Thursday, May 9, 2013
Inclusion of the project in the council’s transportation plan is an important part of moving the project forward.
The Metropolitan Council voted Wednesday to include the 13-mile-long Bottineau Transitway light rail transit project in its 2030 Transportation Policy Plan. Naming LRT as the “mode of choice” for the Bottineau Corridor—which runs from Minneapolis to Brooklyn Park, passing through Golden Valley—is an important step toward moving the project forward. The Met Council also selected the “locally preferred alternative” route along West Broadway Avenue in Brooklyn Park, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad corridor and Olson Memorial Highway/Trunk Highway 55. “Bottineau is key to the region’s future development and continued economic success," a news release quoted Council Chairwoman Susan Haigh. “As the Metropolitan Council works to build a…
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
In a letter sent to members of the Hennepin County Board and Metropolitan Council, Mayor Shep Harris asked for clarification regarding the purpose of the upcoming Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s community meeting.
On Feb. 27, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board will host a public meeting to discuss how plans for the Bottineau Transitway may impact open space near Theodore Wirth Park. Related:Bottineau Public Meetings Coming Up, Residents Reflect on Council Decision In a letter sent last week to the Hennepin County Board and Metropolitan Council, Golden Valley Mayor Shep Harris outlined concerns regarding the upcoming meetings and intended outcomes. Harris said that city staff was “informed” that outcomes of the Park Board meeting might be used as part of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) application needed to begin preliminary engineering. “We believe that broad-scale public input over number, location, and function of light rail …
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
A public meeting will take place on March 7 followed by a public hearing on March 11.
In a press release last week, the Metropolitan Council announced that a public meeting about the Bottineau Transitway and additional Arterial Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors will be held on March 7 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Robbinsdale City Hall. The meeting comes after the Met Council received and reviewed the Bottineau Transitway alternatives analysis. The 27 page document compiled by the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority explains why the light rail path through Golden Valley is preferred. On March 11, the Met Council will host a public hearing to accept comments about both proposed bus routes and the Bottineau Transitway. The hearing will begin at 5 p.m. at the Heywood Office Building Chambers in Minneapolis. “This is an important…
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Find out what readers think about a recent analysis reviewed by the Golden Valley City Council that explains why light rail through Golden Valley might be best.
In an article published last week about the Bottineau Transitway and the locally preferred alternative, Golden Valley Patch readers weren’t shy in expressing their opinions. Many readers were frustrated with information published in the Bottineau Transitway Alternatives Analysis. The 27 page document was compiled by the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority and explains why the light rail path through Golden Valley is preferred. “D-1 would result in significantly less property and neighborhood impacts, improved travel time and greater cost effectiveness, and less disruption of roadway traffic operations,” the Policy Advisory Committee says in the analysis. Patch user Tom Ring said that he’d rather see more buses come through the …
Friday, December 7, 2012
If the Golden Valley City Council votes 'yes' on a resolution of support this month, the Bottineau Transitway project will move into the preliminary engineering phase - a process that carries a price tag of roughly $90 million.
There's a lot that needs to happen before next steps are taken on the Bottineau Transitway project. On Dec. 18, the Golden Valley City Council will vote on a resolution of support for the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA), a step that worked up many residents at a recent public hearing. See PDF to the right to read a copy of the resolution. If the council rejects the resolution, Hennepin County and the Metropolitan Council will go back to the drawing board. "I don't know what would happen," Hennepin County’s Engineering and Transit Planning Manager Joseph Gladke told Patch. "Our folks look to the future and we’re planning for the future of our region." But if the City Council agrees to allow studies on the LPA to move forward, the …
Monday, December 3, 2012
A study commissioned by the Itasca Project examined the return on investment for fully funding the regional transportation plan—which includes roads, buses and two more light rail lines by 2030.
A study commissioned by a group of Twin Cities business leaders estimates that the region could more than double the return on its investment by fully funding the Metropolitan Council’s transportation plan—which includes road and bus upgrades and the addition of two more light rail lines by 2030. “The Regional Transit Project Return on Investment Assessment” was commissioned by the Itasca Project—a group of more than 50 people that is made up mainly of private sector CEOs, with a small number of public and nonprofit leaders. Cambridge Systematics, the Massachusetts-based firm that did the analysis, estimates that implementing the Met Council’s plan would generate between $6.6 billion and $10.1 billion in direct benefits between 2030 and …
Thursday, November 15, 2012
In a council/manager meeting on Nov. 13, Golden Valley City Councilmembers agreed to bring Bottineau plans to the residents and ask for their opinion before adopting a resolution that would further the study of the Locally Preferred Alternative.
Before Golden Valley City Councilmembers allow Bottineau Transitway studies to move forward, they want to hear from the public. On Nov. 13, after almost two hours of discussion, councilmembers agreed that Golden Valley should host a public hearing and learn more from residents about the perceived impacts of the transitway. The purpose of the council/manager meeting this week, among other agenda items, was to get questions answered about the the D1 Alignment, which is the Locally Preferred Alternative that would bring the train through Golden Valley. The Council Chambers were full of representatives from Hennepin County, the Metropolitan Council and Golden Valley's Human Rights Commission Task Force. Residents and local media also attended …
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
At a council/manager meeting on Nov. 13, city staff will revisit plans for the Bottineau Transitway and the D1 Alignment, which is the Locally Preferred Alternative.
At a meeting tonight,the Golden Valley City Council will revisit plans for the Bottineau Transitway.Representatives from the Metropolitan Council and Hennepin County will also be present to answer questions about the project. "I think its important for this communication to happen," Mayor Shep Harris told Patch in October. "We need to have these conversations to discuss concerns and get clarification." According to council documents, supporting the D1 Alignment, which is the Locally Preferred Alternative, doesn't mean that the city is saying "yes" to Bottineau plans. "Support of the LPA does not imply approval to construct a light rail transit facility," City Planner Joe Hogeboom said in documents. "Rather, it allows the study of the …
Thursday, September 20, 2012
The District 46A legislator appeared on the Minnesota Senate’s Capitol Report to talk about the governor’s decision to award the project $2 million.
Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL-District 46A) was among the harshest critics of the Department of Employment and Economic Development’s decision to score the Southwest Light Rail Transit project poorly in a competition for $47.5 million. “DEED rankings are absurd--shows no knowledge of economics or total disregard of it,” he tweeted after the scores were announced. The Metropolitan Council’s request for $14 million for the project tied for the lowest score among the 37 projects that made it past initial screening. Despite that score, Gov. Mark Dayton awarded the project $2 million to keep the plan moving forward. Winkler applauded light rail and detailed his thoughts on the process in an interview with the Minnesota Senate’s Capitol Report posted …
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Met Council no longer plans fare increases, large service cuts
Golden Valley bus riders can breathe a little easier. The budget that Gov. Mark Dayton signed Wednesday allows Metro Transit to avoid cutting routes and also avoid an across-the-board fare increase, as previously feared. The Metropolitan Council has canceled all public hearings to consider testimony from community members about the cuts. The council was initially set to lose $109 million in transit money—or 85 percent of the state's general fund contribution to transit for 2012-2013. With a cut that size, Met Council planned to slash or limit 130 of 146 bus routes across the Twin Cities, eliminate most suburban local and crosstown bus routes and increase fares by 25 to 50 cents per ride. But Dayton vetoed that bill and eventually agreed …
Candace Oathout
10:17 am on Thursday, February 21, 2013
Karen, I agree with you. It seems that this proposal is a forgone conclusion and that these public meetings are being orchestrated to produce a pre-determined outcome. I wonder why? more ›