08-108Council File # �O � �b�
Green Sheet # 3049490
RESOLUTION
OF SAINT PAUL�-MINNESOTA
Presented by
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WHEREAS, The Central Corridor refers to the Metropolitan Council-designated route connecting
downtown Saint Paul and downtown Minneapolis via University Avenue through a series of neighborhoods, the
Capitol complex, the Midway shopping area and the University of Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, the locally preferred alternative (LPA) route includes stations on the Saint Paul portion of the
line at Westgate, Raymond, Fairview, Snelling, Lexington, Dale, Rice, Capitol East, 10�' and Cedar, 6 and ,
Cedar, 4�' and Minnesota and the Union Depot, with the stations between Rice Street and Snelling Avenue
spaced one mile apart and all other stations spaced, on average, less than three-quarters of a mile apart; and
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WHEREAS, the projact's Draft Environmental Impact Statement lists the following goals along the Central
Corridor: (1) Improved economic opportunity and investment; (2) Acknowledgement ofthe aspirations ofeach
place served; (3) Expanded opportunities for free movement; (4) Enhanced existing transit infrastructure to
better serve transit-dependent persons in adjacent communities; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul, in its formal comments on the Drafr Environmental Impact Statement
submitted in June 2006, requested that the possibility of including stations at Western, Victoria and Hamline
Avenues, be studied during the Preliminary Engineering phase of the process; and
WHEREAS, the City Council believes that planning and design of the Central Corridor light rail line should
continue on schedule and understands the importance of making critical decisions relative to the project scope
by February 27, 2008; and
WHEREAS, an analysis of the wst, travel time and ridership consequences of including stops at Western,
Victoria and Hamline Avenues was completed by the Metropolitan Council and indicated an overall cost equal
to less than two percent ofthe $840 Million maximum project budget; and
WHEREAS, the Council considers the importance of the additional stations to be sufficient to merit
continued consideration by the Central Corridor Management Committee as final scoping decisions are made;
and
31 WHEREAS, the City Council is concerned that the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) exclusive use of
32 the CEI forces local jurisdictions to make short-sighted decisions not in the best interests of the community; and
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WHEREAS, the particular importance of serving the neighborhoods adjacent to the Central Corridor, which
rely heavily on public transit and a concentration of small businesses, is not specifically factored into the FTA's
funding criteria; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council affirms the importance of stops at Western, Victoria and
Hamline Avenues to capitalize upon economic opportunities for both the residents and small business owners in
the surrounding neighborhoods and city of Saint Paul as a whole; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council officially requests a seat and accompanying vote on the
Central Conidor Management Committee; and be it
D��ID�
45 FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Council calls upon the Central Corridor Management Committee, as it
46 recommends a final project scope, to take action to ensure that neighborhoods along University Avenue
47 experience a net gain in transit service as a result of the construction of the light rail line, including, but not
48 limited to the following measures:
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The deliberate pursuit of every opportuniry in phase one to include stops at Hamline, Western, and Victoria
Avenues along the proposed Central Conidor light rail line, within the CEI guidelines prescribed by the
FTA; and
Continued work with the FTA to determine the feasibility of a waiver from the restrictions imposed by the
CEI in order to more effectively serve Saint Paul's transit-dependent communities.
Bostrom
Carter
Harris
Yeas
Requested by Department oE
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Approved by the Office of Financial Services
By:
Approved by City Attorney
I % I U I O I By:
Adopted by Council: Date 1 ����i j1 Approved by Mayor for Submission to Council
Adoption Certified by `ncil Secretary By:
By:
Approved a r: ate 2- � �
By:
� Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet �
Dg -/08
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ConWCt Person & Phone:
Acooa Lee
266-8611
MUSt 6¢ Otl
O6-FEB-O8
Doc.Type: RESOIUTION
E-DOCUment Required: Y
Document Contact:
ConWCt Phone: 266-861'I
3'I JAN-08
y
Assign
Number
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Green Sheet NO: 3049490
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2 - Clerk
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Reques[ing the Central Comdor Management Committee, as it recommends a final project scope, to take action to ensure that
neighborhoods along University Avenue experience a net gain in transit service as a result ot the construction of the light rail line.
itlations: Approve (A) or Reject
Planning Commission
CIB Commillee
Civil Service Commission
Personal
1. Has this person/firtn ever worked under a contract for this departmenY?
Yes No
2. Has this person/firm ever been a ciry employee?
Yes No
3. Does this person/firtn possess a skill not normally possessed by any
current city employee?
Yes No
Explain all yes answers on separate sheet and attach to green sheet
Initiating Problem, Issues, Opportunity (Who, What, When, Where, Why):
Advantages If Approved:
Disadvantages If Approved:
Disadvantages If Not Approved:
Transaction:
Funding Source:
F inancial Information:
(Explain)
Activity Number.
CosURevenue Budgeted:
January 31, 2008 2:16 PM Page 1
vC��
C�'Y ��'+ s'A]N`I' PA�. 390 City Hall Telephone: 651-266-8510
Christopher B. Coleman, Mayor IS West Ke1[ogg Boulevard Facsimile: 651-266-8513
Saint Pau1, MN 55102
Febmary 8, 2008
Council President Kathy Lantry
and Members of the City Council
320 City Hall
Saint Paul, MN 55102
Dear Colleagues,
As you know, construction of the Central Corridor light rail line and planning for the
development associated with a$1 billion public investment are among my highest priorities. The
opportunities embedded in the Corridar will transform Saint Paul in much the same way our work
to reclaim the Mississippi Riverfront during the past 25 years spazked the renewal of all the
neighborhoods along the river.
I appreciate the concerns behind Council Resolution 08-108 related to adding stops to the
University Avenue portion of the line and, therefore, have signed the resolution. From the
beginning, this line has been envisioned to be one that will serve the residents of Saint Paul and
promote economic development in all of the neighborhoods along the line. Adding stations in
neighborhoods with heavily transit-dependent populations is certainly consistent with that goal.
I will continue to advocate for the construction of the additional stations, whether they aze built in
the first phase or "roughed in" so they can be added as resources become available.
I want our project partners to know, however, that I understand the importance of fashioning a
project scope that meets the FTA's requirements. I have been careful not to draw lines in the
sand with respect to the project scope and have asked others to be similarly wiliing to work
within difficult cost constraints. My support of this resolution is intended to ensure that the issue
of the additionai stations is squarely on the table through the final weeks of the scoping
discussion at the Metropolitan Council.
Thank you for all that you have done to support our collective efforts to build a regional transit
system wi its East Metro hub in downtown Saint Paul.
S' er
Christopher B. Coleman ,
Mayor
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