The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About4.b. High Speed Bus Coalition December 19,1993 To: Mayor, Counciimemtsers From: Counciimember Klassen i �'� � Re: High Speed Bus Coaii#ion � Attached you will find two articles regarding the High Speed Bus Coalition. Both articles mer�tion the participa#ion of tf�e City of Rosemount and one men#ions a $7500.00 participation by the City. I would like Gouncil to be aware that the involvement of Rosemoun# in #I�is coalition is througt� #he AAinnesota Vaiieq Transit Authority and our dollar participation is funded through that agency. The purpose of #he Coalition is to secure State funding for a demonstra#ion project along the 1-35W and I-494 corridors using "updated" vehicles and high-tech transportation technology. This project differs from the light-rail proposal in that it will - use existing highways. Even#hough the name s�tggests otherw'tse#he vehicle�ili r�ot travel at any greater speed than legally allowed other than the fact that in heavy rush hot�r#ra##ic it will be able to rea�iily mo�e along on i#s dedicated la�e. It is not unlike the express bus senrice the MVTA currently provides, but it is hoped to further the importance and �ecure funding #or pt�blic #ransportatior� vuf�ile the ligh#rail deb�tE continues. The MVTA board feft that by being a part of this coalition, the goals and objec#ives o##he MUTA would also be well served. i . � . , . . .. SAINT PAULPIONEER PRESS FRIDAY,DECEMBER 17, 1993 SUBURBAN EDITOR: Les Suiukamo� PHONE: 228-5475 : '�U B U . . . ' FAX: (612)228-5500 : �;• BS � .�. . � � • Grou � ��to test hl h- _ s eed buses p g p . . . : . . : Dakota Count and the ' sit if that is built. But the advan- � �Ql�hern Sl��I�S Valle Tra �,.g„th�,�u�Pi1�'{ ,.� ach .�:tage of using buses in the suburbs Pro1�� SY�e�11 has�c ec�rin �7�51 to initiate .,.is' their flexibility "community to uging inter5�lt�: planning for the service. community, as well as to the core The coalition is trying to raise''cities." . ` . DON AHERN srnFF w� ; , money ;from public� and private �'•.,;The group envisions using buses . ' , . sources for a.two-year pilot pra � that burn low-polluting alternative H � ject. Potential private sources in- �fuels. New technology also could igh spe�ed transit may hit the clude foundations,and,tiusinesses make the system faster and pro- Twin Cities long before the first near the .ma'or co ' i . . . . light-rail track is ever laid. - ] : rridors that vide riders with .egac� arrival would benefit the most by high- times based on the`actual location Ten�suburbs, a suburban county. speed bus`service�into and out of � of the bus, said Richard Braun;' and a,`suburban bus company an-.� �he central cities. � director of the,University of Min- nounced plans Thursday to push But the Legislature also will be . nesota's Center for Transportation for a .tugh-speed,bus <system on asked to help finaace the tes�:The �`Studies.Braun,is also an egpert on high-occupancy-vehicle lanes' of '1993 Legislature passed a,bill to- a"intelligen� vehicles and high-; major Twin Cities freeways with• test the.'feasibility_ of lugh-speed ways" technology.- ` coordinated feeder service through b� transit but.it was a casualty , _ ".This'is not your grandfather's south„suburban neighborhoods. �.; :of Gov Arne Carlson's cost cutting ' bus,,or your:father's bus�for:that The bi�sgs would not go any fast' Ve}� ��; ��:,��H .r' ,#� � , ;=matter,".McE1Toy said:"It,will-be er;than the�speed limit,but the use ,.��at strong'�interest .the-Legis-;..��new in equipnient�and.in 'the��sys=�� of `:the ;..high;occupancy. routes .lature showed-in�passing that.bill��'�tem:The buses``look like light=rail wauld�inake the trips quicker than _encouraged,the com�unities to go �,coaches with�rubber.��vheeLs."With; those b� rtrad�tional buses and �nahead't"and organize a grass-roots -ttie advantage'of fleffible routes, cars �s .� . �� : �;transit:effort,'said Sen Phii Rave- �it's .the��besti.of��b�oEh t�e bus and. Thep hope Eo have a test system n�;DFL=Bloamington��:; .,.:��;.light rail;:�e;added �-��.•µ�� • i rumm��by mid=1995,',�ising:cocn Rep: Edwina Garcia DFL-Rich • The service cosfis_for a'two-year = fortable,�,�pro pan�p o w e r e d ,ri rn o t or �,fiel�, said;;"We cannot continue;to,��pilot�.proje�t:��aree�°eapectec� to`be� coaches oq:Inferstate'35W:and In-,- y - g � terstate 494}sai+d�;Bnrnsvill "Ma build�our�wa ��out�of��con estion.�-° about�$3�millton'� not y:mclnding :�� Y .The kep.word-�{applied to.the pra c�pita�cost4. ��:-F�� :'��v�,.: � or Dan McElroq, �_�` � � � {"posed bus system),is compatibility ":The�coauteon°has wo`rked��wit6` Dubbed�the Higli-Spee�'Bus Co-x .�ith the'current�system:�and an� .the Minnesota�.Transportation De-a �� ' alition„members= are=-Richfield, futare system." ' - � r -` �pai�tment,y t6e��Vletropolitan Coan- Bloomington,-�Edina,-Lakeville, e� Rep. Connie':'Morrison IR- .cil, �Ehe Regional;.Transit�Board Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, •Burnsville, added that the system ,and the_Metropolitan Transit Com=: Rose�t,�Savage, Prior.Lake;��,�ould complement light-rail tran � mission on a rle'gislative piopasaI,�,y ,. ,. . . . . . .. . �. . , . ... x . � . �.� � _ ,_ . , . . , �_ � . �= �.oai�tlon �1 c;�� u� �� hi� h-s eed bus lan �''" � � g p p _ ��a��` _ A coalition of 10 raties and Da- lane, said state Sen. Phil _ _ =kota County announced `pians Riveness of Bloomington. "It T h u r s d a y t o p u s h f o r a �utilizes modern, clean-burn'ing . = �metropolitan high-speed bus buses,stations,IVHS technology -'system and a two-year demon- and park-and-ride lots,"he said. stration project. The city of Richfield launched The announcement came at a efforts to bring high-speed bus to news conference on the Univer- congested south-metro freeway sity of Minnesota's St.Paul cam- _ corridors.It's now joined by Ap- pus attended by local officials `ple Valley, Bloomington, Burns- and regional transit heads. ville, Eagan, Edina, Lakeville, BurnsvilleMayorDanMcElroy Prior Lake, Richfield, FjQ.S�- s a i d h i g h-s p e e d b u s i s m�y�;Savage and Dakota Coun- . "affordable, flexible, envir- y. - onmentally sound, fast and effi- A bill was passed by the 1993 `' cient, and has proven itself in Legislature to study the feasibili- eities like�Pittsburgh, Houston, ty of a metro system,but funding= > :Seattle and Ottawa." was vetoed by Gov.Arne Carlson. It's an express service, with a "There was enough support from neighborhood feeder system,that ,,... 4 . -would run on a dedicated freeway (See Bus,�.3Aj� �� p _ . �.��'�-� _ : —---- --- ------- -�- - __= _:,_ . —__, :� ' lawmakers and `other policy _ ' makers that the communities ! decided to push for a demon- ' stration project,"Riveness said. . �' The coalition will ask the 1994 Legislature;for,a two- to three- year pIIot program along'I-35W and I-494. . _ "This propnsal'will`be attrac- tive to the Legislature not only for its transit component, but because it represents a new tran-- sit partne`rship —commun"ities, corr►ing together and working = hand-in-hand with regional and,.; state agencies to Solve transi�� problems,'' said Rep. Connie: MorrisonofBurnsville. t''` , '� _ �.____� �___: _