MVTA, City of Eagan, Dakota County celebrate Cedar Grove Transit Station construction kickoff

MVTA Contact:
Robin Selvig, (952) 882-7504
100 E. Highway 13, Burnsville, MN 55337

Eagan, Minn. - June 1, 2009 – Groundbreaking for the new Cedar Grove Transit Station will be the next visible sign of the future bus rapid transit system along Cedar Avenue. Monday, June 8, the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority, along with the City of Eagan, Dakota County, local legislators, the Metropolitan Council, and MnDOT will celebrate the construction kick-off for the Cedar Grove Transit Station to be located at Nicols Road and Cedar Grove Parkway. The program will be at 2 p.m. and the event is free and open to the public.

Visitors will be welcomed by Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire. Emcee for the event is MVTA chair and Burnsville Mayor Elizabeth Kautz. Also participating in the ceremony are Sen. Jim Carlson, Rep. Sandra Masin, Dakota County Commissioner Tom Egan, Metropolitan Councilmember Dan Wolter and Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) Urban Partnership Agreement (UPA) Project Manager Nick Thompson. Participants will highlight the history, future and importance of this vital transit project.

Construction of the new station will begin in June 2009 and is scheduled to be completed by May 2010. The station is part of the 16-mile Cedar Avenue Transitway being constructed between the Mall of America and County Road 70 in Lakeville. Service plans are not yet complete, but expect to include express service to downtown Minneapolis as well as station-to-station service connecting Eagan to Lakeville, Apple Valley and the Mall of America. The station is being constructed on a former brownfield and will include such features as energy-efficient LED accent lights which follow the roof-line and have changeable colors; burnished block and low volatile organic compound (VOC) paints to improve indoor air quality; and “geothermal” heating and cooling of the building. Pedestrians will be able to enjoy a patterned paver design nicknamed “raindrops on roses” due to the round “drops” of red pavers. There will be parking for 164 vehicles.

This project is funded, in part, by the Twin Cities Urban Partnership Agreement. The UPA projects will improve traffic flow by reducing congestion on I-35W, Highway 77/Cedar Avenue and in downtownMinneapolis using transit, road pricing, technology and telecommuting. With the completion of UPA projects, commuters will experience more transportation choices, less traffic congestion and reduced commute times on one of the busiest roadways in Minnesota. This project’s goals reflect Mn/DOT’s strategic direction to develop innovative multi-modal solutions and improve mobility of people and freight.

The UPA is funded by $133.3 million in federal funds and $50.2 million in matching state funds. For more information about the UPA, go to www.dot.state.mn.us/upa. For more information about the ceremony, please contact Robin Selvig at 952-882-7504.

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.

-30-

Return to News Releases.