Memo- LRT UpdatePublic Works Department
Memorandum
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Steven J. Stadler, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Copy: Rick Getschow, City Manager
Date: March 9, 2007
Subject: LRT Update
Southwest Transitway Alternatives Analysis: On February 13 the HCRRA accepted the
Southwest PAC recommendation to initiate the Southwest Transitway Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the three LRT alternatives, with the
understanding that LRT 1A would only be pursued if LRT 3A and LRT 3C are
determined to be infeasible. LRT 1A is the alternative that continues the rail line west
from Shady Oak Road past Hwy 494 and would run along the north edge of Shady Oak
Lake. Staff has attached recent emails from the Hennepin County project manager
regarding project status, FTA coordination, FY 2008 Appropriations Request and State
bonding request.
Hennepin County has approached the City in regards to continuing the Hopkins Area
Station Study through the next study phase and also including a detailed study of the
proposed LRT alignment that runs south from the Shady Oak station along the east
side of Shady Oak Road.
For the work session, staff hopes to have more detailed information from our consultant
on the current Hopkins Station Area Plan particularly in regards to the Downtown
station and the connectivity to Mainstreet.
Steve Stadler
From: Katie.Walker@co.hennepin.mn.us
Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2007 01:10 PM
To: adam.harrington@metc.state.mn.us; ahiginbotham@msn.com;
amanda.arnold@ci.minneapolis.mn.us; amy.vennewitz@metc.state.mn.us;
anna.flintoft@ci.minneapolis.mn.us; baho@edenprairie.org; barbara@twinwest.com;
bbrown@swtransit.org; bcarlson@swtransit.org; bellingson@eminnetonka.com;
beth.elliott@ci.minneapolis.mn.us; billb@beardgroupinc.com; bob.vockrodt@dot.state.mn.us;
brian.lamb@metc.state.mn.us; brimgroup@aol.com; bsuko@tcwr.net;
Connie.Kiser@ci.minneapolis.mn.us; connie.kozlak@metc.state.mn.us;
david.shirley@libertymutual.com; djohnson@mail.donaldson.com; Dell Miller;
Donald.Pflaum@ci.minneapolis.mn.us; duffyarch@mn.rr.com; Eiler, Stephanie;
esouders@ci.minnetonka.mn.us; gail.dortman@co.hennepin.mn.us; gary.aiken@ubs.com;
gdiamond@mn.rr.com; Bruce Rowan; Jan.Sutherland@allina.com; jbenshoof@wenck.com;
jcallison@eminnetonka.com; jdewitt@mn.rr.com; jjeremiah@edenprairie.org;
jmawhite@aol.com; jon.wertjes@ci.minneapolis.mn.us; Joseph.Gladke@co.hennepin.mn.us;
julrich@co.scott.mn.us; Kathie Doty; kdowney@virchowkrause.com;
kerri.pearce.ruch@co.hennepin.mn.us; KJPDR72252@aol.com; klocke@stlouispark.org;
Linda.Koblick@co.hennepin.mn.us; Isimich@swtransit.org; (vermillion@co.scott.mn.us;
madeline.kastler@co.hennepin.mn.us; mark@ffpia.com;
marthand.nookala@co.hennepin.mn.us; mary.smith@metc.state.mn.us; mltolly@aol.com;
mmcmonigal@stlouispark.org; Nancy Anderson; nmcgonagle@mn.rr.com; ntyra-
lukens@edenprairie.org; pat.mulqueeny@epchamber.org;
Ralph.Remington@ci.minneapolis.mn.us; rcase@edenprairie.org; rcorrick@mn.rr.com;
rep.frank.hornstein@house.mn; rep.maria.ruud@house.mn; rnewton@ci.eden-prairie.mn.us;
Robert Byers; robert.lilligren@ci.minneapolis.mn.us; Rrankin@ci.minnetonka.mn.us;
samg@dtwnmpls.com; Scott.Pedersen@dot.state.mn.us; sen.terri.bonoff@senate.mn; Steve
Stadler; Steven.hay@ci.minneapolis.mn.us; steve.legler@metc.state.mn.us;
steve.mahowald@metc.state.mn.us; sue.sanger@genmills.com; suspeckted@yahoo.com;
tammy.tesky@co.hennepin.mn.us; thomas.okeefe@dot.state.mn:us;
tim@midtowngreenway.org; Tlmboden@OurUptown.com; tim.henkel@dot.state.mn.us;
tklingel@minneapolischamber.org; todd.johnson@allina.com; tommywork@mchsi.com; Tom
Johnson; twagner@eminnetonka.com; wayne.norris@dot.state.mn.us;
whoule@ci.edina. mn. us
Cc: kdoty@umn.edu; Phil.Eckhert@co.hennepin.mn.us
Subject: Southwest Update
Hello A11........Here is a brief update on the Southwest Transitway project:
Joint State Transit Legislative Hearing - Feb. 28th On February 28th at 7:00 PM at the
Minnetonka City Hall a joint legislative hearing on transit issues will be held. The
hearing is hosted by members of the West Metro Legislative Delegation (Sen. Bonoff, Rep.
Rudd, Sen. Olson, Sen. Hann, and Sen. Benson). Sen. Dibble and Rep. Hornstein are holding
these legislative hearing on transit throughout the region. The Southwest Transitway will
be one of the corridors featured during the hearing. The hearing is open to the public
and we are encouraging our Southwest partners to attend the meeting to show their support.
HCRRA Action
On Feb. 13th, the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA) voted unanimously to
accept the Southwest Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) recommendation to initiate the
Southwest Transitway Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the three LRT
alternatives, with the understanding that LRT 1A will only be pursued if LRT 3A and LRT 3C
are determined to be infeasible.
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Communications Hennepin County and Metropolitan
Council staff are working on communications with FTA staff regarding the completed
Alternatives Analysis (AA) and the upcoming DEIS. The FTA's participation in all future
planning efforts is required.
Federal FY 2008 Appropriations Request
On behalf of Hennepin County, the Metro Transitway Development Board (MTDB) has request
~ that $1 million be appropriated for the Southwest Transitway for the DEIS and other
related studies.
tate Bonding Request
n Feb. 22nd, Representative Simon introduced HF 1216 which includes a $1 million request
for state bonding for the Southwest DEIS and Preliminary Engineering (PE). Senator Latz
is expected to introduce a companion bill in the Senate next week.
Southwest Transitway Alliance '
The Twin West, Eden Prairie, and Minneapolis Regional Chambers of Commerce have formed a
Southwest Transitway Alliance with the purpose of raising the profile of the Southwest
Transitway.
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Steve Stadl r
From: Katie.Walker@co.hennepin.mn.us
Sent: Friday, March 02, 2007 05:38 PM
To: adam.harrington@metc.state.mn.us; ahiginbotham@msn.com;
amanda.arnold@ci.minneapolis.mn.us; amy.vennewitz@metc.state.mn.us;
anna.flintoft@ci.minneapolis.mn.us; baho@edenprairie.org; barbara@twinwest.com;
bbrown@swtransit.org; bcarlson@swtransit.org; bellingson@eminnetonka.com;
beth.elliott@ci.minneapolis.mn.us; billb@beardgroupinc.com; bob.vockrodt@dot.state.mn.us;
brian.lamb@metc.state.mn.us; brimgroup@aol.com; bsuko@tcwr.net;
Connie.Kiser@ci.minneapolis.mn.us; connie.kozlak@metc.state.mn.us;
david.shirley@libertymutual.com; djohnson@mail.donaldson.com; Dell Miller;
Donald.Pflaum@ci.minneapolis.mn.us; duffyarch@mn.rr.com; Eiler, Stephanie;
esouders@ci.minnetonka.mn.us; gail.dorfman@co.hennepin.mn.us; gary.aiken@ubs.com;
gdiamond@mn.rr.com; Bruce Rowan; Jan.Sutherland@allina.com; jbenshoof@wenck.com;
jcallison@eminnetonka.com; jdewitt@mn.rr.com; jjeremiah@edenprairie.org; jmawhite@aol.com;
jon.wertjes@ci.minneapolis.mn.us; Joseph.Gladke@co.hennepin.mn.us; julrich@co.scott.mn.us;
Kathie Doty; kdowney@virchowkrause.com; kerri.pearce.ruch@co.hennepin.mn.us;
KJPDR72252@aol.com; klocke@stlouispark.org; Linda.Koblick@co.hennepin.mn.us;
Isimich@swtransit.org; (vermillion@co.scott.mn.us; madeline.kastler@co.hennepin.mn.us;
mark@ffpia.com; marthand.nookala@co.hennepin.mn.us; mary.smith@metc.state.mn.us;
mltolly@aol.com; mmcmonigal@stlouispark.org; Nancy Anderson; nmcgonagle@mn.rr.com; ntyra-
lukens@edenprairie.org; pat.mulqueeny@epchamber.org;
Ralph.Remington@ci.minneapolis.mn.us; rcase@edenprairie.org; rcorrick@mn.rr.com;
rnewton@ci.eden-prairie.mn.us; Robert Byers; robert.lilligren@ci.minneapolis.mn.us;
Rrankin@ci.minnetonka.mn.us; samg@dtwnmpls.com; Scott.Pedersen@dot.state.mn.us; Steve
Stadler; Steven.hay@ci.minneapolis.mn.us; steve.legler@metc.state.mn.us;
steve.mahowald@metc.state.mn.us; sue.sanger@genmills.com; suspeckted@yahoo.com;
tammy.tesky@co.hennepin.mn.us; thomas.okeefe@dot.state.mn.us; tim@midtowngreenway.org;
Tlmboden@OurUptown.com; tim.henkel@dot.state.mn.us; tklingel@minneapolischamber.org;
todd.johnson@allina.com; tommywork@mchsi.com; Tom Johnson; twagner@eminnetonka.com;
wayne.norris@dot.state.mn.us; whoule@ci.edina.mn.us; Phil.Eckhert@co.hennepin.mn.us
Subject: SW Legislative Update
In addition to HF 1216 and SF 1448, which request $1 million in state bonding for the Southwest
Transitway Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and Preliminary Engineering (PE),
Representative Frank Hornstein has introduced HF 1597 which directs the Metropolitan Council to
identify the Southwest Transitway as a priority project in any updates or amendments to the
Transportation Policy Plan (TPP).
If you would like to track these bills, you can at www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us
03/09/2007