HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-050 - ADMIN Resolution - City Council - 2005/04/04RESOLUTION NO. 05-050
RESOLUTION OPPOSING REDUCTION IN TRANSIT SERVICE
IN ST. LOUIS PARK AND
SUPPORTING A SEPARATE FUNDING SOURCE FOR
PUBLIC TRANSIT IN THE REGION.
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council is proposing to eliminate or reduce service to bus
routes in St. Louis Park and elsewhere in the region together with fare increases in order to
address a $60 million budget deficit over the next two-year funding cycle, and
WHEREAS, public transit is a cntical means of mobility for St. Louis Park residents
who either cannot or choose not to drive, and
WHEREAS, public transit is a significant factor for many businesses and is essential for
attracting employees, and
WHEREAS, in 1994 West Metro CAUSE listed transportation and transit as the leading
concern with a goal to improve the quality of life where people have the ability to move
efficiently, affordably and cost-effectively from place to place throughout the greater
community, and
WHEREAS, in 1997 the St. Louis Park City Council authonzed a feasibility analysis for
a local transit circulator system to improve mobility for residents, and
WHEREAS, the transit feasibility study eventually resulted in the Three Cities Transit
Restructunng Plan that included local transit circulator routes, and
WHEREAS, investments in transit have resulted in increased ndership and economic
benefits to St. Louis Park, and
WHEREAS, the proposed service reductions eliminate the local transit circulators
(Routes 604 and 605) and reduce or eliminate service on routes 9, 12 and 17 that serve St. Louis
Park, and
WHEREAS, residents and employees of St. Louis Park businesses depended on these
routes for daily for transportation to and from work, and
WHEREAS, the proposed service cuts pose an additional and significant hardship on
employees and employers who can no longer depend on public transportation, and
WHEREAS, businesses and nders together benefit from a well functioning public transit
system, and
WHEREAS, many who depended on public transit but have vehicles available to them
will now need to dnve to work, and
WHEREAS, cutting transit service will force more vehicle tnps unto already congested
streets and highways including the already stressed TH 100, and contnbute to more cut -through
traffic for neighborhoods, and
Resolution No. 05-050 -2-
WHEREAS, increased vehicle tnps result in increased demand for fossil fuels and
increases in greenhouse gases, and
WHEREAS, transit-onented developments have been promoted as one means of
accommodating the region's growth, and
WHEREAS, transit stability is essential in order for cities to risk investing in transit
oriented developments.
NOW THEREFORE LET IT BE KNOWN, that the City Council of the City of St.
Louis Park opposes any reduction in transit service in St. Louis Park and supports a separate
fi�fiding source that will stabilize public transit in the region.
Rviewer for Administration: Ad by the City Council Apn14, 2005
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