HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.f. Inter-City passenger rail study 4ROSEMOUNT' EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CITY COUNCIL
City Council Work Session: December 9, 2014
AGENDA ITEM: Inter-City passenger rail study AGENDA SECTION:
Iiscussian
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PREPARED BY: Dwight Johnson, City Administrator AGENDA NO.
2.-c.
ATTACHMENTS: Map of alignment options APPROVED BY: Ot2J
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Discuss whether or not the Council should support a study for
possible south central inter-city passenger rail service.
BACKGROUND
Two initial meetings have been held in Northfield in the last couple of months to determine if there is
regional interest in the restoration of passenger rail service along existing tracks linking Northfield and
possibly Faribault, Owatonna, and Albert Lea to Minneapolis and St. Paul using existing technology and
rail lines. Mayor Droste and I have attended both meetings. Regular service existed in much of this
corridor prior to 1970. Two possible routes have been identified between Northfield and the Twin Cities
(see attachment). The eastern route would use existing active tracks going through Farmington and
Rosemount and proceed to St.Paul's Union Station.
MnDOT is currently conducting an update of its 2010 statewide rail plan to comply with federal funding
regulations as well as to coordinate with other statewide transportation plans. See
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/planning/railplan/. Comments are being solicited for the next several weeks.
The new plan is expected to be prepared by February 2015. If cities in south central Minnesota and the
southern Metro area are interested in re-establishing passenger service, letters or resolutions of support for
"Tier 1" status are needed in the next few weeks to prompt MnDOT to evaluate the potential usage and
financiaVtechnical feasibility.
RECOMMENDATION
With no true interstate highways in or near Rosemount,we have been active during the past several years
with several studies that might improve transportation options to Rosemount, including the Robert Street
Corridor study and the ZIP line study. Any new passenger train service would use existing tracks,would
presumably be quieter than current freight trains, and would need to comply with our quiet zone program.
New passenger train service could benefit residents and businesses. Accordingly,staff supports sending a
letter or resolution to encourage MnDOT to study the options for south central inter-city passenger rail
service and give it a Tier 1 priority status. There would be no obligation or cost to Rosemount for the
study.
Proposed Inter-City Regional Passenger Rail Alignment Options
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