Transportation issues dominate District Dialogue
Council Chair Peter Bell meets with officials in north metro suburbs
Contact: Bonnie Kollodge
(651) 602-1357
ST. PAUL – Oct. 7, 2008 – Northstar Commuter Rail opens for business in late 2009. Metro Transit is adding and restructuring bus routes to improve service in Robbinsdale, Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center, and a new transit center is in the works at Starlite Shopping Center.
“They’re achievements we all share and the result of the hard work of local, regional, state and federal partners to address congestion and promote transit,” said Metropolitan Council Chair Peter Bell at an Oct. 7 meeting of local officials from suburban communities north of Minneapolis in Metropolitan Council District 2.
Bell was joined by the District 2 representative on the Council, Tony Pistilli, at the Metropolitan Council “District Dialogue” in Brooklyn Park.
Chair Bell, along with Council members, is meeting with city, county and state officials throughout the region, throughout the year, hearing time and again that transportation investment and congestion rank among the top local and regional concerns.
“Congestion may be a friend to transit, helping to promote bus ridership in the region, but it’s a very big concern to area residents trying to get to work on Highways 610 or 252 every day,” said Gary Brown, Brooklyn Park Engineer.
The 2008 Minnesota Legislature approved an historic increase in transportation funding. But even with the added resources Bell says it’s not enough to “fix” congestion throughout the region’s highway system.
According to the Council it would cost some $40 billion to add enough highway capacity to meet expected demand over the next 25 years. To provide perspective, paying those costs with the state gasoline tax alone would add more than $2 per gallon to the cost of fuel.
Complicating matters was the collapse of the I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis, which led the Minnesota Legislature to commit a major portion of new highway funding dollars to the repair of other bridges around the state. “That essentially took all the oxygen out of the room in the conversation about future transportation investments,” Bell said.
The Council’s “District Dialogues” coincide with public outreach efforts on the draft update of the 2030 Transportation Policy Plan, a long-range plan for transportation investment in the region that is updated every four years, as required by the federal government.
The main elements of the plan:
- Focusing on bridge investments and highway preservation, as required by state law, which will use a significant share of the resources made available by the state Legislature;
- Focus remaining resources on maximizing existing highway capacity by investing in low-cost/high-benefit highway projects that help mitigate congestion “choke points.” An example is the third lane added to Highway 100 in St. Louis Park.;
- Continuing the commitment to doubling transit ridership and expanding the bus system;
- Identifying corridors for future investment in light rail, commuter rail and bus rapid transit, with the Southwest Corridor between Minneapolis and Eden Prairie jockeying for position as the next light rail corridor in the region with the Bottineau Corridor between Minneapolis and the northwest suburbs.
“There’s no question the success of Hiawatha LRT has contributed to public interest in light rail transportation throughout the region,” said Bell.
“At the same time, we need public officials and area residents to recognize it takes density to make transit, particularly rail, work efficiently. As a result, only the more densely populated areas will see investments anytime soon in light rail, commuter rail or bus rapid transit,” said Bell.
A draft of the 2030 Transportation Policy Plan Update is available for public review and comment.
Open houses
In addition, the Council is holding a series of public open houses at which residents can comment and learn more about regional transportation plans. Remaining sessions are:
- Thursday, Oct. 9, 5-7 p.m., Council Chambers, Eagan City Hall, 3830 Pilot Knob Rd.
- Friday, Oct. 10, 11-1 p.m., Doty Room, Minneapolis Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall
- Thursday, Oct.16, 11-1 p.m., Alliance Bank Skyway, Sixth and Cedar Sts., St. Paul
Public hearing Oct. 22
The Council will also hold a formal public hearing on the document at 5 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 22, in Council Chambers at 390 N. Robert St., St. Paul 55101. The public may comment on the plan online.
The public may also call in their comments to the Public Comment Line at 651-602-1500, e-mail comments to Data.Center@metc.state.mn.us, fax comments to 651.602.1464 or write the Council at its Robert Street headquarters. Public comments will be received until 5 p.m. Nov. 6, 2008.
The Metropolitan Council is the regional planning organization for the seven-county Twin Cities area. The Council runs the regional bus and light rail system, collects and treats wastewater, coordinates regional water resources, plans regional parks and administers funds that provide housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income individuals and families. The Council board is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the governor.
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