3. Rd Dept/Hwy17 corridor study - Laserfiche WebLink

CASS COUNTY HIGHWAY 17 CORRIDOR STUDY REPORT Cass County, North Dakota EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Anticipated growth in the Fargo metropolitan area has precipitated identification of additional lend for future development and transportation systems needed to serve potential growth areas. Specifically, County Highway (CH 17), south of 1-94, has been recognized as a significant north- south mute in the southwest metropolitan area providing crossing of the Sheyenne River and access to Interstate 94 (I-94). The importance of CH 17 will only increase as the area surrounding the corridor continues to develop by providing adequate access to a growing portion of the metropolitan asea. Particfuants Public end agency participation was en importent element of the corridor study. A Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) was established to provide direction for the study process and included members from Cass County, West Fargo, Fargo, Horace, Fargo-Moorhead Council of Government (F-M COG) end Stanley and Barnes Townships. Additionally, public input meetings were held periodically throughout thc study process end included local agencies, businesses, and property owners located within the study corridor. These meetings provided a strong basis for identifying and discussing study issues such as improvement alternatives, right- of-way requirements, potential impacts, access control, preliminary costs, and preferred alternatives. This Corridor Study Report also involved coordination and input from other local, regional, state, tribal and federal agencies for iduntifying planning and environmental issues related to the evaluation of roadway alternatives and corridor study recommendations. Existing Conditions The FM COG Trensportation Plen identifies County Highway 17 as a collector road south of 1- 94. Lend uses are primarily agricultural end scattered residential. CH 17 is currently a two-lene, paved, mral~sectiun highway intersecting six county and local roadways within the study corridor. While the overall condition of the road is good, slumping has occurred in several areas adjacent to meanders of the Sheyenne River. The corridor has numerous local roads, private property end field access points, some of which are very close to roadway intersections. Traffic operations analysis currently show acceptable levels of service at all key intersections along the study corridor. These levels of service are expected to decline due to anticipated traffic levels. An increase of traffic mix and volumes, along with the presence of many access points along the corridor, pose potential safety hazards along the roadway. County Highway 17 Corridor Smcly - ES1 - October 2002