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91-1657 V�����/'11. ___ -., � � Council File # ���O�J' � Green Sheet # RESOLUTION CITY OF SAINT PAUL, E TA Presented By Referred To Committee: Date WHEREAS, the City has received the Preliminary Design for the Midway Corridor Light Rail Transit (LRT) Project proposed by the Ramsey Regional Railroad Authority for review and City approval or disapproval under Minnesota Statutes 473.169, Subd. 3; and WHEREAS, the Midway Corridor LRT Project would connect the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis and downtown Saint Paul, and is part of the first phase of LRT construction in the Twin Cities linking the two downtowns; and WHEREAS, decisions on Light Rail Transit in the Midway Corridor could have significant long-range effects on transportation systems and land use patterns in Saint Paul; and WHEREAS, if the City disapproves the plans under Minnesota Statutes 473.169, Subd. 3, the City must describe specific amendments to the plans that, if adopted, would cause the City to withdraw its disapproval; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission and the Heritage Preservation Commission have reviewed the Preliminary Design for the Midway Corridor LRT Project and recommend that the City of Saint Paul approve the Preliminary Design for the Midway Corridor Light Rail Transit Project subject to conditions that list issues and concerns that must be thoroughly addressed in more detailed design and engineering phases of the project, and conditions that must be met before the City would approve Final Design Plans; and WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the Preliminary Design for the Midway Corridor LRT Project and concurs with the comments and recommendations of the Planning Commissin and the Heritage Preservation Commission; and WHEREAS, an additional station near Pelham might provide better service to the Westgate employment center; and WHEREAS, the Preliminary Design does not adequately show that Cleveland Station has the ability to provide for safe and convenient feeder bus circulation, drop-offs and pick-ups, pedestrian access, and service to the Westgate employment center; and ' WHEREAS, moving Cleveland Station to the east side of Cleveland between Cleveland and Prior would provide for safer and more convenient circulation and pedestrian access; and �����NAI �►,��i�s7 WHEREAS, the Preliminary Design does not show that operational problems with pedestrian and vehicular connections and interactions at bridge stations at Snelling, Lexington and Dale can adequately be overcome; and WHEREAS, the proposed location of Rice Street Station at the edge of the Capitol Area provides inconvenient service to much of the Capitol Area and presents pedestrian and traffic safety issues at Rice Street which may affect access to Saint Paul Technical College and the new Minnesota History Center; and WHEREAS, the design of the proposed station in front of the Union Depot on Fourth Street between Sibley and Wacouta, in the Lowertown Heritage Preservation District, would have significant visual impact on the Lowertown District, would result in the closing of Wacouta at Fourth and substantial change to the curved drive in front of the depot, would restrict access to the Unian Depot (with possible economically detrimental effects on the depot) , and would have to be approved by the Heritage Preservation Commission; and WHEREAS, the Preliminary Design does not clearly show the impact of LRT on Ravoux and Farrington Streets, how adequate access to property including the senior citizen high-rise along these streets will be maintained, and the potential for reasonable use of property between the LRT structure and I-94 at Farrington; and WHEREAS, the Preliminary Design does not show adequate sidewalk width along Cedar between Fifth and Sixth Streets, on the west side of Cedar between Fourth and Fifth Streets, and along the proposed stations on Fourth Street; and WHEREAS, an analysis of the downtown headways and traffic impacts of the maximum twenty-year LRT system, along with plans for mitigation of any negative impacts, has not yet been done; and WHEREAS, moving the proposed station area at Lexington and I-94 from the northeast corner to the southeast corner may help to minimize negative impacts; and WHEREAS, stations, bridges and walls should be designed to maximize security, to conform to an overall design theme reflecting Saint Paul's historic character, and to be compatible with the street environment and adjacent buildings; and WHEREAS, in reviewing the Draft EIS for the Midway Corridor LRT project, the City recommended a participatory design process and special measures to mitigate the design and security problems of LRT in downtown Saint Paul, of stations, and of bridges and walls; and WHEREAS, the station on Cedar between Fifth and Sixth is at a critical, central location with possibility for excellent access to the skyway system and for transfers to and from the main bus routes along Fifth and Sixth, and should be designed to be part of a downtown transit hub with a direct vertical connection to the skyway above; and ��. .���w����� q�_�6,s� , � WHEREAS, station patronage forecasts in the Preliminary Design Technical Memorandum show zero year 2010 daily patronage for the station on Fourth between Minnesota and Robert and, with the excellent access provided by the station on Cedar between Fifth and Sixth a mere 600 feet away, this station might be redundant; and WHEREAS, low platform boarding would be more compatible with the downtown Saint Paul portion of the alignment, technology is advancing on low platform cars and it would be short-sighted to design an LRT system without retrofit capabilities, and LRT design details such as bridge clearances could easily preclude future retrofit unless designed to allow for a switch; and WHEREAS, the cost-effectiveness of LRT has not been adequately compared to alternatives such as bus system irnprovements and High Occupancy Vehicle lanes; and WHEREAS, the cost per rider for the proposed Central Corridor LRT project has not been shown to clearly meet the Metropolitan Council maximum cost per rider policy and the Regional Transit Board cost per passenger thresholds; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council approves the Preliminary Design for the Midway Corridor Light Rail Transit Project proposed by the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority subject to the following conditions: 1. The Preliminary Engineering phase must include an additional station near Pelham, along with shuttle and feeder bus alternatives to serve the Westgate employment center, and adequate service to the Westgate area must be clearly shown; 2. The Preliminary Engineering phase of the Midway Corridor LRT Project must include a reassessment of the location of Cleveland Station and the station must be shown clearly to provide for safe and convenient feeder bus circulation, drop-offs and pick-ups, and pedestrian access; 3. The Preliminary Engineering phase must include a thorough study of operational problems with pedestrian and vehicular connections and interactions at bridge stations at Snelling, Lexington and Dale, and show how these problems will be overcome; plans must clearly show provision for good traffic flow on these bridges and safe, convenient pedestrian access to these stations; 4. The Preliminary Engineering phase must include a study of pedestrian access and traffic circulation in the Rice Street Station area; plans must clearly show how this station will interact with the Twelfth/Rice/John Ireland intersection and provision for good traffic flow and safe, convenient pedestrian access; the station should be connected to the Capitol Area tunnel system; �RIG��1��. �,�i��-� 5. The design of Lowertown Station in front of the Union Depot must be compatible with the materials and character of the Lowertown Heritage Preservation District, with special consideration to the design of the station and the design, placement and spacing of the supports for the overhead electrical wires so as to minimize the visual impact on Union Depot, and the final design of Lowertown Station must be approved by the Heritage Preservation Commission; and 6. The Preliminary Engineering phase must include further study of the economic impacts of limited accessibility to Union Depot and appropriate mitigation measures; the Preliminary Engineering phase must include exploration of alternative station placement and street configuration to increase access to Union Depot including moving the station one block east or west of the proposed location along Fourth Street, allowing for an additional vehicular traffic lane between Lowertown Station and Union Depot to permit access to the Union Depot from Fourth Street, and grade alterations at the intersections of Sibley and Wacouta with Fourth to allow Wacouta Street to be kept open through Fourth Street; and 7. The Preliminary Engineering phase must include an assessment of the impact of LRT on Ravoux and Farrington Streets; plans must show how adequate access to property along these streets will be maintained and the potential for reasonable use of property between the LRT structure and I-94 at Farrington; 8. Final Design Plans must clearly show maintenance of sidewalks at least 10 feet wide along both sides of downtown streets; 9. The Preliminary Engineering phase must include an analysis of downtown headways and traffic impacts of the maximum twenty-year LRT system and show how any negative impacts will be mitigated; 10. Moving the proposed station area at Lexington and I-94 from the northeast corner to the southeast corner should be considered; 11. The Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority must conduct a participatory design process, with public input and review, to consider special measures to mitigate the design and security problems of LRT in downtown Saint Paul, of stations, and of bridges and walls, to conform to an overall design theme reflecting Saint Paul's historic character, and to be compatible with the street environment and adjacent buildings; 12. The station on Cedar between Fifth and Sixth should be designed to be part of a downtown transit hub with a direct vertical connection to the skyway above; 13. The Preliminary Engineering phase should include a reassessment of the need for the station on Fourth between Minnesota and Robert, and elimination of this station considered; 14. Design details such as bridge clearances must allow for potential retrofit to low platform loading LRT cars; and �RI�NVA l � ��i-��� 15. The cost per rider for the proposed Central Corridor LRT project, including capitol, operating, and feeder bus system costs, must be shown to clearly meet the Metropolitan Council maximum cost per rider policy and the Regional Transit Board cost per passenger thresholds, and also to compare favorably to the cost-effectiveness of alternatives including - bus system improvements and freeway HOV lanes; and ALSO, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council will not approve the Final Design Plans for the Midway Corridor LRT Project until the above conditions are met. Yea Navs Absent Requested by Department of: unon oswstz ! � � ee- ettman � une i B � '�- Y Adopted by Council: Date SEP - 5 1991 Fo� Approved by City AttornQy Adoption C tifi�d by Coun il Secretary gY: ,� � ; ,, � ; � BY� � ' ' � �'" Approved by Mayor for Submission to Approved by� M�lyor: Date SEP - 9 �gg� Council By: �i�/����!/ By� � �i6S��� S�P 1�'91 � � ��i�/�sl ;,;;������ CITY OF SAINT PAUL OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY HALL-7th FLOOR-SAINT PAUL,MINNESOTA 55102 TOM DIMOND 612-298-5506 COUNCILMEMBER Members: Taa� Dimond, Chair Paula Maccabee Dave Thune Date: August 28, 1991 COMMITTEE REPORT HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE 1. Approval of the minutes from the Housing and Economic Development Committee meetings for: August 13, 1991, and August 14, 1991. COMMITTEE APPROVED, 3-0 2. Minnesota Housing Finance Agency Application for Funding Deferred Loan Program - Phase VI (Referred from HRA 7-23-91; Laid Over in Committee 8-14-91) . COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED APPROVAL, 3-0 (HRA) �3. Public Hearing on Midway Corridor Light Rail Transit Preliminary Design (Referred from Council 7-16-91) . COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AS AMENDED, 3-0. AMENDMENT IS TO BE MADE IN TIME FOR THE SEPTEMBER 5, 1991, CITY COUNCIL MEETING. 4. Resolution 91-1516 - approving funding priorities and budgets for six projects of the Neighborhood Partnership Program 16th Cycle projects (Referred from Council 8-13-91) . COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED APPROVAL, WITH THE STIPULATION THAT ANY OTHER PROPOSALS FOR NPP COULD BE REYIEWED AT THE FULL CITY COUNCIL MEETING, 3-0 5. Preliminary approval and authorization to schedule a public hearing for the Episcopal Church Home Elderly Housing Revenue Bond Project, District 11 (Referred from HRA 8-27-91) . COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED APPROVAL, 3-0 (HRp) CHAIR: Housing and Redevelopment Authority&Housing and Economic Development Committee COMMITTEES: Public Works&Intergovernmental Relations 18�S � Printed on Recycled Paper . . �41 o � So �, . CITY OF SAINT PAUL � C�7��G'S� �,.,,' e1/ "+� � ' ' � OFFICE OF THE MAYOR � e �,� ag � ��iil�l'1�i. " . \ ' . I � • .�s9/ �C ' . :e � 3-fi CITY H2lLL ��+' `D � �� Ja\IES SCHEIBEL S�I�iT P1.UL. JII�'tiESOT,� 531p: •` S JLaYOR (812) �98-�323 ,�,� ",�� �� �,.��� June 28, 1991 �� 5���6 °� Q����� � � �j �a� � �` 1 ����' ��,,1 � o�. ��y�` t . ` 'a� �°'�`��,,a' � � .� � � _ G � � �.,•` � �''o. �c 1� .��o.,• President William Wilson �� � �° C� o �'�° yr � � and Members of the City Council G �.,`a ��{�'�C'� �� � Q���c.� �g, '� .�,,.� �� ��,,� 719 City Hall �,.0�' �"� yQa� � `s `" r`���� =Q,`r �.`r G Saint Paul, MN 55102 � '� c �,,5 c�"`r' � y. v'9' �(V' �tf•. ti � � � e�� �t � �✓��`�` RE: Request for City Counc�l Public Hearing on Midway Corridor Light Rail Transit (p' Preliminary Design �L...�.�� s / Dear President Wilson and Members of the City Council: /�'��a�.. To�sfe�SOh � l The City has received the Preliminary Design for the Midway Conidor Light Rail Transit 3 3 � Project from the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority (RCRRA) for our review and approval or disapproval. The City is required to hold a public hearing and approve or disapprove the Preliminary Design under Minnesota Statutes 473.169, Subd. 3. If we disapprove the plans, we must describe specific amendments to the plans that, if adopted, would cause us to withdraw our disapproval. � The Planning Commission will review the Preliminary Design at its July 12, 1991, meeting and submit its recommendations for our consideration. - The RCRRA held a public hearing on the Preliminary Design on June 25, 1991. According to Minnesota Statutes, failure by the City to approve or disapprove the plans in writing within 45 days after the hearing (by August 9, 1991) is deemed to be approval, unless an extension of time is,agreed to by the City and the RCRRA. However, under the City Early Notification P�licy, a 45 day notice should be provided for the City Council public hearing on the Preliminary Design. I have sent the attached letter to the RCRRA requesting an extension to September 9, 1991, for City review and approval or disapproval of the Preliminary Design. Please schedule a public hearing to consider the Preliminary Design for the Midway Corridor Light Rail Transit Project proposed by the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority for the � earliest possible date while providing for a 45 day notification period. Si er ly, - ��/�� J es Scheibel Mayor JS/bp cc: John Finley, RCRRA Tom Eggum, Public Works Robert Sprague, PED Printed on Recycled Paper � . ���/6s7 . � _ � �� � ( NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The Saint Paul City Council will hold a public hearing on 9:00 a.m., City Council Chambers, 3rd Floor City Hall - Courthouse for the purpose of reviewing the Midway Conidor Light Rail Transit Project Preliminary Design proposed by the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority. This matter will also be considered by the City Council Housing and Economic Development Committee, which will prepare a recommendation to the full Council, on Wednesday, August 28, 1991, 2:00 p.m., City Council Chambers. Testimony will be taken at both meetings, and it is not necessary to testify at both meetings. Information on this public hearing may be obtained by calling Allan Torstenson, Saint Paul Department of Planning and Economic Development, at 228-3397. ��+� . . - ��' Notices PUBLIC�HEARING The Saint Paul CiW Councfl Thur���y�Septe'mber� 5 1991. 9�A0 a.m.. Cify Counci� Ctiambsr;� 3rd Floor Clfy HarNpos-e Cou� �� pu pv Corcidor Li�t RsN TrMa�nsit Proleel PrNim��y Ueaipn Droposcd bv fAe Ramsev Counfv Reolo��l Ratlroad Aufhorifv. T ��W��the�CIN � velo�plMnt� E ttee.whiCh z�r���°`o.d°mY.'�Ci'svr ��c'o'�ii Chsmbsn.'Tesftmonv w�l be ita�nn oatt botn m�sttn��.test� at bo16 m�st• tiai on Mis nsok��m v be obtainad �y /uan Tontansat. Ss De- ,��k.,,�� ���'M� � � PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE ����G� . SAINT PAUL CITY COUNCIL 7'� �ENS District 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17 and "All" Lists � IMidway Corridor and Downtown LRT Task Force Lists APPLICANT �Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority (RCRRA) � t � PURPOSE �City review of Midway Corridor Light Rail Transit (LRT) Project � Preliminary Design which shows horizontal and vertical location of RCRRA's preferred alignment along I-94, station locations, locations, and location of station support facilities such as feeder bus bays and drop-off areas. The City Council will consider recommendations of the Planning Commission to approve the Preliminary Design subject to 14 conditions and not to approve Final Design Plans until the conditions are met. LOCATION �Beginning in front of Union Depot at 4th and Wacouta, the pro- I OF PROJECT �posed Midway Corridor LRT alignment goes west on 4th to Cedar, � north on Cedar to 12th, west on 12th and Ravoux to Western, west in I-94 median to Fairview, and west along Soo Line Railroad to Oak and Washington in Minneapolis. From here, Minneapolis portion of the Central Corridor will go through University of Minnesota and into downtown Minneapolis. TIME OF HEARING (Thursday, September 5, 1991, City Council Meeting at 9:00 a.m. � (also considered by City Council Housing and Economic Develop- ment Committee on Wednesday, August 28, 1991, at 2:00 p.m.) PLACE OF HEARING (City Council Chambers, 3rd Floor City Hall - Courthouse � (for both City Council and Housing and Economic Development Committee meetings) HOW TO �While testimony will be taken at both the City Council Public � PARTICIPATE �Hearing and at the Housing and Economic Development Committee � meeting, you are encouraged to attend the committee meeting. The committee will prepare a recommendation to the full Council. It is not necessary to testify at both meetings. ANY QUESTIONS �Questions and comments should be directed to Allan Torstenson, I City Planner, Department of Planning and Economic Development, 1100 City Hall Annex, 25 West 4th Street, Saint Paul, IrIN 55102 (612) 228-3397. District Councils wishing to discuss this issue at meetings prior to the City Council public hearing may also contact Kathryn DeSpiegelaere, Director of LRT Planning, Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority, 316 Ramsey County Courthouse, Mailing Date: 7/23/91 15 West Kellogg Boulevard, Saint Pau1, MN 55102 (612) 298-5420.