Subject: Potential Transfer of Highway 244 to City Jurisdiction

Dear Dellwood Residents,

The City Council would like to inform you about an important transportation matter currently under consideration: the potential jurisdictional transfer of Highway 244 from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to the City of Dellwood.

Why This Is Being Discussed

MnDOT has identified Highway 244 as a candidate for “turnback,” meaning the roadway no longer meets the needs of the State Trunk Highway system and could be transferred to a local agency for ownership and maintenance.

The City has engaged in discussions with Washington County to determine whether the County would assume responsibility for the roadway. The County has declined. As a result, the remaining options are for Highway 244 to either:

• Remain under MnDOT jurisdiction, or
• Be transferred to the City of Dellwood

It is important to note that this is a City Council decision. MnDOT is not requiring the City to accept the roadway.

What Accepting Jurisdiction Would Mean

If the City accepts Highway 244, Dellwood would assume full responsibility for its maintenance and operation. This includes:

• Snow and ice removal
• Signage and striping maintenance
• Drainage system maintenance
• Pavement management (including pothole repair, crack sealing, sealcoating, mill and overlay, and rebuilding)

The roadway carries traffic beyond trips generated solely within Dellwood, meaning the City would be maintaining a corridor used by the broader traveling public.

At the same time, jurisdiction would provide the City with local control over the roadway. This includes:

• Authority over speed limits (recent legislative changes now allow cities to set speed limits locally; under state jurisdiction, MnDOT sets speed limits based on traffic studies)
• Decision-making control over how and when improvements are made

Currently, MnDOT improvements would be focused primarily on pavement preservation. Under City ownership, the Council could consider enhancements such as:

• Drainage improvements
• Wider shoulders
• Sidewalks or trail connections
• Improved pedestrian crossings
• Traffic calming measures

Financial Considerations

As part of a potential transfer agreement, the State would provide approximately $11.5 million in funding for the City to use for roadway or transportation-related purposes.

This funding creates an opportunity for thoughtful planning. For example:

• The City could complete preliminary engineering for both Highway 244 and the Lake Links Trail
• This work would help identify costs, design options, and potential impacts before committing to construction
• The City also has access to approximately $4.6 million in bond funding allocated for the Lake Links Trail project. These funds could be combined with the $11.5 million in State funding if the City decides to move forward with trail construction. To date, no decisions have been made regarding construction of the Lake Links Trail.

Risks to Consider

While the funding and local control offer significant opportunities, there are also important considerations regarding long-term financial responsibility:

• The City would assume ongoing maintenance obligations for a heavily traveled roadway, including future repair and reconstruction costs
• The one-time State funding must be managed carefully to balance any desired improvements with the need to sustain long-term maintenance
• Any enhancements or additional investments would need to be thoughtfully prioritized and kept within available funding to ensure the City does not create future financial burdens

Moving Forward

The City Council has not made a decision at this time. We are carefully evaluating the trade-offs between local control, financial responsibility, infrastructure needs, and long-term impacts to the community.

We are committed to making a thoughtful and transparent decision that reflects the best interests of Dellwood residents. Additional opportunities for public input will be provided as discussions continue.

If you have questions or feedback, we encourage you to contact City staff or attend an upcoming City Council meeting.

Sincerely,

Mike McGill
Mayor, City of Dellwood