December 7, 2007

December 7, 2007
The following is the complete text of the unpublished summarized resolution. RESOLUTION 2007R-640 By Glidden, Colvin Roy Supporting the development of a fiscally responsible plan and providing a high quality inside lane multi-modal BRT station at Lake Street, a high-quality connection to the Midtown Greenway, and access at Lake Street as part of the I-35W access improvements and Lake Street Reconstruction. Whereas, the highest priority for the City of Minneapolis on 35W is to be a partner in regional efforts to increase use of transit; and Whereas, global warming is a recognized threat to our environment and economy which can be addressed in part by providing transit choices for commuters that are cost-effective, reduce carbon pollution, and create shared economic benefits; and Whereas, the City of Minneapolis strongly supports implementing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on 35W as soon as possible and this vision is shared by a broad, bipartisan coalition of mayors, city council members, county commissioners, and legislators along the entire 35W corridor south of Downtown; and Whereas, the U.S. Department of Transportations decision to award a $133 million Urban Partnership Agreement (UPA) grant to 35W is a huge step forward toward implementing this shared BRT vision; and Whereas, full BRT service on 35W should include at least two high quality inside lane stations in Minneapolis at Lake Street and 46th Street; and Whereas, the UPA grant does not include funding for a BRT Station at Lake Street, and failure to construct a new station at this location would either require buses to cross over from the inside lane to the outside lane at Lake Street, or otherwise by-pass Lake Street altogether, neither of which is a sound or acceptable option; and Whereas, a weakness in the final UPA application was that it did not include a transit-dedicated lane in both the northbound and southbound directions; and Whereas, any actions we take to make the UPA program more successful increases the chance that further UPA dollars or similar funding will be available in the future; and Midtown Greenway Whereas, the City recognizes and supports the increased development and high and growing bicycle and pedestrian use of the Midtown Greenway; and Whereas, the City supports planning for the potential of adding rail transit in the Midtown Greenway to connect the neighborhoods and businesses along the corridor to a future network of transit lines including the Hiawatha LRT, 35W BRT, and Southwest LRT lines; and Access at Lake Street Whereas, the decision to build 35W without complete access at Lake Street was a disservice to the City of Minneapolis and the neighborhoods and businesses on Lake Street, and the City strongly supports complete access at the Lake Street interchange to and from 35W, including the multi-modal BRT station, as soon as possible; and Whereas, transportation projects in Minneapolis should use the best urban design principles that strengthen community cohesion and function through the built environment, share benefits among all facets of the community and create more transit use by large employers; and Current Proposal Whereas, the estimated cost for current proposal to provide complete freeway access at Lake Street grew and grew to include many expensive components not necessitated by providing access at Lake Street; and
1006
December 7, 2007
Whereas, the current cost of the 35W Access Project is in the range of $430-480 million, not including full costs of additional connections to I-94, and is not currently funded; and Whereas, the Minnesota Department of Transportation is delaying transportation projects across Minnesota due to lack of funds and Governor Pawlenty has twice vetoed transportation funding bills; and Whereas, there is a substantial pent up demand for transportation dollars across Minnesota and even if a transportation bill were passed in the next legislative session, there is no guarantee that the current 35W Access Project proposal would be funded; and Whereas, Governor Pawlenty has asked for ways to reduce the cost of the project; and Whereas, the regions needs for a inside lane BRT station at Lake Street, a high quality connection to the Midtown Greenway and access at Lake Street are urgent and must not be held up by adherence to financially and politically unrealistic proposals; Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved by The City Council of The City of Minneapolis: That the City of Minneapolis supports refocusing its 35W efforts on developing a fiscally responsible plan which include the Citys highest priorities: 1) A high quality inside lane multi-modal BRT station at Lake Street; 2) a high quality connection to the Midtown Greenway; and 3) access at Lake Street. Be It Further Resolved that the portions of the current 35W Access Project north of 28th Street and south of 31st Street should be reprioritized into either a) a second phase of a new Lake Street Access Project; or b) a second project to be pursued after funding is secured for the Citys higher priorities described in the first resolving clause. Be It Further Resolved that staff be directed to work with Hennepin County, as the acting lead agency, MnDOT, the Metropolitan Council, State Legislators as well as residential neighborhood and business stakeholders, to develop a new proposal consistent with this resolution and maintaining appropriate components of the mitigation program adopted by the Project Advisory Committee. Be It Further Resolved that Public Works staff be directed to study whether or not to include a northbound exit ramp from 35W to 28th St, including cost estimates of the project with or without that ramp. Public Works staff must report back to the Transportation and Public Works Committee with an update no later than March of 2008. Adopted 12/7/2007. Yeas, 12; Nays, 1 as follows: Yeas - Hodges, Samuels, Gordon, Hofstede, Ostrow, Schiff, Colvin Roy, Glidden, Remington, Benson, Goodman, Johnson. Nays - Lilligren. Pursuant to notice, Schiff moved to introduce the subject matter of the following ordinances amending Title 14 of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances relating to Liquor and Beer, for first reading and referral to the Public Safety & Regulatory Services Committee: a) Chapter 360 relating to In General (adding the definition of bowling center to Section 360.10). b) Chapter 362 relating to Liquor Licenses (amending Section 362.395 to exempt bowling centers from the requirement that 60 percent of total gross revenue come from the sale of food and beverage and to impose a lessened requirement of 50 percent). Adopted 12/7/2007. Pursuant to notice, Schiff moved to introduce the subject matter of an ordinance amending Title 12, Chapter 249 of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances relating to Housing: Vacant Dwelling or Building, Nuisance Condition, for first reading and referral to the Public Safety & Regulatory Services Committee (increasing the fees for vacant building registration). Adopted 12/7/2007.
NEW BUSINESS Gordon gave notice of intent to introduce at the next regular meeting of the City Council the subject matter of the following ordinances amending Title 15, Chapter 385 of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances relating to OffensesMiscellaneous (repealing Section 385.80 entitled Lurking; and
1007

December 7, 2007

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

December 7, 2007

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

December 7, 2007

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

December 7, 2007

You might also like