CR 01-177 Resolution Supporting State of Minnesota Capital Appropriation for Railroad Switching YardOctober 12, 2001
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Overview
P K
Council Report 2001 -177
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING STATE OF MINNESOTA CAPITAL APPROPRIATION
FOR RAILROAD SWITCHING YARD
Proposed Action
Staff recommends adoption of the following motion: Move to approve Resolution No. 2001 -81
supporting a State of Minnesota Capital Appropriation for a railroad switching yard in Glencoe,
Minnesota.
Adoption of this motion will show support by the City of Hopkins for a state appropriation of funds to
assist in the creation of a railroad yard in or near Glencoe, Minnesota.
The City of Hopkins, along with the cities of Minnetonka and St. Louis Park, have for a number of
years been attempting to find ways to relocate railroad blocking and switching activities from the three
cities. Our work with Twin Cities and Western Railroad have included discussions with the City of
Glencoe who have indicted that they would be willing to consider the creation of a switching yard in or
near their corporate boundaries.
The adoption of this motion is supported by staff as a potential funding source to create such a site.
Primary Issues to Consider
• If the state appropriation is made will the yard be constructed?
The state appropriation is just one funding source among many that will need to be garnered
prior to construction. Monies are being sought from MnDOT Twin Cities and Western
Railroad, and potentially from the three cities. Future actions will be required by the City of
Hopkins prior to this project coming to fruition.
Supporting Documentation
• Resolution No. 2001 -81
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Steven C. Mielke
City Manager
Financial Impact: N/A Budgeted: Y/N N/A Source:
Related Documents (CIP, ERP, etc.): Joint agreement — Cities of Minnetonka, Hopkins, St. Louis
(Park and Twin Cities and Western Railroad
Notes:
City of Hopkins
Hennepin County, Minnesota
RESOLUTION NO. 2001 -81
Resolution Supporting State of Minnesota Capital Appropriation
For Railroad Switching Yard in Glencoe, MN
WHEREAS, the cities of Minnetonka, St. Louis Park and Hopkins (the Cities) have been jointly working to
eliminate noise disturbances to their residents living adjacent to segments of rail lines where rail car
sorting operations are performed; and
WHEREAS, in 1999, the Cities funded a noise study that concluded these sorting operations generate
noise levels that exceed the State of Minnesota noise standards; and
WHEREAS, the Cities have actively pursued short -term and long -term solutions to mitigate the noise
from these rail operations. To date, the short-term solutions have provided little improvement; and
WHEREAS, the railroad operator, Twin Cities & Western (TC &W) is nearing completion of an agreement
with MnOOT and the Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Authority that would expand their operations to
include the now defunct Minnesota Prairie Line (MPL). The Cities are concerned that this expansion
would further worsen the already untenable noise problems in the neighborhoods of the three
communities; and
WHEREAS, the construction of a switching yard in Glencoe, Minnesota was identified as the long -term
solution that would completely eliminate the blocking operations from the residential communities. A
switching yard would be beneficial to Glencoe from both an operational and an economic development
standpoint; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota Statute 16A.86 prescribes the process by which local governments and political
subdivisions may request State of Minnesota capital appropriations; and
WHEREAS, the Cities, in cooperation with the City of Glencoe and the McLeod County Rail authority,
have submitted an application for a State of Minnesota capital appropriation in the amount of $796,020
for land acquisition and design and development costs for a railroad switching yard.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Hopkins, Minnesota that the City
Council of the City of Hopkins does hereby support the application for a State of Minnesota capital
appropriation by the Cities of Minnetonka, St. Louis Park, and Hopkins, in cooperation with the City of
Glencoe and the McLeod County Rail Authority, in the amount of $796,020 for a railroad switching yard
in Glencoe, Minnesota.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Hopkins this 16'" day of October, 2001.
By
Eugene J. Maxwell, Mayor
ATTEST:
Terry Obermaier, City Clerk