Bottineau LRT Entering Next Phase of Public Input

With much media attention given lately to the proposed Southwest Light Rail Train (LRT), residents have asked about the proposed Bottineau LRT route and its status. The question is very timely as the City of Golden Valley and Hennepin County are launching public outreach efforts to prepare for the future project development stage of Bottineau.

Go to http://www.goldenvalleymn.gov/planning/bottineau.php and you will see that the proposed route (also known as the Metro Blue Line) is a continuation of the Hiawatha LRT Line, from Target Field up to Brooklyn Park.  It passes on the far eastern side of Golden Valley within the existing Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad corridor, adjacent to Theodore Wirth Park and Mary Hills Nature Area.  The proposed line offers two possible station locations—one at Golden Valley Road and one at Plymouth Avenue.

To prepare a thorough evaluation of both LRT station options, the Golden Valley City Council and I invite you to participate in the upcoming “Station Area Planning” process.  This process will include creating conceptual plans for station locations as well as planning for parking, trail and pedestrian access, bicycle access and storage, pickup/drop-off accommodations, lighting, and other considerations. It will also include planning for transit and pedestrian connections to stations and planning long-term land uses in the surrounding areas.

The first way to participate in the Station Area Planning process is to attend a public roundtable meeting tomorrow night, in which Hennepin County is hosting to discuss developments surrounding the Bottineau LRT project and to kick-off Station Area Planning activities. Information for the meeting is as follows:

Time:                    6:15 PM to 8 PM

Date:                    Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013

Location:             Unity Church

                              Fellowship Hall

                              4000 Golden Valley Road

                              Golden Valley, MN  55422

The second option for participation in the Station Area planning process is through the City of Golden Valley’s soon-to-be created Bottineau LRT Planning Advisory Committee.  The purpose of this city committee is to assist in the planning process and any further Bottineau LRT planning-related activities that have yet to be identified. The committee will be comprised of residents from the community at-large; residents from the Planning, Environmental, and Open Space and Recreation Commissions; a representative from the business community; and a representative from a non-profit organization in Golden Valley.  It is anticipated that this committee will hold multiple meetings over the next six months (possibly longer) where stakeholders and community members can gather to share ideas and give feedback to station and land use planning proposals.

Planning for the Bottineau Transitway will be a lengthy process. The Station Area Planning portion will last for approximately one year. Other studies, including further environmental analyses, will be conducted over the next several years. Once all studies are complete, the Metropolitan Council will again ask the cities along the LRT route to endorse the project. Assuming that studies are concluded on schedule, there is support from Golden Valley and other communities along the proposed Bottineau LRT, and adequate funding has been approved, construction could occur in several years.

If you have questions about the Bottineau LRT and the Station Area Planning process, please contact the City’s Community Development Department at 763-593-8095, click on the City’s website link mentioned above or visit the County’s project website at www.bottineautransitway.org.