Memo - SW Corridor Rail TransitADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
DEPARTMENT
~ N~ E ~VI+D RAID D L! M
T0: Honorable Mayor and members of the City Council
FROM: Steve Stahrrier, Assistant to the Gity Manager
CC: Steve Mielke, City Manager Q
Steve Stadler, Public Works Director
Jim Kerrigan, Community Development Director
DACE: April 22, 2002
SUBJECT: April 30, 2002 -Southwest Corridor Rail Transit Study Presentation
City staff has been contacted by Hennepin County concerning the Southwest Corridor Rail
Transit Study. The Southwest Corridor, defined as extending from Eden Prairie to downtown
Minneapolis was purchased by the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority in the early
`I990s in order to preserve it for a future transit use. In 20Q0, the Southwest Corridor was
identified in the Transit 2020 Master Plan as a future transitway. The Railroad Authority has
recently begun a study to further define feasible rail transit technology alternatives, estimate
construction capital and operating costs, forecast paten#ial ridership and conduct conceptual
engineering for rail transit technology alternatives in the Southwest Corridor.
On March 22, 2002, 1 attended a meeting with representatives from Hennepin County, Eden
Prairie, St. Louis Park, Minnetonka and the consultants performing the study to discuss the
public involvement stage of the project. At that meeting, potentially affected parties were
identified and the study's public involvement strategy was developed. I will also be serving on
the project's technical advisory committee which met for the first time on April 10, 2D02.
As part of the public involvement process, representatives from Hennepin County and the
project consultant (tJRSlBRW, et al) will be discussing the scope of the study and answering
questions at council work sessions in each of the five affected cities. The Hopkins presentation
will be held at the April 30, 2002 Council work session. This presentation is intended to give the
Council an overview of the study, to introduce potential issues and to give the Council an
opportunity to provide initial input. In addition to this work session discussion, a community
meeting will be held at The Depot an May 9 from E;30 p.m. to 8:30 p.rn, to introduce the study to
the public.
if you have any questions concerning this project, please feel free to contact me.