized transportation and build a more cohesive community.
TH 19 and TH 3 present various transportation challenges to travelers in the Northfield area. The expanse of the highways and speed of vehicles moving through the area create obstacles in connecting pedestrians and bicyclists to and from different parts of the City. In particular, non-motorized mobility needs to be improved to connect northwest Northfield and St. Olaf to the downtown, as well as across TH 19. Given the traffic volumes and the width of highway to cross, a grade separated non-motorized crossing has been recommended in the City's Transportation Plan.
Additionally, the north and south junction intersections of TH 19 and TH 3 are currently near-congested or congested during the morning and evening peak travel periods of the day and are forecasted to be congested in the future. The City is planning for a future transit hub to be potentially located near the southwest quadrant of the south junction of the intersection in close proximity to the Mill Towns Trail and existing rail line. The City is underway with this study to carefully consider how all modes of traffic and transportation users will be able to safely and efficiently access the future transit hub in conjunction with completion of the TIGER funding application. This is especially important given the high traffic volumes on TH 19, short distance between the railroad tracks and the TH 19/TH 3 intersection, and heavy truck traffic in the area.