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Home My WebLink About2013-05-20 PUBLICATION MET COUNCILTAB delays regional solicitation Local officials in the metro area and others who apply for federal transportation funds have until next year to prepare their applications. The 2013 "regional solicitation" for local transportation projects, originally scheduled for May, has been pushed back to early 2014 while the Metropolitan Council, Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) and other transportation officials review the process and criteria for evaluating applications for funding. Every two years the TAB solicits applications for federal transportation funds and evaluates the proposed projects based on criteria that reflect federal and regional transportation priorities and mobility goals. The TAB then forwards its funding recommendations on to the Council to be included in the region's Transportation Improvement Program. "Many millions of dollars are at stake," said TAB Chair Bill Hargis. "Every so often we need . to take a look at how we evaluate the competing projects to ensure the evaluation and criteria by which we select projects are, in fact, getting the results that best meet regional needs and investment priorities. "In addition, new federal transportation policy and eligibility included in Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP -21) make this a good time to review our processes," said Hargis. A steering committee will oversee and guide the review process; a private consultant is interviewing and surveying various stakeholders; and a May 6 policymaker workshop is planned to examine survey and research findings, review changes in MAP -21, and hold roundtable discussions. Federal cuts mean fewer housing vouchers The Metropolitan Council approved a budget amendment in April authorizing the use of $1.5 million in reserves to avoid terminating current participants in the federal Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. The amendment is the result of automatic, across - the -board federal budget cuts ( "sequestration ") that went into effect on March 1. Sequestration is causing a 5.1 % reduction in funding for Section 8 housing subsidies, or nearly $2.5 million annually, for the Council's Metropolitan Housing and Redevelopment Authority (Metro HRA). The Council's action means that through attrition, the number of households served by Metro HRA will be reduced by about 500 through the year. Metro HRA Manager Terri Smith said that an average of 45 households, of the nearly 6,200 currently served, leaves the program each month for a variety of reasons. No vouchers will be reissued until the number of households served is reduced to just over 5,700. Currently the Metro HRA waiting list is closed, but over 1,500 households are on the list for a voucher. The average wait time to receive a voucher is five to seven years, but because of sequestration may extend to up to eight years, Smith said. Few of us living in the land of 10,000 lakes would suspect that we need to be concerned about water supply. But groundwater modeling conducted by Metropolitan Council water scientists makes evident that "our current approach to water supply is not sustainable," according to Keith Buttleman, assistant general manager of the Council's Environmental Services division. "Aquifers are being depleted; lakes, streams, and wetlands are being damaged; and in some areas, groundwater levels have declined by as much as 40 feet, roughly one foot each year, since the 1970s," he told the Council in March. In places like White Bear Lake, the effects of aquifer drawdown are quite visible. In others, the problem is still hidden but, if we continue "business as usual," it will become apparent in coming decades, Buttleman said. Rivers can handle increased demand. Today, the Mississippi River supplies 30% of water used in the seven - county region. That's primarily for Minneapolis, St. Paul and communities connected to these core cities. The rest of the metro area relies on pumping groundwater through municipal and private wells to supply the remaining 70%. The Council's groundwater model projects that if a group of 24 of the region's 186 communities shifted to using river water (16 currently rely on the Mississippi), aquifer drawdown would slow and, in some places, begin to reverse. Cities that rely on the river now use only 2% of the existing flow. "Obviously, this shift would not happen easily," Buttleman said. "It would require extensive engineering and feasibility studies, and design analyses to work out the details, not to mention the political agreements among the parties involved." Conservation is essential. Meanwhile, the region needs to focus on maintaining and enhancing groundwater recharge through low- impact development practices, stormwater and wastewater reuse opportunities, and water conservation by domestic, commercial and industrial water users. "All of this is going to require collaboration on so many levels, but obviously, the sooner we start, the better," Buttleman said. Visit metrocouncil.org to learn more. Proposed new park to focus on water One of the most pristine lakes in the seven - county metro area would be the focus of a new "special recreation feature" if, as proposed, it becomes part of the regional parks system. The Metropolitan Council took public comment in April on proposed amendment to the 2030 Regional Parks Policy Plan to add Kingswood Special Recreation Feature on Little Long Lake in Minnetrista to the regional parks system. Three Rivers Park District hopes to acquire the site of a former Methodist Church camp and create a park to promote stewardship of water resources. The site is 106 acres and includes intact maple- basswood forest, oak woodlands, managed prairie and a rare tamarack bog. It also includes 70% of the shoreline of Little Long Lake, one of the cleanest in the metro area. The purchase would also secure land for a future north -south regional trail that links several parks and trails in the area. Special recreation features are called for in state legislation. They are park -like but offer opportunities generally not found in regional parks, park reserves or trails. The Council will take final action in June. METRE Red Line launches service on June 22 The region's first bus rapid transit service, the METRO Red Line, will launch on June 22 The Red Line will provide station -to- station service from the Apple Valley Transit Station to the Mall of America, with additional stops at 147th Street and 140th Street in Apple Valley and the Cedar Grove station in Eagan. The Red Line will be the second in the region's METRO system, and connect with the METRO Blue Line (Hiawatha LRT) at the Mall of America. "Transit plays an important role in our regional economy, as a key transportation link for residents and a. proven catalyst for economic development," said Metropolitan Council Chair Susan Haigh. "The METRO Red Line features customer amenities and technology advancements that reflect our progress toward a 21st century transportation system," The Cedar Avenue /Highway 77 corridor is one of the busiest roads in the state. The Red Line will travel on bus -only shoulder lanes constructed with the roadway improvements along Cedar Avenue. Buses will operate every 15 minutes from approximately 5 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Friday, and 7:30 a.m. to midnight, Saturday and Sunday. O Buses will serve each station with level boarding, real -time signs, and METRO other transit advantages, much like service on the Blue Line. Communities will plan events to help celebrate the launch of the new service, including a period of time to ride the METRO Red Line for free. `Busing s as usual' will deplete groundwater OL61 - 1_961 0961_ - 1_961 %0 %o 1 %N %OE 0 %0b %OS %09 m m %0Z rn %09 m a % 06 3 %001 0 R;unoo s;orsa ul uado o; aolruas ;lsuei; pldei snq ;sag s,uol6aa ZZ ounp uado o} ouil pl 0Hi3W l3 11_ 98 s £Otg - gI05S Mlq 3 AGID 02MI03 � aTn.WU 008ZI 3A010 00BUOD ;o klio .TT 113 uolssnumoz) 2ufuuetd 0 9119IG HDSa*0JLI` V***sssmzsaxsss panna!AW aq o; suol ;eopdde 5ulpun; 6uqunlena 10; eua;lao pue ssaooad uoilelioilos Jeu0169a sAe19p OVI seaie awes u! seulloap Apeals smogs lopow a91ennpunw6 leuol6aa aa;ennpunok a;aldep limn junsn se ssauisng, Ih�ri�Tmh�u�rmrrgll il I Take the Commuter Challenge! Try it once between now and June 301 Replace drive -alone trips by taking the bus or train, bicycle, carpool, walk, telework or vanpool. It's easy to participate in the Commuter Challenge. You can sign up by visiting MyCommu. terChallenge.org or texting PLEDGE to 21970. (Message and data rates may apply.) You could win some great prizes. MCES's customer communities to be heard at May forums The annual MCES Customer Forums provide customer communities with an opportunity to discuss MCES services, projects, budget and rates for the coming fiscal year. To RSVP, contact Kelly Barnebey (kelly.barnebey ®metc. state.mn.us), 651.602.1016. Wednesday, May 22, Industrials Users Friday, May 31, 1:30 p.m., Brookview Thursday, May 30, 9 a.m., League of Community Center, 6 a.m., Metro 94 Minnesota Cities, 145 200 Brookview Pkwy. Business Cntr., Ste. 32 University Ave. W. Golden Valley 455 Etna St., St Paul St. Paul Regional economic indicators show metro area's strengths Examples cited in a recent MetroStats fact sheet rank this 13- county region high among the nation's 25 largest metropolitan statistical areas: - 16th in population size but 13th in size of metropolitan economy (2011) -1st in participation in labor force by work -age adults (2011) - 1st in percent of middle- income households (2011) -1 st in homeownership among households (2011) - 2nd lowest unemployment rate (2012) Metropolitan Council Chair: Susan Haigh. Members: Roxanne Smith, District 1; Lone Schreiber (2); Jennifer Munt (3); Gary Van Eyll (4)• Steve Elkins (5); James Brimeyer (6); Gary L. Cunningham (7); Adam Duininck (8); Edward Reynosa (9); John Doan (10);. Sandy Rummel (11); Harry Melander (12); Richard Kramer (13); Jon Commers (14); Steven T. Chavez (15); Wendy Wulff (16). Regional Administrator: Patrick Born Editor: Jeanne Landkamer General Offices: 651- 602 -1000 1 (651- 291 -0904 TTY) 390 N. Robert St. I St. Paul, MN 55101 e -mail: public.infoometc.state.mn.us Web site: metrocouncil.org This publication is available in alternative formats upon request. Printed on paper containing 100 percent post- consumer and alternative fibers. f • � PRINTED WrrN SOY INK 1 X 1 0 N n o NV1F10d0i`d1` i 7 Join us for Thrive discussions This spring, Metropolitan Council Members and staff will return to communities across the region as part of a second phase of outreach in the development of Thrive MSP 2040, the metropolitan planning guide that the Council Sue Haigh is required by statute to create FROM THECHAIR every 10 years. During the first phase of outreach, the interest and participation of officials, community leaders, and the public was impressive. The strength of this process is that together, we're building on what we're learning and aiming toward a vision that best positions this region for success over the next 30 years. The upcoming meetings will build on challenges, information and ideas presented to the Council during 2012. We will seek to engage participants on four particularly challenging policy topics: • Regionally Significant Economic Places • Water Supply • Land Use and Transit • Affor ad lousing There are many perspectives, but no easy answers. In -depth discussions of these topics will help the Council develop strategies for addressing these challenges and policy so Five public meetings are spread across the re The first two were held in April in Eden Prairie Eagan. The remaining three are in St. Paul (M� Shoreview (May 9) and Minneapolis (May 16). Visit metrocouncil.org for details. If you're not able to attend the meetings, you ce n participate online at yourideas.metrocouncil.org or share information via social media. Specific discussions about each topic will be featured o the Your Ideas site, where you can still submit your thoughts and view other ideas. Whether online or in person, we hope you'll join us! ap!su! aaow - pa}aldap 6ulaq ex saoinos Aella npunoJ6 asneoaq 'elgel IOU sl puaJI slgl'AIleoIeweJp p9;1!qs seq asn ,IejeMpuncub o} esn Jalenn aoe}ans }o eoueleq ano 'sal }lo Iea}ueo eqj weal paenntno pelpgs pue uiAcub seq uo!jelndod s,uol6el no sy 91pupsns jou s! lensn sTe ssauisne Thrive MSP Goals • Maximize opportunities for growth and prosperity in the coming decades • Create a regional vision for everyone: residents, business owners, local offi� community leaders • Define and achieve regional goals that be too big for one community, but pos to accomplish as a region �� 1.�