CR 97-98 Train Switching
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May 16, 1997
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Council Report 97-98
TRAIN SWITCHING
Pro Dosed Action.
Staff recommends the following motion: Move to approve Resolution 97-59. expressing
o\lposition to moving train switching operations from S1. Louis Park to Hopkins.
Overview.
The City of S1. Louis Park is working with the Twin City and Western Railroad Company
(TCW) for the installation of a new railroad interconnection for the purpose of re-routing their
trains through St. Louis Park. The interconnection is being proposed because of a sale of a
section of Canadian Pacific Railway (CP Rail) trackage to the HCRRA. Closing the trackage
east of St. Louis Park will not allow TCW to continue on to St. Paul; therefore, the railroad is
forced to seek another route.
The negotiations for a new interconnection have included moving the train switching
operations in St. Louis Park. The City of St. Louis Park currently has train switching
operations in the Edgebrook Park area. Edgebrook Park is a residential area. The City of St.
Louis Park has passed resolutions to encourage the moving of the present train switching
operations from the Edgebrook Park area to Hopkins. The exact area where the train
switching would occur in Hopkins has not been identified. St. Louis Park is desiring to move
the train switching operations because they are located in a residential area and the operations
can be noisy.
The City Attorney is looking into the various options that the City has if the railroad decides
to move the train switching to Hopkins. The attached resolution will be forwarded to S1.
Louis Park, railroads, HCRRA, MnDot, and local legistators.
SUDDortin2 Documents.
o Analysis ofIssues
o Resolution 97-59
o Resolutions 96-73 and 96-175 from St. Louis Park
Nancy S. Anderson, AICP
Planner
CITY OF HOPKINS
Hennepin County, Minnesota
RESOLUTION NO: 97-59
A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING OPPOSITION TO MOVING
THE TRAIN SWITCHING OPERATIONS OF RAILROAD
LOCOMOTIVES AND CARS TO HOPKINS
WHEREAS, the City of St. Louis Park has passed a resolution recommending that the Edgebrook
train switching operation be moved to Hopkins.
WHEREAS, the switching operation of railroad locomotives and ~ars have a potential to become
a nuisance.
WHEREAS, the location of the train switching operation has not been identified.
WHEREAS, a train switching operation is not listed as a permitted use within the Hopkins Zoning
Ordinance.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the Hopkins City Council that they are opposed
to the moving of the present switching operations from the Edgebrook Park area in St. Louis Park to
Hopkins.
Adopted this 20th day of May 1997.
Charles D. Redepenning, Mayor
ATTEST:
Terry Obermaier, City Clerk
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RESOLUTION NO 96-73
A RESOLUTION EXPRESSlNG oPPOSmON TO CONSTRUCTION OF RAILROAD
lNTERSECTIONS AT THE MILWAUKEE JUNCTION AND AT THE CANADIAN
PACIFIC AND BURLlNGTON NORTHERN RAILROAD TRACKS
WHEREAS, the Hennepin County Railroad Authority has acquired the 29th Street rail
line through the City of Minneapolis, and
WHEREAS, the closure of this route will cause the Twin City and Western Railroad to
need an alternative route to the St. Paul barge facilities, and
WHEREAS, the Canadian Pacific Railroad has evaluated the alternatives of either
constructing new trackage interconnections within St. Louis Park or use of a rail trackage in the
City of Minneapolis, and
WHEREAS, the Canadian Pacific Railroad, has indicated they prefer to use the existing
route through the City of Minneapolis, and
WHEREAS, the Birchwood, Lenox, Bronx Park and Sorenson neighborhoods would
experience additional train traffic, which would cause additional noise and vibration, and
WHEREAS, the north -south trackage in S1. Louis Park is in close proximity to existing
residential areas with a minimal distance to existing homes which would unduly cause visual
pollution, and
WHEREAS, the north-south trackage is in proximity to the St. Louis Park High School,
and has several uncontrolled railroad crossings with residential streets causing additional danger
to the residents and blowing of the train whistle, and
WHEREAS, the existing rail lines through Minneapolis can be used without expenditure
of State funds to create a new interconnection of trackage where none currently exists, and
WHEREAS, the City of S1. Louis Park is a community with deep historical roots in the
railroad history of the State of Minnesota, and
WHEREAS, the railroad industry has undergone significant change recently due to
property real property sales, route mergers and bankruptcies, and
WHEREAS, residents of the City are stakeholders in any change that results in operational
modifications inconsistent with the historical railroad use of the track in their neighborhood, and
WHEREAS, the switching operations of railroad locomotives and cars have a potential to
become a nuisance if performed in residential neighborhoods.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the St. Louis Park City Council
that they are opposed to the construction of the new railroad interconnections of the Canadian
Pacific Railroad in St. Louis Park and endorse the use of the Minneapolis rail route and that the
City continue its efforts to gain cleanup<>,f the industrial environmental contamination on railroad
property lihif'c6ntffiU~td~eo\iragli'i1ia~'ngt!1e;p~t'SWitchliiidperatioDs'~()mJheE!Igebtook.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be distributed to State
legislative leaders and the affected railroad companies.
Adopted by the City Council May 6, 1996
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ATTEST:
City Clerk
Reviewed for Administration:
Approved as to form and execution:
City Manager
City Attorney
AunCITY OF
Sr. LOUIS
PARK
The St. Louis Park City Council sponsored a neighborhood information meeting for the residents who
could be affected by the railroad construction alternatives which were proposed by the Hennepin County
Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA).
The neighborhoods subsequently formed a task force to identifY the railroad issues which would impact
them. They reviewed the construction alternatives proposed by the HCRRA and then developed four
alternative recommendations based on the railroad impacts on their neighborhoods and the City. These four
alternatives were then ranked by consensus.
With the support of the neighborhood representatives, the St. Louis Park City Council subsequently
adopted the task force recorrmlendations by Resolution No. 96-175.
The undersigned St. Louis Park neighborhood representatives urge your support of the alternatives in the
attached resolution.
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RESOLUTION NO gfi-175
A RESOLUTION RESCINDING RESOLUTION NUMBER 96-73, ADOPTED MAY 6,
1996, AND ADOPTING A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING SUPPORT TO THE ST. LOUIS
PARK NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEIR IDENTIFICATION OF ACCEPTABLE
ALTERNATIVES TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF PROPOSED RAILROAD ROUTES
WHEREAS, the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA) has acquired
the 29th Street rail line through the City of Minneapolis, and
WHEREAS, the closure of this route will cause the Twin City and Western Railroad to
need an alternative route to the S1. Paul barge facilities, and
WHEREAS, the City Council directed staff to sponsor a neighborhood informational
meeting regarding the alternative routes proposed by the railroads, and
WHEREAS, representatives of the Birchwood, Brookside, Creekside, Lenox, Elmwood,
Sorenson, South Oak Hill, Brooklawn, Eliot View, Eron;'{ Park and Lab Forest neighborhoods
have subsequently evaluated the railroad issues which they feel need resolution and developed
their own railroad alternatives, and
WHEREAS, the north -south trackage in S1. Louis Park is in close proximity to existing
residential areas both to the north and south, with a minimal distance to existing homes which
would unduly cause noise and vibration to the adjacent residential properties, and
WHEREAS, the north-south trackage is in proximity to the S1. Louis Park High School,
and has several uncontrolled railroad crossings with residential streets causing danger to the
r~sidents and l;lowing ')"the tnin whistle. lnd
WHEREAS, the City of St. Louis Park is a community with deep hislOricai roots in the
railroad history of the State of Minnesota, and
WHEREAS, the railroad industry has undergone significant change recently due to
property real property sales, route mergers and bankruptcies, and
WHEREAS, residents of the City are stakeholders in any change that results in operational
modifications inconsistent with the historical railroad use of the track in their neighborhood, and
WHEREAS, the switching operations of railroad locomotives and cars are the loudest
noise and of the longest duration, are a concern of several neighborhoods and have a potential to
become a nuisance if performed anywhere within the City, and
WHEREAS, the above noted neighborhoods have created a Task Force on Railroads, and
WHEREAS, the Task Force has deveioped the following Goal Statement:
It is the intent and goal of the Neighborhood Task Force that all rail traffic within the City run
smoothly and efficiently as "through traffic". This goal should be accomplished by eliminating all
types of switching operations within the City while assuring that there is no increase in rail traffic
on the North/South route.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the St. Louis Park City Council
that they accept the following order of the alternatives and conditions identified by the
neighborhoods for routing trains through the community.
Option 1. The trains will be routed through Kenwood to get to S1. Paul and a new connection wilI
be made north of downtown Minneapolis to provide access to Camden. All train traffic to the
north and east will be sent through Kenwood. The train traffic to the south will be accommodated
in St. Louis Park with the new southern rail connection at the Milwaukee Junction.
Other conditions:
- Move the Edgebrook switching to Hopkins.
- Remove the wye connection in the Oxford area.
- No other rail interconnections other than noted above.
- Gain commitment from MnDOT to improve Hwy. 100 railroad bridge.
Option 2. Same as number 1 above, except, St. Louis Park would agree to accept half of the
round trip traffic from the Camden route. This varies from number 1 only in train operation, as
there is no difference in required construction.
Other conditions:
- Move the Edgebrdok switching to Hopkins.
- Remove the wye connection in the Oxford area.
- No other rail interconnections other than noted above.
- Gain commitment from J'vfnDOT to improve Hwy. 100 railroad bridge.
Option 3. Install the southerlv connection in 51. Louis Park (Milwaukee Junction) to
accommodate the Camden rail traffic. 51. Paul traffic would be routed through Kenwood.
Other conditions:
- Move the Edgebrook switching to Hopkins.
- Remove the wye connection in the Oxford area.
- No other rail interconnections other than noted above.
- Gain commitment from MnDOT to improve Hwy. 100 railroad bridge.
Option 4. Maintain 29th Street corridor and build bridge over Hiawatha Ave
Other conditions:
- Move the Edgebrook switching to Hopkins.
- Remove the wye connection in the Oxford area.
- Install the southern connection. (No northerly connection)
- No other rail interconnections other than noted above.
- Gain commitment from :YfnDOT to improve H,,,y. 100 railroad bridge.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be distributed to State
legislative leaders and the affected railroad companies and that the City Council develop a
strategy for promoting the identified alternatives.
Adopt~d by the City Council November 18, 1996
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Mayor
ATTEST:
C<-rr . L- D. ~~
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City Clerk
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Revi~ for Administration:
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pty Manager