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HomeMy WebLinkAbout9.a. Zip Rail Comment4ROSEMOUNTEXECUTIVE SUMMARY CITY COUNCIL City Council Meeting Date: June 18, 2013 AGENDA ITEM: Zip Rail Public Comment AGENDA SECTION: New Business PREPARED BY: Kim Lindquist, Community Development AGENDA NO. Director 1 , 0. ATTACHMENTS: Alternative Maps, Presentation Materials APPROVED BY: RECOMMENDED ACTION: Motion to Approve Comments Regarding Rochester -Twin Cities Passenger Rail Corridor Investment Plan (Zip Rail). ISSUE The Zip Rail group is currently engaged in an Investment Planning exercise which will assist in determining the future of the zip rail line. The "Plan has two major components that will identify and evaluate a full range of alternatives to provide passenger rail and service ". This planning exercise is the first in a long federal process for obtaining approvals and funding for a high speed commuter rail service from Rochester to the Twin Cities. DISCUSSION At the present time the group, a partnership with Olmstead County Regional Rail Authority, Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration, is conducting a Passenger Rail Corridor Investment Plan and Tier I Environmental Impact Statement. This is the first in a lengthy review and approval process that is prescribed by the Federal government. The goal of this study is to assess specific alternative routes, alternative station locations, and alternative technologies or modes. The outcomes will be a Service Development Plan. The second part of this study is the Tier I EIS following the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). A second Tier II study will be conducted later in the review process. There will be additional opportunities to comment during this study, when a draft is released and with the final Tier I EIS. Several Council members and staff attended the public meetings. While the study is in its infancy, staff would like to offer the following comments as they relate to Rosemount: Rosemount supports placement of an intermediate station within Dakota County and specifically within Rosemount. A stop in Rosemount provides a reasonable entry for residents into the rail system who would want to commute to either hub. Rosemount supports a rail alternative that runs through the community. The City prefers routes in the eastern portion of the community, in the currently under- developed portion of the community; Alternative 3A, Alternative 3D and Alternative 5A within Rosemount. Future information and discussion is desired if Alternative 313 is chosen as a preferred route. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council approve the above comments and forward them as part of the official comments for the Passenger Investment Plan and Tier I EIS. 4t,• Y Roseville.. ". 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W 4 ; •� f 1 ll !t . 5 � ffffff y !6 f. ,� •+� � y 4 i y Ilk 1 Rochester -Twin Cities Passenger Rail Corridor Investment Plan and Tier 1 EIS L_. /. o��`NNESOrg2O ��oFraP�yv° 03 Public Meeting June 2013 L roll Welcome &Thank You for Joining Us Tonight's Agenda 5:00 - 5:30PM Sign In /View Displays 5:30 - 6:00 PM Presentation 6-00 - 7:00 PM View Displays, Ask Questions, Comment k www.goziprail.org Project Partners • Minnesota Department of Transportation • Olmsted County Regional Rail Authority • Federal Railroad Administration Consultant Team — Parsons Brinckerhoff — Short, Elliott, Hendrickson — Zan Associates — Steer Davies Gleave Lim Project Participants • Federal Railroad Administration Dakota County • Federal Aviation Administration Dodge County • Minnesota Department of • Goodhue County Transportation • Hennepin County • Metropolitan Council • Olmsted County • Metropolitan Airports Commission Ramsey County • Rochester International Airport Rice County • Rochester - Olmsted Council of City of Rochester Governments - Additional Cities will be added as route studies proceed - Additional Agencies will be added during Tier 1 EIS Scoping a Project Background • Corridor approximately 100 miles in length • Twin Cities to Rochester • US Route 52 is existing connection • Potential Termini Include —St. Paul Union Depot — Minneapolis Transportation Interchange — MSP Airport — RST Ai rpo rt — Downtown Rochester Draft Purpose and Need Provide a convenient, safe and reliable connection between the Twin Cities, the state's largest metropolitan area, and Rochester, with its world - class medical & high -tech facilities • Corridor Population Growth • Economic Growth • Increased Travel Demand • Limited Existing Connections Project Rationale Expectations: • Reliability • On- board /passenger experience • Schedule to meet travel purposes • Ease of Use • Competitive trip time Access: • Intermodal Connections • Parking • Proximity to Destination Lim OZ rail What Does this Project Entail? Welcome to Rochester -Twin Cities Passenger Rail Corridor Investment Plan, a comprehensive planning effort to define, evaluate and prioritize future passenger rail investments in the Rochester -Twin Cities, launched by the Minnesota Department of Transportation and Olmsted County Regional Railroad Authority in cooperation with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The plan has two major components that will identify and evaluate a full range of alternatives to provide passenger rail and service. 1. Service Development Plan (SDP) Defines alternatives for rail service improvements, evaluates their impac on the existing rail network and operations, and assesses costs and benefits of the proposed plan. L,.._ . ,,.­ Policy Act (NEPA) A decision making process which evaluates project impacts to community, ecological, and cultural resources and provides for public involvement resulting in the identification of a preferred alternative. rUil Service Development Plan The Service Development Plan (SDP) is a detailed plan for proposed rail service. It will provide a platform to develop passenger service to meet the growing travel needs of the public. r Popular Destinations Trip Purpose Size of the Market Safety Trip Time Departure Times Intermodal Connections Station Location /Access Reasonable Cost Safety i Safety On -Time Performance Comfort Service Frequenc Courtesy Cleanliness Trip Time Clear Information and CONVENIENCE L 0 Alternatives - Stations • Minneapolis -St. Paul International Airport • Minneapolis Transportation Interchange • St. Paul Union Depot • Downtown Rochester • Rochester International Airport • Intermediate station(s) ? Alternatives - Technologies Conventional • 90 to 110 MPH • Shared Track • Off - the -shelf • Experience • Diesel Fuel • Infrastructure • Dual -mode Alternatives - Technologies Euro -Asian HSR • 150, 186, 220 MPH • Electric • Dedicated track* • High- density lines (Z-) ro� NEPA Process The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires Federal agencies to consider the environmental consequences of their decisions prior to taking and action. Environmental impact assessments include: • Potential impacts measures for each alternative Air Quality, Noise and Vibration ■ • Full and open disclosure of environmental Energy consequences Land Use • Interdisciplinary approach ■ Communities and • Objective consideration of all reasonable alternatives Socioeconomic Conditions ■ • Focus on key issues Open Space, and Park Lands Farmlands • Measures to avoid/minimize/mitigate adverse impacts Historic and Archeological Sites • Consultation and coordination among agencies Wetlands and Water Bodies • On-going public involvement and participation Wildlife Habitat Threatened and Endangered Species and Critical Habitats ■ Indirect and Cumulative Effects '��;_ =- (� rail Stay Connected • Fill out a Comment Sheet here tonight • Join our Contact List • Website: www.goziprail.org • Facebook: www.facebook.com /ziprail • Twitter: twitter. com/zi prai I Opportunities to Comment is Two more series of Public Meetings —Draft Tier 1 EIS —Final Tier 1 EIS • Comment via Web Site —Any time www.gozipraii.org (L) rail