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Home My WebLink About3.C. Robert Street Corridor Transitway Study4 ROSEMOUNT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CITY COUNCIL City Council Workshop Meeting: September 14, 2011 AGENDA ITEM: Robert Street Corridor Transitway Study 7 7 NIPA SECTION: PREPARED BY: Dwight Johnson, City Administrator AGENDA NO.` �. ATTACHMENTS: Letter from Dakota County APPROVED BY: RECOMMENDED ACTION: Discuss appointment to the Steering Committee BACKGROUND Dakota County has received a federal grant to study transit alternatives for the Robert Street Corridor from Rosemount to St. Paul. Robert Street was designated a "transitway" in the most recent Met Council transportation plan update. Each stakeholder city is being asked to provide an elected official for the project Steering Committee and also provide a staff member for the project's Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). Staff proposes to designate Eric Zweber for the TAC with Kim Lindquist as the alternate member. The first meeting of the Steering Committee is October 10th from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the County's Northern Service Center in West St. Paul. It is estimated that the committee will meet 12 -15 times plus several additional public open house meetings over the next 18 -24 months. RECOMMENDATION Council members should discuss selecting a member and an alternate for the Project Steering Committee r a Itammy County Regiorml RailEroad Authority Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority Dakota County Administration Center 1590 Highway 55 Hastings, MN 55033 651.438.4418 Fax 65 1.438.4405 www.co.dakota.mn.us Pnnted on recycled paper wah 30% poZonsu— waste. AN EQUAL OPPORTUNitt EMPLOYER August 25, 2011 Mr. William Droste, Mayor City of Rosemount 2875 145th St. W Rosemount, MN 55016 Dear Mr. Droste, On March 1, 2011 the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) formally announced the authorization of a transit grant to the Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority for the purpose of conducting a federally compliant alternatives analysis study for the Robert Street Transitway. The Robert Street Transitway Alternatives Analysis Study (AA Study) entails an assessment of existing and future transportation needs, detailed analysis of potential capital and operational investments in transit service, and a local decision making process emphasizing involvement of the general public and both elected and appointed officials from within the study area. The Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority (DCRRA) and the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority ( RCRRA) will serve as lead agencies during the AA Study development, with oversight provided by the Metropolitan Council. As part of the AA Study, the DCRRA and RCRRA will establish a project steering committee, technical advisory committee and project management team to formally define the transportation opportunities and challenges within the Study Area and provide input, guidance and recommendations on possible solutions. As your city is a stakeholder in the overall effort to examine potential transit service and facilities improvements within the study area, we are requesting the participation of one elected official to serve on the steering committee and at a minimum one staff member from your organization to serve on the technical advisory committee during the development of the Robert Street Transitway AA Study. We also are requesting that an alternate be designated to the steering committee and an alternate be designated to the technical advisory committee to serve in the primary committee member's capacity if he /she is unable to attend scheduled meetings. Steering committee members will be expected to provide input, guidance, recommendations and share progress with your respective city during the AA Study. The anticipated time commitment is approximately 12 -15 steering committee meetings (lasting approximately 90 minutes each), plus attendance at public open house meetings over the course of 18 - 24 months. Additional Mayor William Droste, Mayor City of Rosemount August 25, 2011 Page 2 of 2 time outside of formal meetings may be required for review of reports and findings generated by project staff and consultants. An initial steering committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 10' at the Dakota County Northern Service Center located at 1 Mendota Road W., West St. Paul, MN 55118, from 3:30 to 5:30 PM. An agenda packet will be mailed approximately one week in advance of the meeting. Technical advisory committee (TAC) members will be expected to provide input, guidance and recommendations on technical aspects and work products being produced as deliverables from the AA Study. TAC members will also review materials developed by project staff and consultants, attend public meetings and support the steering committee member during the AA Study. The anticipated time commitment is approximately 12 -15 TAC committee meetings (lasting approximately 90 minutes), plus attendance at public open house meetings over the course of 18 - 24 months. TAC members are invited to attend the steering committee meetings as well. An initial TAC meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 3rd at the Dakota County Northern Service Center located at 1 Mendota Road W., West St. Paul, MN 55118, from 1:30 to 3:30 PM. An agenda packet will be mailed approximately one week in advance of the meeting. Attached, you will find a steering committee and technical advisory committee member contact information form. Please fill out the contact information form and return by September 23, 2011 to enable us to distribute project initiation materials in a timely manner. You will also find a Robert Street Transitway fact sheet that provides more information on the AA Study. The DCRRA and RCRRA look forward to your city's participation in this exciting and ambitious effort as together we seek potential improvements in mobility and the overall quality of life within the Study Area. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Sam O'Connell, Dakota County Project Manager, at 952 - 891 -7105 or Josh Olson, Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority Project Manager, at 651- 266 -2772. Willis E. Branning Chair Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority Jim McDonough Chair Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority Attachments cc: Dwight Johnson, City Administrator Please return by September 23, 2011 to enable us to distribute project initiation materials in a timely manner. Please Mail To: Joe Morneau, Transit Planner Dakota County — Office of Transit 14955 Galaxie Avenue Apple Valley, MN 55124 •' E -mail: joe.morneau(a�co.dakota.mn.us ORGANIZATION /AGENCY:---- Primary Steering Committee Representative Phone Number: Alternate Steering Committee Representative Phone Number Primary Technical Advisory Committee Representative Phone Number Alternate Technical Advisory Committee Representative P Robert Street Transitway Alternatives Analysis Study T he Robert Street Transitway Alternatives Analysis (AA) Study is the next step in the analysis of transportation needs and evaluation of transit service options in a study area extending from downtown St. Paul in southern Ramsey County to Rosemount in Dakota County and from the Mississippi River from the east to the Minnesota River in the west. This effort will expand upon a2008 Feasibility Study conducted which outlined the existing and emerging transportation needs within the corridor, potential transit modes and alignments, and the estimated costs and benefits of several potential implementations of new transit service within the corridor including bus rapid transit, light rail and express bus options. This analysis will rigorously evaluate potential high- capacity transit service investments within the corridor to satisfy the requirements of the Federal Transit Administration's New Starts program. This analysis will be conducted by the Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority in partnership with Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority. Steering and Technical Advisory Committees comprised of representatives of local jurisdictions and government agencies will provide guidance to staff on both political and technical issues confronted during the study process. It is anticipated the AA Study will begin project planning activities fall of 2011 with the goal of identifying the locally preferred alternative (LPA) for the transitway within 18 - 24 months. In addition to the AA study, Metro Transit is conducting an Arterial Transitway Study and the City of West St. Paul will be investigating potential roadway and bike /pedestrian improvements along Robert Street. Dakota County staff is coordinating with these transportation efforts to reduce duplicative technical efforts and share information among the project sponsors. Alternatives Analysis Partners/ Stakeholders • Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority and Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority (project sponsors) • Cities of Saint Paul, South St. Paul, West St. Paul, Lilydale, Sunfish Lake, Inver Grove Heights, Mendota, Mendota Heights, Eagan and Rosemount • Minnesota Department of Transportation • Metropolitan Council • Community, business and professional organizations • Residents and transit dependent populations • Higher education • Transit Providers • Federal Transit Administration transportation we get you there i t Cs fit, S. www.dakotacountv.us August 2011 Robert Street Transitwa �� y trans ortation Alternatives Analysis Study we get you there Robert Street Transitway Study Area St. Paul Union Depot Central Corridor LRT Red Rock Corridor N Saint CS 52 C Paul -� Lilydale/ West Sai nt Paul South NMendota Saint Paul »o Mendota Heights Sunfish Lake sz 3 i Inver Grove Eagan Heights 3 57_; Rosemount 42 www.dakotacounty.us August 2011