Submitted graphic Brown County Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday to support the Center Street Corridor Safety Improvement Project and City of New Ulm’s grant applications. Grants would help fund the $6.7 million 2030 project with roundabouts at Center and Garden Street and Center and Payne Streets.

NEW ULM — Two roundabouts may be coming to Center Street in a few years if the City of New Ulm receives grant funding to pay for much of the project.

Brown County Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday supporting the Center Street Corridor Safety Improvement Project.

The resolution includes support of grant applications for small urban transportation alternatives and carbon reduction program funding for a project including roundabouts at Center and Garden and Center and Payne Streets.

A pedestrian underpass connecting Harmon Park and New Ulm Recreation Center property under Center Street. Rectangular rapid flashing beacons and retaining walls are also part of the project.

The Center Street corridor has been identified as a safety priority with significant traffic delays at the intersection of Center and Garden Streets during morning and evening commute times. The intersection experiences a crash rate three times higher than the statewide average for similar intersections.

New Ulm City Engineer Joe Stadheim said the City of New Ulm intends to apply for fiscal year 2030 grant applications for the Center Street Corridor Improvement Project.

“We plan to apply for a $3.25 million Small Urban grant, $1.5 million Transportation Alternatives grant and a $520,000 Carbon Reduction grant,” said Stadheim. “These are competitive grants that depend on other applicants and their projects and how the scoring committee scores the projects. If the City is successful in securing grants, they would cover 80 percent of project costs, which is about $6.7 million. The remaining 20 percent would come from city state aid and local bonding.”

Stadheim said very little local bonding would be needed because any utility work would be covered by New Ulm’s Sewer and Water Surcharge fund. Any non-covered expense would come from bond funds.

“If we’re successful in grant application, most of our match will come from state aid funds,” he said.

The City of New Ulm performed an Intersection Control Evaluation study by Bolton & Menk at the Garden and Center Street intersections that identified the intersections as having an unacceptable level of service and the proposed improvements will improve intersection and corridor functionality.

Public feedback on existing conditions of the intersection showed general consensus that safety improvements are needed for pedestrians and vehicles, especially in inclement weather.

Sixty-two percent of the public responding to an interactive comment map favored a signal or roundabout at the Center and Garden Street intersection. Thirty-eight percent were not in favor of a signal or roundabout.

Stadheim said the Garden Street study with a signalized intersection at Payne Street, there could be backups into the Garden Street roundabout so the recommendation is to do roundabout on Payne Street and remove the traffic signal.

He said intersection enhancements to protect pedestrians include adding pedestrian-activated, yellow Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons at Payne Street.

Stadheim said the City of New Ulm would seek a project design consultant if it is awarded the project grants. Bids would be sought in fall or winter 2029 with construction beginning in 2030.

“With partial grant funding we would probably have further discussion on the project and possibly bring back a cost-share agreement,” said Stadheim.

“I’ve come through the intersection at 8 a.m. on school days. Lucky for me, I was going east or west. It’s a real son of a gun going the other way. I’ve talked with people who avoid the intersection for that reason,” said Commissioner Berg.

“I think there’s value and benefit with going ahead with this including pedestrian safety. It’s a tough intersection,” said Commissioner Dave Borchert.

Action came on a motion by Berg, seconded by Borchert.