The URL can be used to link to this page

CR 10-006 Adopt Resolution Supporting Hennepin County Decision of SW TrainsitwayvLRT Alignment 3ADecember 30, 2009 Council Report 2010-006 Adopt Resolution Supporting Hennepin County Decision of Southwest Transitway LRT Alignment 3A as the Locally Preferred Alternative 1 K go=# Staff recommends adoption of the following motion: Move that Council adopt Resolution 2010-002 supporting Hennepin County's decision of LRT alignment 3A as the locally preferred alternative for the Southwest Transitway. Overview. The extensive study and public comment through the Draft Environmental Impact Statement process resulted in the cities along the Southwest Transitway and Hennepin County supporting alignment 3A as the locally preferred alternative. The Metropolitan Council Must now approve this alignment for its long-range transportation plan . All the affected cities along route 3A support this route as the locally preferred alternative . The proposed resolution assures the Metropolitan Council that Hopkins also supports the Hennepin County decision of alignment 3A. Supporting information. • Resolutions 2010-002 • Fall 2009 Southwest Transitway newsletter NZ ' - MA Steven J. Stadler, Public Works Director Financial Impact: $ 0 -, Budgeted: YIN _n/a Source: n/a Related Documents (CIP, ERP, etc.): Notes: CITY OF HOPKINS Hennepin County, Minnesota RESOLUTION NO, 201 RESOLUTION SUPPORTING ' HENNEPIN COUNT'S DECISION OF LRT ALIGNMENT 3A AS THE LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE FOR THE SOUTHWEST TRANSfTWAY WHEREAS, the Hennepin County Regional Rail Authority recently completed evaluation on four LRT alignments for the Southwest Transitway as part of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement; and WHEREAS, following extensive review and public comment, the City supported the recommendation of Southwest Transitway LRT alternative 3A as the locally preferred alternative through its representation on the Southwest Transitway Technical Advisory and Policy Advisory Committees. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Hopkins, Minnesota that the City supports the selection of alternative 3A as the locally preferred alternative for the Southwest Transitway and recommends that the Metropolitan Council approve this alternative for its long-range transportation plans. Adopted by the City Council of the City of Hopkins this 5th day of January 2010. Eugene J. Maxwell, Mayor ATTEST: I Terry Obermaier, City Clerk sl , i n � I vol.3 What is the Southwest LRT ' The Southwest LRT is o proposed ' hig frequency light mU line serving the rapidly growing southwest metro area with stations in Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Hopk St. Louis Park, and Minneapolis. ' , When constructed, the Southwest LRT line will connect to the Hiawatha and Central Corridor LRT lines, the North�s¢ar ' ..Commuter line, and high-frequency bus � routes in downtown Minneapoli providing connec to the Minneapolis-St. Paul ^ Airport, &4aU of America, U mhy of Minnesota, State Capitol, and downtown St. Paul. ` The Southwest LRT line will be part of a neQkono| approach to increasing transit alternatives for our growing metro unaa. and will provide an efficient way for people to get to awide range of destinations. In ` addition, this LRT line will support growth . and development while also` maintaining our high quality of life. `Southwest LRT Goals 1. Improve Mob 2.CoatEffootivoand Efficient 3. Protect the Environment 4. Preserve Quality of Life 5. Economic Development ` "The CoU tvand our partners — cities, business chambers, and agency representatives - have been ` working hard since 2002 to make sure that aN,peasib routes have ' been studied and that our process ha5 been . With the | ' �� Locally �r��rr�r! Alternative, �h� ��.��|��K1��. =.��`��.� Preferred Southwe ' li��t Rail �F��t h��t�k�K��MO major ~ project ^ ` toward becoming a rea|ihm, —Hennepin County Commissioner Gail Dorfman, Chair of the Southwest Policv Advisory Committee Key Milestones: . Locally Preferred Riternative (LPA) Selection OnNovamber3nd 2009, the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority acted � to recommend that the LRT 3A alternative be selected as the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) for the Southwest LRT line (see map on pages 2'3). LRT 3Awas chosen because it is the alternative that best meets the Southwest LRT goals of improving mobility, providing a cost-effective and efficient travel option, protecting the environment, preserving quality of life, and supporting economic development. ^ The LRT 3Aalternative is pvopoaed operate from K4hoheJ| Rood in Eden Prairie through downtown Minneapolis, where it will use the existing Hiawatha LRT tracks. The ||n* is expected to serve close to 30.000 trips per day and will cost approximately $1.2 billion to construct in year 2015. The line is consistent with local and regional plans and will be part of an integrated sys of rail and bum lines providing expanded service to the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area that will move the region toward doubling transit ridership by the year 2O3O. � ` (continued from front page) To support the LPA selection, the SW LRT project team has been working over the past 8 months to develop cost estimates, ridership forecasts, an assessment of impacts/benefits to the transportation and transit systems, and an inventory of potentially affected critical environmental /eaoumoa was conducted. The evaluation results were shared with the public at five open houses in August, and are available at www.southwesttransitway.org. The public was invited to comment for"Uye4apubUu hearings held on September 17th and October 20th, 2009 ' the HCRRAs LFY\recommendation will now be sent to the Metropolitan Council for their consideration and action. Once the Metropolitan Council selects the LPA and includes it in their Transportation Policy Plan (TPP) the project can apply to the Federal Transit Administration <FlAJ for entry into Preliminary The process for developing an LHT line is lengthy and complicated. The public is encouraged to get and stay engaged in this process by visiting our wobo|te at vvvvvvoou1hvvosttmnobvvayonQ and attending our meetings as the project moves through the project development process. ' 'The Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority continues to partner with the Federal Transit Administration 10 complete ' he Draft Environmental Impact Statement <DBS> for the Southwest Tmnoitvvay project. The DBS will document the potential' social, eoonomic, and environmental impacts of' the alternatives and options for mitigation of unavoidable adverse impacts. Issues To Be Rddressed The DBS will document significant impacts and benefits regarding: • Ecosystems and natural resources including geology and soils, air quality, water resources, and noise and vibration; • Lund use, zoning, and economic development; • Demographics and socio-economic factors; • Displacements and relocations; • Neighborhood compatibility, community facilities and services, and environmental justice; • Cultural resources including historical and archeological resources, parkland and Section 4(f) resources; • Hazardous materials; • Energy use; • Construction effects; • Transportation including transit, roads and highvvmyo, xai|x/ada and pedeathen and bicycle facilities. | Proposed Southwest LRT Project Timelline 13 Final Design 2 01 3-2014 Construction & Operati ol)!ns Southwest Station Area Planning In partnership with the cities of Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Hopkins, and St. Louis Park, the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority initiated station area planning for suburban stations along the Southwest LRT line. Planning will be initiated in Minneapolis in 2010, now that a route through Minneapolis has been chosen. Station area planning builds upon the past,planning work of each community and analyzes how light rail transit riders will access the stations and how development patterns could change around each station. Community members and city staff have been working with the Hay Dobbs consulting team at visioning sessions and public meetings to create transit-supportive district design guidelines. These guidelines will recommend patterns and forms of development and a mix of land use to achieve an active, transit-supportive, pedestrian environment around each of the 12 stations. Below are examples of renderings of station areas as they are envisioned in the station area plans. HAY Blake Road Station looking Northeast at Blake Road and Excelsior Boulevard "It's important to keep our region strong and growing, and having a 21 st century' transportation system is key to achieving those goals. A Southwest Light Rail line is a critical part of our region's transit infrastructure, and I'm proud to be part of the collaboration of communities in the Southwest metro area that's been working jointly to make this project a reality. Choosing the Locally Preferred Alternative was a very significant milestone that we can celebrate as a community." —Commissioner Jan Callison, Member of the Southwest Policy Advisory Committee 0 2009 Hennepin County, All Rights Reserved * Printed on recycled paper Van 1 s ea W III LPA Locally Preferred Altematiue LRT Station .+,•..+.. Trails ! LRT Park & Ride � M. � MME I., - F Van 1 s ea W III LPA Locally Preferred Altematiue LRT Station .+,•..+.. Trails ! LRT Park & Ride