HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-03-07 PACKET 04.P.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA
MEETING ITEM #
DATE 3/7/2012 s
PREPARED BY Administration Ryan Schroeder
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT HEAD
COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST
Consider adopting resolutions supporting the submittal of a FY2012 TIGER Grant for the East
Metro Rail Yards Fluidity Project by the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority, and
supporting state bond funds for freight rail fluidity and capacity improvements from Downtown
St. Paul to Hastings.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the resolutions.
BUDGET IMPLICATION
BUDGETED AMOUNT
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
❑ MEMO /LETTER:
® RESOLUTION: Draft.
❑ ORDINANCE:
❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION:
❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION:
❑ OTHER:
ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS
City Administrator
ACTUAL AMOUNT
Date
COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: ❑ APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER
Document2
RESOLUTION NO. 2012 -XX
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE SUBMITTAL OF A FY2012 TIGER
(TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENT GENERATING ECONOMIC RECOVERY)
GRANT FOR THE EAST METRO RAIL YARDS FLUIDITY PROJECT BY THE
RAMSEY COUNTY REGIONAL RAILROAD AUTHORITY
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 Red Wing,
City of Lake City, 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 Multi -modal Transit Hub in St
Paul and Chicago along the current Amtrak Empire Builder route in Minnesota
which parallels the Mississippi River; and
WHEREAS, the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority, BNSF Railway,
Canadian Pacific Railway (CP), Union Pacific Railroad (UP), Twin Cities and
Western Railroad (TC &W), Amtrak, the Red Rock Corridor Commission,
Minnesota Department of Transportation, and other stakeholders are partnering
in the development of the East Metro Rail Capacity Study (Study), and
WHERAS, the Study involves a nationally significant railroad crossroad from St.
Paul to Hastings, Minnesota that handles five percent of the nation's freight
volume, exports to Canada and Asia, interchanges between BNSF, CP, UP, and
TC &W, and the BNSF and CP transcontinental mainlines; and
WHEREAS, the Study has identified capacity improvements necessary to
maintain freight and passenger rail fluidity; and
WHEREAS, the BNSF Dayton's Bluff yard, CP St. Paul yard, and UP Hoffman
Yard (East Metro Rail Yards) are part of a freight crossroads that is vital to the
flow of our nation's freight; and
WHEREAS, if the capacity is not increased, delays will increase for freight and
passenger rail impacting the regional and national economy; and
WHEREAS, to improve the flow of our nation's freight and create needed
capacity for future growth by separating mainline and yard switching operations
and adding two miles of mainline tracks through the East Metro Rail Yards
requires private and public funding;
WHEREAS, the RCRRA is leading the development of a FY 2012 TIGER funding
application to provide funding for the completion of the East Metro Rail Yards
Fluidity Project; and
WHEREAS, the award of this funding will allow the project to be built without
further delay.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of
Cottage Grove hereby supports the efforts by the Ramsey County Regional
Railroad Authority to seek FY 2012 TIGER funding for the completion of the East
Metro Rail Yards Fluidity Project.
Passed this 7 11 1 day of March 2012.
Myron Bailey, Mayor
Attest:
Caron M. Stransky, City Clerk
RESOLUTION NO. 2012 -XX
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING STATE BOND FUNDS FOR FREIGHT RAIL
FLUIDITY AND CAPACITY IMPROVEMENTS FROM DOWNTOWN ST. PAUL
TO HASTINGS
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 Red Wing,
City of Lake City, 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 Multi -modal Transit Hub in St
Paul and Chicago along the current Amtrak Empire Builder route in Minnesota
which parallels the Mississippi River; and
WHEREAS, the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority, BNSF Railway,
Canadian Pacific Railway (CP), Union Pacific Railroad (UP), Twin Cities and
Western Railroad (TC &W), Amtrak, the Red Rock Corridor Commission,
Minnesota Department of Transportation, and other stakeholders are partnering
in the development of the East Metro Rail Capacity Study (Study), and
WHERAS, the Study involves a nationally significant railroad crossroads from St.
Paul to Hastings, Minnesota that handles five percent of the nation's freight
volume, exports to Canada and Asia, interchanges between BNSF, CP, UP, and
TC &W, and the BNSF and CP transcontinental mainlines; and
WHEREAS, the Study has identified capacity improvements necessary to
maintain freight and passenger rail fluidity; and
WHEREAS, the BNSF Dayton's Bluff yard, CP St. Paul yard, and UP Hoffman
Yard (East Metro Rail Yards) are part of a freight crossroads that is vital to the
flow of our nation's freight; and
WHEREAS, if the capacity is not increased, delays will increase for freight and
passenger rail impacting the regional and national economy; and
WHEREAS, to improve the flow of our nation's freight and create needed
capacity for future growth by separating mainline and yard switching operations
and adding two miles of mainline tracks through the East Metro Rail Yards
requires private and public funding;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of
Cottage Grove hereby approves the legislative position to support the inclusion of
bond funding in the 2012 bonding bill for the implementation of freight rail fluidity
and capacity improvements for between downtown St. Paul and Hastings.
Passed this 7th day of March 2012.
Myron Bailey, Mayor
Attest:
Caron M. Stransky, City Clerk