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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013/07/29 - ADMIN - Agenda Packets - City Council - Joint AGENDA JULY 29, 2013 (Councilmember Ross Out) 6:30 p.m. JOINT CITY COUNCIL & SCHOOL BOARD MEETING – Council Chambers Discussion Items 1. 6:30 p.m. Southwest LRT Update 2. 8:00 p.m. Update on School District Referendum Auxiliary aids for individuals with disabilities are available upon request. To make arrangements, please call the Administration Department at 952/924-2525 (TDD 952/924-2518) at least 96 hours in advance of meeting. Meeting: Joint City Council & School Board Meeting Date: July 29, 2013 Discussion Item: 1 TITLE: Southwest LRT Update RECOMMENDED ACTION: No formal action required. Staff from the Southwest Project Office (SPO) will be present to recap the freight rail options and open houses. Staff will also provide information on the SW LRT Base Plan. POLICY CONSIDERATION: Given recent developments on the freight rail routing issue and SWLRT base plan, what comments would the City Council desire staff to pass along to the SPO? SUMMARY: Freight rail options: The SPO suggested at the July 17th and 18th open houses that 3 of the 8 freight rail options under consideration - relocation on the Brunswick Central alignment, deep- bore tunnel through the Kenilworth corridor, and a shallow tunnel through the Kenilworth corridor – are worthy of further consideration. They presented strengths and weaknesses and costs for each of the freight rail options. SPO staff will be present at this meeting. SW LRT base plan: The SPO has prepared the plan for the SW LRT line. It shows the alignment, platform locations, etc. This plan will be the basis for the plans that will be submitted to cities and the county for municipal consent. Staff has drafted a set of changes/comments to propose. They are attached. SW LRT Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS): July 22, 2013 the Notice of Intent to prepare a SDEIS on the SWLRT project was published in the Federal Register and the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (EQB) Monitor. The SPO has stated that the SDEIS “will evaluate environmental impacts associated with proposed adjustments to the Locally Preferred Alternative, freight rail alignments, and location of the Operations and Maintenance Facility (OMF).” The FTA and the Council [the Metropolitan Council] may also determine there is a need for additional information. Written comments on the scope of the SDEIS are to be directed to Ms. Nani Jacobson, Project Manager, Southwest Light Rail Transit Project Office, by August 12, 2013. Consideration should be given to comments the City may wish to submit regarding the SDEIS FINANCIAL OR BUDGET CONSIDERATION: Not applicable at this time. VISION CONSIDERATION: St. Louis Park is committed to being a connected and engaged community. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: Discussion on SWLRT Base Plan Federal Register Notice of Intent Prepared by: Meg J. McMonigal, Planning and Zoning Supervisor Reviewed by: Kevin Locke, Community Development Director Approved by: Tom Harmening, City Manager Joint City Council & School Board Meeting of July 29, 2013 (Item No. 1) Page 2 Title: Southwest LRT Update DISCUSSION The following are draft comments that staff will be submitting to SWLRT Project Office (SPO) regarding the draft SWLRT plans. The SPO has prepared cost estimates for the overall SWLRT project which are being presented to the Business Advisory Committee and Citizens Advisory Committee’s Thursday July 25th. The cost estimates are based on preliminary plans for each of the light rail stations. For the three St. Louis Park stations those plans are very basic and do not include many of the elements that St. Louis Park has requested be incorporated in the plans. Below is a brief description of the SPO’s plans for the St. Louis Park Stations and our proposed changes for each station plan. At Monday night’s meeting we hope to have copies of the proposed plans to share with the City Council. Louisiana Station 1. SPO Proposed Plan. a. Station Platform at Oxford St. b. Park & Ride on former National Lead site connected to the platform by a under pass through the SWLRT/Regional Trail/Freight Rail row. c. Location of Kiss & Ride drop-off not indicated. d. No trail or direct connections from station platform to Methodist Hospital e. South leg of switching wye remains in place. 2. City Proposed Changes. a. Locate station platform closer to Methodist Hospital next to Louisiana Avenue at the current location of the switching wye. b. Fully remove north and south legs of switching wye. c. Locate park & ride east of Louisiana Avenue and south of SWLRT/Regional Trail/Freight Rail corridor. d. Locate kiss & ride drop-off adjacent to station platform. e. Incorporate a 60 ft. wide buffer between the LRT tracks and the Minnehaha Creek. 3. Rationale for proposed changes. This alignment would bring the rail station and platform much closer to Methodist Hospital and its 4,100 employees who are coming and going on a daily basis. In addition, it is much more centrally located, with properties and businesses surrounding the station and drawing on its access and visibility. This location makes the properties more valuable and more attractive for new development or redevelopment and enhances the employment and “place- making” opportunities in the station area. The south alignment and platform location should be in the base plans. The south alignment will be a catalyst for new private investment and redevelopment of the Louisiana station area as TOD neighborhood. The base plan does not include removal of the south leg of the railroad switching wye. If the south leg of the wye remains in place, rail traffic in the area could continue, and the south wye rail line would continue to be a major barrier for access to the station from the hospital, and it would continue to be a barrier to redevelopment. The south wye should be removed from the base plans Joint City Council & School Board Meeting of July 29, 2013 (Item No. 1) Page 3 Title: Southwest LRT Update Wooddale Station 1. SPO Proposed Plan a. Station Platform at east side of Wooddale Avenue b. No park & ride c. Kiss & Ride at Yosemite and W. 35 ½ Street d. LRT and freight rail at grade crossing of Wooddale Avenue e. Regional trail underpass at Wooddale Avenue 2. City Proposed Changes. a. Move station platform east to Xenwood and at the elevation of W35 ½ Street. b. Put LRT and trail in underpass of Wooddale Avenue. c. Extend Xenwood to the south Hwy 7 frontage road with LRT/Freight Rail corridor underpass. 3. Rationale for proposed changes. In order to address congestion issues at the Wooddale station area, the platform should be moved east and located between Yosemite and Xenwood Avenues. In moving the Wooddale platform east, the platform should be lowered to the elevation of the surrounding roadway system (35th Street). This lowering makes it possible to grade separate the LRT under Wooddale Avenue, in addition to the grade separation of the regional trail. As a part of improving the circulation in the Wooddale station area, Xenwood should be extended under rail tracks to connect to the south Highway 7 frontage road. This connection would provide a circulation option in addition to Wooddale Avenue and provide better access for development on the north side of LRT/Regional Trail/Freight Rail Corridor. The Xenwood connection should be included in the base plans. This connection is consistent with previous planning done for this area Beltline Station 1. SPO Proposed Plan A. Station Platform directly east of Belt Line Blvd. B. LRT and Freight Rail cross Belt Line Blvd at grade. C. Regional Trail crosses Belt Line Blvd on bridge funded by others. D. Kiss & Ride and bus lay-over on HCRRA property. E. Park & Ride surface lot located on 35th St. West. 2. City Proposed Changes. A. Grade separate Belt Line Boulevard under the LRT/Freight Rail/Regional Trail corridor. B. Park & ride should be an interim use of a future development site or eliminated. 3. Rationale for proposed changes. Belt Line Blvd should be grade separated under the tracks and trail in a co-location scenario. This would allow separation of the rail corridor modes from vehicular traffic, provide safer trail use and insure automobile accessibility regardless of trail and train traffic. Belt Line is the only north-south route between Lake Calhoun and Hwy 100 and it is critical that it is always available. 43964 Federal Register /Vol. 78, No. 140/Monday, July 22, 2013/Notices 1 BMW of North America, LLC is a U.S. company that manufacturers and imports motor vehicles. 2 BMW AG is a German company that manufactures motor vehicles. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Southwest Light Rail Transit Extension Project (Formerly Referred to as the Southwest Transitway) AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Department of Transportation. ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Federal lead agency, and the Metropolitan Council (Council), the local lead agency, intend to publish a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) for the Southwest Light Rail Transit Extension (SWLRT) Project (formerly referred to as the Southwest Transitway Project), in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), its implementing regulations, provisions of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP–21), and the Minnesota Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). The original Notice of Intent to prepare a DEIS for the Project was issued on September 23, 2008. The Project’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was published on October 12, 2012, with a public comment period concluding on December 31, 2012. The Project is a new 15.8-mile light rail alignment with 17 new light rail stations, several new park- and-ride lots, and one new light rail operations and maintenance facility (OMF). The project requires modification to existing freight rail alignments within the project vicinity. The SDEIS will evaluate environmental impacts associated with proposed adjustments to the Locally Preferred Alternative, freight rail alignments, and location of the OMF. The SDEIS will also incorporate pertinent issues raised during the DEIS comment period. For commenting purposes under NEPA, written comments on the scope of the SDEIS should be directed to Ms. Nani Jacobson, Project Manager, Southwest Light Rail Transit Project Office, 6465 Wayzata Boulevard, Suite 500, St. Louis Park, MN 55426, Telephone: 612–373–3808; Email: nani.jacobson@metrotransit.org. Comments on the scope may be submitted within 20 days of publication of the preparation notice in the state publication, the EQB Monitor. Notice in the EQB Monitor is anticipated to be published on July 22, 2013, with the 20 day period for submitting written comments ending on August 12, 2013. In accordance with MEPA, comments received within this period, and responses to the comments, will be included in the SDEIS. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information on FTA’s NEPA review, please contact Maya Sarna, Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., East Building, Washington DC 20590, Telephone: (202) 366–5811. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SWLRT Project will operate from downtown Minneapolis through the southwestern suburban cities of St. Louis Park, Hopkins, Minnetonka, and Eden Prairie, passing in close proximity to the city of Edina. The proposed alignment is primarily at-grade and will include 17 new stations and approximately 15.8-miles of double track. The line will connect major activity centers in the region including downtown Minneapolis, Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, the Opus/ Golden Triangle employment area in Minnetonka and Eden Prairie, and, the Eden Prairie Center Mall. Ridership in 2030 is projected at 29,660 weekday passengers. The project will connect with the Green Line (Central Corridor LRT), which will provide a one-seat ride to destinations such as the University of Minnesota, the State Capitol, and downtown St. Paul. The proposed SWLRT will be part of an integrated system of transitways, including connections to the METRO Blue Line, the Northstar Commuter Rail line, a variety of major bus routes along the alignment, and proposed future transitway and rail lines. The SDEIS will supplement the evaluation of impacts included in the Project’s DEIS where there have been adjustments to the design of proposed LRT and freight rail alignments, stations, park-and-ride lots, and an OMF site that would likely result in impacts not documented in the Project’s DEIS. FTA and the Council anticipate that the SDEIS scope will include, but not be limited to, the following areas: Eden Prairie LRT alignment and stations; LRT OMF site; freight rail alignments (i.e., Relocation and Co-location); and other areas where FTA and the Council determine that there is a need to be supplemented with additional information which was not included in the Project’s October 2012 DEIS. Notice regarding the intent to prepare the SDEIS will be sent to the appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies. Following publication and review of the SDEIS, a FEIS will be prepared and circulated. The Paperwork Reduction Act seeks, in part, to minimize the cost to the taxpayer of the creation, collection, maintenance, use, dissemination, and disposition of information. Consistent with this goal and with principles of economy and efficiency in government, it is FTA policy to limit insofar as possible distribution of complete printed sets of NEPA documents. Accordingly, unless a specific request for a complete printed set of the NEPA document is received before the document is printed, FTA and its grant applicants will distribute only electronic copies of the NEPA document. A complete printed set of the environmental document will be available for review at the Metropolitan Council’s offices and elsewhere as will be noted in the Notice of Availability; and electronic copy of the complete environmental document will be available on the Metropolitan Council’s Southwest Light Rail Transit Project Web site (http://www.swlrt.org). Issued on: July 11, 2013. Marisol Simon, Regional Administrator, FTA Region V. [FR Doc. 2013–17506 Filed 7–19–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [Docket No. NHTSA–2012–0075; Notice 2] BMW of North America, LLC, a Subsidiary of BMW AG, Grant of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT. ACTION: Grant of petition. SUMMARY: BMW of North America, LLC 1 a subsidiary of BMW AG.2 has determined that certain model year (MY) 2012 BMW X6M SAV multipurpose passenger vehicles (MPV) manufactured between April 1, 2011 and March 23, 2012, do not fully comply with paragraph S4.3 (b) of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 110, Tire selection and rims and motor home/recreation vehicle trailer load carrying capacity information for motor vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less. BMW has filed an appropriate report dated April 4, 2012, VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:15 Jul 19, 2013 Jkt 229001 PO 00000 Frm 00117 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\22JYN1.SGM 22JYN1 tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICESJoint City Council & School Board Meeting of July 29, 2013 (Item No. 1) Title: Southwest LRT Update Page 4 Meeting: Joint City Council & School Board Meeting Date: July 29, 2013 Discussion Item: 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TITLE: Update on School District Referendum RECOMMENDED ACTION: None at this time. POLICY CONSIDERATION: None at this time. SUMMARY: Information related to this discussion item will be shared at the Joint Meeting by the School Board. FINANCIAL OR BUDGET CONSIDERATION: Not applicable. VISION CONSIDERATION: Not applicable. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: None Prepared by & Approved by: Tom Harmening, City Manager