Public Hearing set for Southwest Corridor

The Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA) will host a public hearing at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 23, on alternatives for improved transit in the Southwest Corridor. The public hearing will be held at the Hennepin County Government Center on the 24th floor in the Hennepin County Boardroom.

The purpose of the public hearing is to allow interested individuals and groups to share their thoughts on the Southwest Alternatives Analysis (AA) Study recommendation with the HCRRA.

In summary, the study recommendation is for the HCRRA to continue into the next study phase, the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), with the preferred technology of light rail transit (LRT) on three potential routes (LRT 3A, LRT 3C, and LRT 1A). These routes all would stretch between the Highway 5-Mitchell Road area in Eden Prairie and downtown Minneapolis.

If you would like more details on the Southwest AA study process and the study recommendation, please visit www.southwesttransitway.org. If you are interested in sharing your thoughts with the HCRRA you can either pre-register to testify by contacting Carol Reeves at 612-348-7726 or you can sign up at the time of the public hearing.

Anyone who needs help to assistance to participate at the hearing (such as a sign language interpreter or assisted hearing equipment) is asked to call 612-348-7726 (voice) or 612-348-7367 (TDD/TTY) at least three (3) days prior to the hearing.

The Southwest Corridor is included in the Metropolitan Council’s long-range Transportation Plan. It calls for the development of a system of “transitways” - light rail, commuter rail and bus rapid transit lines - in heavily traveled corridors.

Tier 1 transitways are expected to operate by 2020. Tier 1 projects include the Northstar commuter rail, bus rapid transit (BRT) on the Bottineau Boulevard, Cedar Avenue and I-35W corridors, and the Central Corridor LRT line. Tier 2 transitways, planned for post-2020, include the Red Rock, Rush Line and Southwest corridors.

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