HomeMy WebLinkAbout[04b] Northstar Corridor CITY OF ST. J MIPH Council Agenda Item 4(b)
MEETING DATE: September 16, 2010
AGENDA ITEM: Northstar Resolution: Requested Action: Authorize the Mayor
and Administrator to execute the resolution supporting the Northstar Commuter Rail Extension.
SUBMITTED BY: Administration
BOARD /COMMISSION /COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: The St. Cloud Area Planning
Organization is working to seeking funding to extend the Commuter Rail from Big Lake to St. Cloud and
have asked all the members to consider adopting a resolution illustrating support
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
BUDGET /FISCAL IMPACT:
ATTACHMENTS: Resolution 2010 -021
REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION: Authorize the Mayor and Administrator to execute Resolution 2010-
021, supporting the extension.
RESOLUTION 2010 -021
City of St. Joseph
Resolution Supporting the Northstar Phhase 2 Extension
From Big Lake to St. Cloud
WHEREAS, the City of St. Joseph is part of the St. Cloud Region area who relies on the St. Cloud Area
Planning Organization for regional transportation planning, and
Whereas, the Federal Transit Administration provides capital investment funding through the New
Starts and Small Starts Program (49 USC § 5309), for extension of existing fixed guideway systems, and
WHEREAS, Northstar Commuter Rail is an existing fixed guideway system that began operation in
November 2009 with service from the City of Minneapolis to the City of Big Lake, and
WHEREAS, an extension of Northstar Commuter Rail has been identified as a vital component in
providing increased access and mobility, and congestion reduction, between the major metropolitan
areas of Minneapolis -St. Paul and St. Cloud Minnesota, adjacent to US Trunk Highway 10, and
WHEREAS, the Small Starts program provides up to $ 75 Million dollars in capital assistance for
extension of existing fixed guideway systems with a total project cost of less than $ 150 Million Dollars,
and
WHEREAS, an extension of Northstar Commuter Rail from the City of Big Lake to the City of St. Cloud is
expected to have a total cost of $ 150 Million dollars, and
WHEREAS, Small Starts capital assistance in the amount of $ 75 Million dollars, from the Federal Transit
Administration would complement the local funding commitment of $ 75 Million dollars and allow
completion of the Northstar Commuter Rail project.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the St. Joseph City Council supports the efforts of the St. Cloud
Area Planning Organization, the federally designated agency responsible for planning and programming
regional transportation investments within the St. Cloud Metropolitan Area, does hereby support the
Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA) in actively pursuing available Federal Transit
Administration capital assistance grants to complete the Northstar Corridor Commuter Rail line, with an
extension of service from the City of Big Lake to the City of St. Cloud, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the St. Joseph City Council does also hereby strongly encourage
Governor Tim Pawlenty, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, St. Cloud Area
Legislators, and other stakeholders in the Northstar Corridor to actively support applications for and
pursuit of Federal Transit Administration capita assistance grants to complete the Northstar Corridor
commuter rail connection from Minneapolis t St. Cloud, through an extension of commuter rail service
from the City of Big Lake to the City of St. Cloud.
Adopted this day of , 2010.
ATTEST Alan Rassier, Mayor
Judy Weyrens, Administrator