HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-070 - ADMIN Resolution - City Council - 2010/07/06RESOLUTION NO. 10-070
RESOLUTION RELATING TO FREIGHT RAIL ACTIVITY IN
THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS PARK
WHEREAS, the City of St. Louis Park is committed to protect and enhance the quality of
its neighborhoods; and,
WHEREAS, several railroads operate within the City of St. Louis Park and railroad
operations can have adverse impacts on the City and its neighborhoods, and,
WHEREAS, the City of St. Louis Park seeks to provide a clear, concise statement of its
position regarding freight rail activity in the City today and in the future; and,
WHEREAS, the City of St. Louis Park has always opposed the rerouting of freight rail
traffic through our community; and
WHEREAS, the City of St. Louis Park adopted the Railroad Task Force Recommendations
of May 23, 2001 by Resolution No 01-120, which included St. Louis Park's opposition to the
rerouting of freight rail; and,
WHEREAS, the City of St. Louis Park has been an active participant and supporter of
transit in the Southwest corridor, and
WHEREAS, the City of St. Louis Park has participated in the Technical, Policy and
Community Advisory Committees for the Southwest Transitway, and
WHEREAS, the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) unanimously recommended the
selection of Route 3A as the locally preferred alternative with conditions including that agencies
work cooperatively to identify impacts, mitigation requirements, and mitigation funding options to
address the potential of rerouting freight rail in a parallel process with the Southwest LRT DEIS and
to identify the freight rail issue and impacts as a part of the "secondary and cumulative impacts.";
and,
WHEREAS, the City of St. Louis Park adopted Resolution No. 10-05 in support of
Hennepin County's decision of LRT alignment 3A (through the Kenilworth Corridor) as the locally
preferred alternative for the Southwest Transitway ; and,
WHEREAS, the City of St. Louis Park participated in the Technical, Policy and
Community Advisory Committees for the Southwest Transitway.
Resolution No. 10-070 -2-
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of St. Louis Park that the
City of St. Louis Park
1. Supports the implementation of the Southwest Transitway LRT project; and,
2. Continues to support the May 23, 2001 Railroad Task Force Recommendations adopted
by the City Council October 21, 2001; and,
3. Opposes the introduction of any rerouted freight rail traffic north and south through the
City of St. Louis Park, and,
4. Opposes the rerouting of freight rail traffic from the Kenilworth corridor to St Louis
Park unless the following conditions are clearly mer
a. It is established through a very thorough and careful analysis that no other viable
route exists;
b. There is appropriate mitigation of any and all negative impacts associated with
rail rerouting, funded by sources other than the City of St Louis Park. Potential
negative impacts that should be addressed include but are not limited to noise,
vibration, odors, traffic congestion and safety, school use and safety, park use and
safety; and, circulation/access in the community by vehicle, pedestrian, transit
and bicycle;
c. Elimination of railroad switching, sorting and blocking operations within the
City of St. Louis Park; and funded by some other source than the City of St.
Louis Park;
d. Removal of the existing "wye" rail tracks in the vicinity of Oxford Street and any
other tracks not needed for through train traffic including the rail tracks east of
any new interconnections between the East-West CP-TCWR tracks and the
North-South CP-MNS tracks;
Creation of a freight rail single track corridor with significant right-of-way and
safety measures incorporated between the track and adjacent properties;
f. Creation of a whistle -quiet zone funded by sources other than the City of St.
Louis Park throughout the entire north -south MNS corridor.
e.
R. ie , ,r Administration:
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City ra ager
Attest:
City Clerk
Adopte by the City Council July 6, 2010
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Mayor