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HomeMy WebLinkAbout[08d] Northstar Commuter Rail Council Agenda Item 8 d MEETING DATE: November 5, 2009 AGENDA ITEM: Northstar Commuter Rail SUBMITTED BY: Administration BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce is requesting that Cities support the long term expansion of the Northstar Commuter Rail. Attached is information received by the City. BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT: ATTACHMENTS: Letter requesting support REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION: Authorize the Mayor to execute the letter of support for the expansion of the Northstar Commuter Rail. Central Minnesota Transportation Alliance October 14, 2009 Dear Community Leader, As a valued member of our central Minnesota community, we are writing to you today to ask for your organization's support for central Minnesota's Northstar Commuter Rail Guiding Principles. Over the past two months the Central Minnesota Transportation Alliance has worked to develop a set of basic principles that a broad coalition of central Minnesota businesses and community organizations can support. This process has included a roundtable discussion with business leaders; the drafting of the principles by a working group; and, the initial support by CMTA, St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce, St. Cloud Downtown Council and CentraCare Health System. The original plans for the Northstar Corridor involved the commuter line extending beyond its current configuration and connecting St. Cloud with the Twins Cities. Due to funding availability, Northstar was spilt into two phases. The first phase connects downtown Minneapolis to Big Lake and will begin operations on November 14. The second phase, connecting Big Lake to St. Cloud, has been put on hold indefinitely. Competition for rail funding has become extremely competitive throughout the state. Plans are being prepared for lines from the Twin Cities to Duluth, Chicago, Rochester, as well as a number of light rail and commuter rail projects in and around the Twin Cities. In the coming months state and federal governments will be making important decisions regarding long-term transportation. planning and funding. MN/DOT is currently working on Minnesota's first Comprehensive Freight and Passenger Rail Plan, the blue print for future state and federal investments in rail. While this plan will add much data to the discussion, it will not prioritize projects for funding or construction timing. Instead the plan will be submitted to the Minnesota Legislature and federal government for those determinations to be made. Although the numbers (nearly 2 million riders by 2030) and common sense dictate finishing what has been started and completing Northstar, we must stand together as a community to have our voice heard during these critical debates. Attached please find the Northstar Guiding Principles for your review and consideration. If your organization is willing to stand with us, please consider formally approving the principles, drafting a letter of support and sending your logo to Sharon Henry (shenry(n~stcloudareachamber.com) by Friday, November 5. It is our plan to introduce our coalition of support for Northstar Guiding Principles during the week of November 9. Sincerely, Central Minnesota Transportation Alliance Board of Directors: Douglas Weiszhaar WSB & Associates Chris Shorba Kem DeWenter Viere, Ltd. Mitch Anderson Steams County Engineer Teresa Bohnen St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce David Cashman Spee Dee Delivery Service Tim Crennen Knife River Corp -North Central Tom Moore The Partnership Bill Fahrney Avon Hills Initiative Bill Towle St. Cloud Regional Airport Dave Tripp St. Cloud MTC Dale Victor Caze Transportation Carl Kuhl CMTA Executive Director Central Minnesota Transportation Alliance ~ P.O. Box 7933 ~ St. Cloud, MN 56302 ~ www.cmtamoves.com ST. CLOUD AREA NORTHSTAR COMMUTER RAIL GUIDING PRINCIPLES The greater St. Cloud community, through the groups and organizations listed below, supports the completion of Phase II of the Northstar Commuter Rail line. We further agree the principles of our support of this important economic development project are: 1. Connecting Minnesota's regional centers, initially St. Cloud, to the Twin Cities' commerce hub and eventually to each other, to maximize the state's competitiveness in the global economy. Serving the needs of business and commercial travelers, as well as leisure travelers. • Setting and adapting schedules based not only on current demand, but also on potential demand and economic objectives on both ends of the line. • Relieving commuter stress from highways to accommodate commercial needs of businesses. 3. Designing a system that is highly expandable and able to support more trains, more stops and faster technologies in the long-term. • Creating mobility between all transportation sub-systems, including rail, bus, car, air, bike, scooter, and walking. 4. Setting prices to be affordable and to optimize use, recognizing the long-term and intrinsic economic return that results from this public good investment. Central Minnesota Transportation Alliance St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce St. Cloud Downtown Council Waite Park Chamber of Commerce Sauk Rapids Chamber of Commerce CentraCare Health System Saint Cloud State University Groups from whom we seek support by November 12, 2009: Central Minnesota Transportation Alliance -passed St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce -passed Waite Park Chamber -Teresa Bohnen Sauk Rapids Chamber -Teresa Bohnen St. Cloud Downtown Council -passed St. Cloud Area Convention and Visitors Bureau -Teresa Bohnen St. Cloud Area Planning Organization -Scott Mareck The St. Cloud Area Economic Development Partnership -Tom Moore Central Minnesota Builders Association -Carl Kuhl Central Minnesota Realtors Association -Carl Kuhl CentraCare Health System -passed HealthPartners -Teresa Bohnen St. Cloud State University -Teresa Bohnen St. Cloud MTC/Metro Bus -Dave Tripp City of St. Cloud -Teresa Bohnen City of Sauk Rapids City of Sartell City of Waite Park City of St. Augusta City of St. Joseph Stearns County - Benton County - Sherburne County - Any other community organization or individual business that wishes to sign on to these principles is welcome