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Home My WebLink About2010-02-17 PACKET 04.B.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA MEETING ITEM # DATE 2/17/2010 Administration ORIGINATING DEPARTMENZ Ryan Schroeder DEPARTMENT HEAD COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST Consider adopting a resolution in support of high -speed rail. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Adopt the resolution. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ❑ MEMO /LETTER: ® RESOLUTION: Draft. ❑ ORDINANCE: ❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION: ❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION: ® OTHER: Attachments from High -Speed Rail Commission. ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS deu i . I 7 ifs Date COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: [APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER Document2 RESOLUTION NO. 2010 -XX IN SUPPORT OF MINNESOTA HIGH SPEED RAIL COMMISSION REQUESTS FOR STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING WHEREAS, the City of Cottage Grove is a member of the Minnesota High Speed Rail Commission ( MHSRC), and WHEREAS, the MHSRC has adopted resolutions in support of State Bond Funds in the amount of $8.5 million for the Union Depot, $13.5 million for Hoffman Yard capacity improvements and $10 million for the Twin Cities to Chicago High Speed Rail corridor, and WHEREAS, the MHSRC has adopted resolutions in support of Federal Funds for the Union Depot and Hoffman Yard and supporting the request for $26 million for the Twin Cities to Chicago High Speed Rail corridor, and WHEREAS, the City of Cottage Grove, its businesses, its citizenry, and that of its neighboring communities would benefit by these important transportation and transit improvements, and WHEREAS, these proposed transportation and transit improvements could provide some semblance of balance in transportation infrastructure investment between the east /southeast metro area and other quadrants of the Twin Cities providing improved opportunity for balanced economic activity among Twin Cities quadrants, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE, that we concur with the goals of MHSRC resolutions 2010 -1, -2, -3, and -4 requesting State and Federal funding to further rail transportation and transit opportunities within the east Twin Cities metro Passed this 17th day of February 2010. Myron Bailey, Mayor Attest: Caron M. Stransky, City Clerk Agenda Item #5 Minnesota High Speed Rail Commission Resolution 2010 -01 Resolution supporting the request of $10 million in State Bond Funds for environmental and engineering work the Twin Cities to Chicago High Speed Rail Corridor WHEREAS, the Minnesota High Speed Rail Commission (hereafter known as The "Commission ") is a political subdivision and local government unit of Minnesota; and WHEREAS, the Commission is established by Joint Powers Agreement by and between Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority, Washington County Regional Railroad Authority, Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority, Goodhue County Regional Railroad Authority, Wabasha County Regional Railroad Authority, Winona County Regional Railroad Authority, City of St. Paul, City of St. Paul Park, City of Cottage Grove, City of Hastings, City of Lake City, City of Red Wing, City of Wabasha, City of Goodview, City of Winona, City of St. Charles, City of Utica; and WHEREAS, the Commission is working to establish high speed intercity passenger rail service between The Union Depot in St. Paul and Chicago along the current Amtrak Empire Builder route in Minnesota which parallels the Mississippi River (River Route); and WHEREAS, the States of Minnesota and Wisconsin have jointly contributed $600,000 and have received $600,000 in federal funds for the completion of Phase One Environmental Analysis and completion of an Alternatives Analysis for the Twin Cities to Madison portion of the Twin Cities to Chicago Corridor; and WHEREAS, the Commission believes that the Minnesota Department of Transportation's (Mn /DOT) data driven analysis will result in the selection of the River Route, due to its existing passenger rail use, shorter route length and travel times, and significant traffic generators including Native American tribal interests and its higher education facilities, as the preferred alignment in Minnesota; and WHEREAS, this analysis will be completed by September of 2010 and following the completion of this analysis the next step is to undertake detailed environmental and engineering work estimated to cost $52 million; and WHEREAS, state and federal funding will be sought in the amount of $52 million, and WHEREAS, there is current state funding for $26 million for high speed rail of which $16 million has been identified for the Twin Cities to Chicago Corridor; and WHEREAS, states that received the most funding from the $8 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding that was awarded on January 28, 2010 had contributed significant state resources to allow their projects to advance in the absence of federal funds; and Agenda Item #S WHEREAS, their state investments paid significant dividends through the award of ARRA funding; and WHEREAS, there is no currently available federal funding for the Corridor; and WHEREAS, to continue to advance high speed rail between the Twin Cities and Chicago additional funding is needed to cover Minnesota's share of the cost. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Commission hereby requests state bonding of $10 million to complete detailed environmental analysis and detailed engineering work on the Twin Cities to Chicago Corridor; and Approved: Chairperson Date Approved by the Commission I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is true and correct copy of the resolution presented to and adopted by the Minnesota High Speed Rail Commission at a duly authorized meeting thereof held on , 2010 as show by the minutes of said meeting in my possession. Yes N o Abstain Absent MILLER ALLEN RETTMAN PETERSON, MYRA BRANNING WINDHORST POMEROY STARK HUNZIKER PETERSON, JEN HOLLENBECK HOWE WEIMERSKRICH SPITZER FERGUSON PETERS MEISCH Agenda Item #5 Minnesota High Speed Rail Commission Resolution 2010 -02 Resolution supporting the request of $8.5 million in State Bond Funds for the Union Depot Multimodal Hub and $13.5 million for Hoffman Interlocking /Yard capacity improvements WHEREAS, the Minnesota High Speed Rail Commission (hereafter known as The "Commission ") is a political subdivision and local government unit of Minnesota; and WHEREAS, the Commission is established by Joint Powers Agreement by and between Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority, Washington County Regional Railroad Authority, Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority, Goodhue County Regional Railroad Authority, Wabasha County Regional Railroad Authority, Winona County Regional Railroad Authority, City of St. Paul, City of St. Paul Park, City of Cottage Grove, City of Hastings, City of Lake City, City of Red Wing, City of Wabasha, City of Goodview, City of Winona, City of St. Charles, City of Utica; and WHEREAS, the Commission is working to establish high speed intercity passenger rail service between The Union Depot in St. Paul and Chicago along the current Amtrak Empire Builder route in Minnesota which parallels the Mississippi River (River Route); and WHEREAS, the States of Minnesota and Wisconsin have jointly contributed $600,000 and have received $600,000 in federal funds for the completion of Phase One Environmental Analysis and completion of an Alternatives Analysis for the Twin Cities to Madison portion of the Twin Cities to Chicago Corridor; and WHEREAS, the Commission believes that the Minnesota Department of Transportation's (Mn /DOT) data driven analysis will result in the selection of the River Route, due to its existing passenger rail use, shorter route length and travel times, and significant traffic generators including Native American tribal interests and its higher education facilities, as the preferred alignment in Minnesota; and WHEREAS, the River Route will utilize The Union Depot Multimodal Hub in downtown St. Paul as its St. Paul station; and WHEREAS, to access The Union Depot high speed trains will need to travel through Hoffman Interlocking /Yard, an identified freight bottleneck in the State Rail Plan, and WHEREAS, increased capacity within and through Hoffman Interlocking /Yard provides a three for one benefit for high speed, commuter and freight rail which will improve the economic competitiveness of the state; and WHEREAS, the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority has submitted 2010 State Bonding Requests for The Union Depot Multimodal Hub in the amount of $8.5 million for property acquisition, engineering, and construction and for Hoffman Agenda Item #5 Interlocking /Yard in the amount of $13.5 million for environmental and engineering work; and WHEREAS, without improvements to The Union Depot and Hoffman Interlocking /Yard, high speed rail to Chicago will be delayed. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Commission supports the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority's state bond requests of $8.5 million for the Union Depot Multi -modal Hub and $13.5 million for Hoffman Interlocking /Yard. Approved: Chairperson Date Approved by the Commission I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is true and correct copy of the resolution presented to and adopted by the Minnesota High Speed Rail Commission at a duly authorized meeting thereof held on , 2010 as show by the minutes of said meeting in my possession. Yes No Abstain Absent MILLER ALLEN RETTMAN I PETERSON, MYRA BRANNING WINDHORST POMEROY STARK HUNZIKER PETERSON, JEN HOLLENBECK HOWE WEIMERSKRICH j SPITZER FERGUSON PETERS MEISCH Agenda Itein #6 Minnesota High Speed Rail Commission Resolution 2010 -03 Resolution supporting the request of $26 million in Federal Funds for environmental and engineering work the Twin Cities to Chicago High Speed Rail Corridor WHEREAS, the Minnesota High Speed Rail Commission (hereafter known as The "Commission ") is a political subdivision and local government unit of Minnesota; and WHEREAS, the Commission is established by Joint Powers Agreement by and between Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority, Washington County Regional Railroad Authority, Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority, Goodhue County Regional Railroad Authority, Wabasha County Regional Railroad Authority, Winona County Regional Railroad Authority, City of St. Paul, City of St. Paul Park, City of Cottage Grove, City of Hastings, City of Lake City, City of Red Wing, City of Wabasha, City of Goodview, City of Winona, City of St. Charles, City of Utica; and WHEREAS, the Commission is working to establish high speed intercity passenger rail service between The Union Depot in St. Paul and Chicago along the current Amtrak Empire Builder route in Minnesota which parallels the Mississippi River (River Route); and WHEREAS, the States of Minnesota and Wisconsin have jointly contributed $600,000 and have received $600,000 in federal funds for the completion of Phase One Environmental Analysis and completion of an Alternatives Analysis for the Twin Cities to Madison portion of the Twin Cities to Chicago Corridor; and WHEREAS, the Commission believes that the Minnesota Department of Transportation's (Mn /DOT) data driven analysis will result in the selection of the River Route, due to its existing passenger rail use, shorter route length and travel times, and significant traffic generators including Native American tribal interests and its higher education facilities, as the preferred alignment in Minnesota; and WHEREAS, this analysis will be completed by September of 2010 and following the completion of this analysis the next step is to undertake detailed environmental and engineering work estimated to cost $52 million; and WHEREAS, state and federal funding will be sought in the amount of $52 million, and WHEREAS, there is current state funding for $26 million for high speed rail of which $16 million has been identified for the Twin Cities to Chicago Corridor; and WHEREAS, the State of Wisconsin will need to partner with Minnesota to cover the remainder of the local cost; and Agenda Item #F6 WHEREAS, federal funding is being requested to cover 50% of the detailed environmental and engineering work cost. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Commission hereby requests state bonding of $10 million to complete detailed environmental analysis and detailed engineering work on the Twin Cities to Chicago Corridor; and Approved: Chairperson Date Approved by the Commission I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is true and correct copy of the resolution presented to and adopted by the Minnesota High Speed Rail Commission at a duly authorized meeting thereof held on , 2010 as show by the minutes of said meeting in my possession. Yes No Abstain Absent MILLER ALLEN RETTMAN PETERSON, MYRA BRANNING WINDHORST POMEROY STARK HUNZIKER PETERSON, JEN HOLLENBECK HOWE WEIMERSKRICH SPITZER FERGUSON PETERS MEISCH Agenda Item #6 Minnesota High Speed Rail Commission Resolution 2010 -04 Resolution supporting the request of Federal Funds for the Union Depot Multimodal Hub and Hoffman Interlocking /Yard Capacity Improvements WHEREAS, the Minnesota High Speed Rail Commission (hereafter known as The "Commission ") is a political subdivision and local government unit of Minnesota; and WHEREAS, the Commission is established by Joint Powers Agreement by and between Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority, Washington County Regional Railroad Authority, Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority, Goodhue County Regional Railroad Authority, Wabasha County Regional Railroad Authority, Winona County Regional Railroad Authority, City of St. Paul, City of St. Paul Park, City of Cottage Grove, City of Hastings, City of Lake City, City of Red Wing, City of Wabasha, City of Goodview, City of Winona, City of St. Charles, City of Utica; and WHEREAS, the Commission is working to establish high speed intercity passenger rail service between The Union Depot in St. Paul and Chicago along the current Amtrak Empire Builder route in Minnesota which parallels the Mississippi River (River Route); and WHEREAS, the States of Minnesota and Wisconsin have jointly contributed $600,000 and have received $600,000 in federal funds for the completion of Phase One Environmental Analysis and completion of an Alternatives Analysis for the Twin Cities to Madison portion of the Twin Cities to Chicago Corridor; and WHEREAS, the Commission believes that the Minnesota Department of Transportation's (Mn /DOT) data driven analysis will result in the selection of the River Route, due to its existing passenger rail use, shorter route length and travel times, and significant traffic generators including Native American tribal interests and its higher education facilities, as the preferred alignment in Minnesota; and WHEREAS, the River Route will utilize The Union Depot Multimodal Hub in downtown St. Paul as its St. Paul station; and WHEREAS, to access The Union Depot high speed trains will need to travel through Hoffman Interlocking /Yard, an identified freight bottleneck in the State Rail Plan, and WHEREAS, increased capacity within and through Hoffman Interlocking /Yard provides a three for one benefit for high speed, commuter and freight rail which will improve the economic competitiveness of the state; and WHEREAS, the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority will be submitting federal funding requests for The Union Depot Multimodal Hub for property acquisition, engineering, and construction and for Hoffman Interlocking /Yard for environmental and engineering work; and Agenda Item #6 WHEREAS, without improvements to The Union Depot and Hoffman Interlocking /Yard, high speed rail to Chicago will be delayed. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Commission supports the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority's federal funding requests for The Union Depot Multi - modal Hub and for Hoffman Interlocking /Yard. Approved: Chairperson Date Approved by the Commission I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is true and correct copy of the resolution presented to and adopted by the Minnesota High Speed Rail Commission at a duly authorized meeting thereof held on , 2010 as show by the minutes of said meeting in my possession. Yes No Abstain Absent MILLER ALLEN RETTMAN PETERSON, MYRA BRANNING WINDHORST POMEROY STARK HUNZIKER PETERSON, JEN HOLLENBECK HOWE WEIMERSKRICH SPITZER FERGUSON PETERS MEISCH