HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.e. Proposed resolution on transportation funding from the Regional Council of MayorsAGENDA ITEM: Proposed resolution on transportation
funding from the Regional Council of
Mayors
AGENDA SECTION:
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PREPARED BY: Dwight Johnson, City Administrator
AGENDA NO. j,
ATTACHMENTS: Proposed Resolution
APPROVED BY: am
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Consider whether or not to officially endorse this resolution at
a future regular meeting
4 ROSEMOUNT
CITY COUNCIL
City Council Workshop Meeting: May 11, 2011
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
BACKGROUND
The Regional Council of Mayors is a group of Mayors from the entire metropolitan area as well as
Rochester that generally meets monthly on various issues. The group has worked on affordable housing
initiatives in the past and more recently was important in supporting the Itasca Project in forming a
regional economic development entity.
Recently, the group proposed that each City consider a resolution such as the one attached to support the
need for "adequate" funding for transit operations (including MVTA) and transit projects in the region,
citing transportation as one of the region's most "vexing" problems. The resolution makes the argument
that "our present levels of congestion and our unsafe roads hinder our economic prosperity..."
Although no final budget proposal has been approved by the Legislature yet, some proposals show
substantial reductions in transit funds. Another proposal would re- appropriate Livable Community grant
funds for transit.
COMMENT
While transit and transportation are obviously important to the metro area, it is somewhat difficult in the
context of a $5 billion state deficit to single out one area of the budget for protection without knowing
what the tradeoffs may be in higher taxes, school funding etc. On the other hand, if the Council wants to
send a message about the importance of transit and transportation funding, then the resolution is a good
way to accomplish this.
Regional Council of Mayors
Resolution on Transportation Funding
Regional Council of Mayors
Whereas, the Regional Council of Mayors "RCM is composed of the mayors of
Minneapolis, St. Paul and approximately 45 municipalities in the developed and developing
suburbs. The collaborative partnership provides a non partisan platform focused on building
action strategies to raise overall economic competitiveness, accelerate innovation and
improve the quality of life in the MSP region; and
Whereas, our present levels of congestion and our unsafe roads hinder our economic
prosperity, erode our quality of life, and complicate numerous aspects of living and doing
business in Minnesota; and
Whereas, one million additional people are expected to move to the MSP metropolitan region
in the next two decades, further exacerbating our already unacceptable traffic congestion;
and
Whereas, solving our region's transportation problem is a complex and long -term challenge
that will require various strategies; and
Whereas, Minnesota needs to adequately and strategically expand both its transit and road
systems with predictable, adequate, and long -term sources of funding; and
Whereas, transportation funding must prioritize public transit within a comprehensive, multi
modal, interconnected transportation system that serves the 11- county metro area; and that
our planned light rail and commuter rail lines, along with expanded bus service, both regular
route and BRT, must be expanded to support the population and businesses in our fast
growing region; and
Whereas, courageous and visionary legislative leadership is vital to forging a sustainable,
long -term transportation plan for our state and region.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that as elected leaders representing cities in
Minnesota's fast growing 11- county metropolitan region, we hereby declare our belief that
transportation has become one of the most vexing problems facing our communities and
state. We call upon the leaders in the legislature to create a long -term solution to our
transportation needs and, in the short-term, in order to keep our metropolitan area economy
vital and flourishing, we call upon the legislature to exercise good judgment and provide
adequate funding for Metro Transit as well as all suburban transit providers, namely
Minnesota Valley Transit Association (MVTA), SouthWest Transit, Plymouth Metrolink, Maple
Grove Transit, Prior Lakes Laker Line, DARTS and Shakopee Transit, so as not to adversely
affect the ability of all of our transit providers, whether urban or suburban, to move workers,
students and the thousands of other residents who use those services on a daily basis to get
to their jobs, to school or otherwise engage in important economic activity that benefits the
region and the State of Minnesota; to not halt or otherwise defer or delay progress on transit
4.26.05
Regional Council of Mayors
Resolution on Transportation Funding
Regional Council of Mayors
projects, including the Central Corridor and the Southwest LRT; to do nothing legislatively
that will impede planning for other rail and bus rapid transit projects presently underway; to
be mindful that adequately funding our existing transportation system and having the
foresight to continue the commitment to both plan and build out our future transit system is
critical to the well being of our state and we urge the legislature to provide the kind of
leadership and stewardship necessary to accomplish those goals.
Name of Mayor (Print) Name of City
Signature
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