Transportation issues dominate District Dialogue

Council Chair Peter Bell meets with cities in the northwest metro

Contact: Bonnie Kollodge
(651) 602-1357

ST. PAUL – Sept. 25, 2008 – Peter Bell, Metropolitan Council Chair, and Council Member Roger Scherer were in Rogers Sept. 17 to hold a “District Dialogue” with local elected officials and city administrators in the northwest metro.

Bell, along with his colleagues on the Metro Council, has spent the summer meeting with city, county and state officials throughout the region, hearing time and again that transportation investment and congestion rank among the top local and regional concerns.

“The Metropolitan Council wants growing communities, like ours, to develop housing and local businesses at higher densities,” said Minnetrista Mayor Cheryl Fischer. “But we need the transportation improvements and infrastructure to support those densities.”

The 2008 Minnesota Legislature approved an historic increase in transportation funding. But even with the added resources Bell says it’s not enough to “fix” congestion throughout the region’s highway system.

According to the Council it would cost some $40 billion to add enough highway capacity to meet expected demand over the next 25 years. To provide perspective, paying those costs with the state gasoline tax alone would add more than $2 per gallon to the cost of fuel.

Complicating matters was the collapse and rebuilding of the I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis.

“The new bridge is breathtaking in more ways than one,” said Bell. “It’s a sight to behold and the commitment was there to rebuild and make it whole. But it essentially took all the oxygen out of the room in the conversation about future transportation investments.”

The Council’s “District Dialogues” coincide with public outreach efforts on the draft update of the 2030 Transportation Policy Plan, a long-range plan for transportation investment in the region that is updated every four years, as required by the federal government.

The main elements of the plan:

Focusing on bridge investments and highway preservation, as required by state law, which will use a significant share of the resources made available by the state Legislature;

Focus remaining resources on maximizing existing highway capacity by investing in low-cost/high-benefit highway projects that help mitigate congestion “choke points.” An example is the third lane added to Highway 100 in St. Louis Park.;

Continuing the commitment to doubling transit ridership and expanding the bus system;

Identifying corridors for future investment in light rail, commuter rail and bus rapid transit, with the Southwest Corridor between Minneapolis and Eden Prairie jockeying for position as the next light rail corridor in the region with the Bottineau Corridor between Minneapolis and the northwest suburbs.

“There’s no question the success of Hiawatha LRT has contributed to public interest in light rail transportation throughout the region,” said Bell.

“At the same time, we need public officials and area residents to recognize it takes density to make transit, particularly rail, work efficiently. As a result, only the more densely populated areas will see investments anytime soon in light rail, commuter rail or bus rapid transit,” said Bell.

A draft of the 2030 Transportation Policy Plan Update is available for public review and comment.

Open houses

In addition, the Council is holding a series of public open houses at which residents can comment and learn more about regional transportation plans. They are:

Thursday, Sept. 25, 5-7 p.m., Council Chambers, Minnetonka City Hall, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd.

Tuesday, Sept. 30, 5-7 p.m., Clover Leaf Room, Blaine City Hall, 10801 Town Square Dr. NE.

Thursday, Oct. 2, 5-7 p.m., Council Chambers, Woodbury City Hall, 8301 Valley Creek Rd.

Thursday, Oct. 9, 5-7 p.m., Council Chambers, Eagan City Hall, 3830 Pilot Knob Rd.

Friday, Oct. 10, 11-1 p.m., Doty Room, Minneapolis Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall

Thursday, Oct.16, 11-1 p.m., Alliance Bank Skyway, Sixth and Cedar Sts., St. Paul

Public hearing Oct. 22

The Council will also hold a formal public hearing on the document at 5 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 22, in Council Chambers at 390 N. Robert St., St. Paul 55101. The public may also call in their comments to the Public Comment Line at 651-602-1500, e-mail comments to Data.Center@metc.state.mn.us, fax comments to 651.602.1464 or write the Council at its Robert Street headquarters. Public comments will be received until 5 p.m. Nov. 6, 2008.

The Metropolitan Council is the regional planning organization for the seven-county Twin Cities area. The Council runs the regional bus and light rail system, collects and treats wastewater, coordinates regional water resources, plans regional parks and administers funds that provide housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income individuals and families. The Council board is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the governor.

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