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Richfield approves memorandum with MnDOT, grants municipal consent for I-494 project after negotiated safety assurances
Summary
The council authorized an MOU with MnDOT on collaborative improvements at the 76th Street/I-35W interchange and later approved municipal consent for project 2 of the I-494 corridor vision, repealing a January disapproval after staff negotiated safety language; MnDOT clarified the MOU is not a contract.
The Richfield City Council on March 10 approved a memorandum of understanding with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to coordinate future improvements at the 76th Street and I-35W interchange and later approved municipal consent for phase 2 of the I-494 corridor vision (project 2), repealing a previous Jan. 13 resolution of disapproval.
Council Member Coleman Woods introduced the MOU resolution; MnDOT West Area Manager Ryan Wilson told the council an MOU "is not contractual" but records mutual intent and expectations and that MnDOT intends to work with the city on scoping and consultant work. Council Member Burke and others asked that staff make clear to the public the difference between an MOU and a contract and noted the MOU's value in documenting commitments.
On the larger I-494 project, Council Member Hayford O'Leary said he remained disappointed the project expands lanes and noted he "is gonna vote yes only because we set a condition and I believe that MnDOT has fulfilled that condition" related to safety improvements at 76th Street and I-35W. O'Leary cited MnDOT analysis that the project would increase metro greenhouse-gas emissions by 2 percent and framed his support as conditional on negotiated safety work. The council adopted the project layout, provided municipal consent, and repealed resolution 12,397 (the earlier disapproval) by voice vote.
Ryan Wilson said MnDOT plans near-term consultant work and that some smaller items could be delivered quickly while larger upgrades would take longer. The mayor and city manager were authorized to execute the MOU; the municipal consent decision allows the project to proceed in coordination with MnDOT and county schedules.
