I-694 Expansion Out, MnPass Lane In on Met Council's Transportation Plan

The Oakdale Planning Commission approved a request Thursday to change language regarding roadway improvements in the city's comprehensive plan to better reflect the Metropolitan Council’s plans for the area.

Changes include scrapping plans to add a third lane on Interstate 694 between Interstate 35E and Highway 36, and adding plans for a MnPASS lane on Highway 36, according to a staff report.

The commission also agreed to change the language in the plan to clarify that certain projects identified by the City of Oakdale are not identified nor funded in the Metropolitan Council 2030 Transportation Policy Plan.

Those improvements include:

• Interchanges at Highway 120 (Century Avenue) and Hadley Avenue on Highway 36.
• Converting Highway 36 to a freeway.
• An interchange at 40th Street and Interstate 694.
• Adding lanes on Interstate 694 between 10th Street and Interstate 94.
• Widening Highway 120 south of 10th Street.

Planning Commission member Lawrence Gordon asked whether the city engineer had reviewed the traffic patterns on the impacted roadways to determine whether the projects were needed.

Planner Whitney Ridlon said the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Met Council would have done a review before changing their plan.