Letter from Ted Mondale in response to the discovery by
Vince Wharton that Ayd Mill Road is designated by "mistake"
as a 'principle arterial' (Highway 280 - I94 type road).  

Summarized it says the Metro Council will change the current 
designation but it is still a future freeway.  This can be 
changed by the city of St. Paul, by your city council members.
Changing this classification will help stop money for 
changing Ayd Mill Road into a freeway.

July 21, 2000

Thank you for your letter concerning the Principal Classification of 
Ayd Mill Road.

The map you sent which shows the existing functional classification of 
roads and the designation of Ayd Mill Road as a principal arterial is 
in error and will be corrected. The functional classification map 
found on our 1996 Transportation Policy Plan (figure 2, attached) shows 
the current metropolitan highway system and does not include Ayd 
Mill Road as a principal arterial.  However, the 2020 functional 
classification map (figure 15) does show Ayd Mill Road designated 
as a future principal arterial.

The Metropolitan Council will consider the recommendations of the 
Ayd Mill Road environmental impact statement. A draft EIS was 
completed in 1998, and a final EIS will be completed within a year. 
Given the issues raised by the study, we will consult with the 
city of St.Paul to determine whether the future principal arterial 
classification should be changed.  Because St. Paul has jurisdiction 
over the road, a request to change the functional classification of 
Ayd Mill Road should come from the city. Such a request would likely 
be submitted after the final EIS is completed.

For further details regarding the current status of the Ayd Mill 
Road EIS process, please contact Mike Classen (Klassen), at 266-6209, 
project manager for the Ayd Mill Road EIS.

Sincerely,

Ted Mondale