AGENDA

OPEN HOUSE 6:00 – 8:00 PM Review materials Ask questions Provide feedback on purpose,

needs, and alternatives Sign up for email list Fill out comment cards

PRESENTATION 6:30 PMQUESTIONS & ANSWERSOPEN HOUSE 7:00 – 8:00 PM

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PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE #1SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

6:00 PM – 8:00 PMWest Side RoomWellstone Center

179 Robie Street East, St. Paul

INTRODUCTIONS

WHO IS ON THE PROJECT TEAM? Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority Consultant Team (led by Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.)

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PROJECT INVOLVEMENT

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LEAD AGENCIESDakota County Regional Railroad

Authority (DCRRA)Ramsey County Regional Railroad

Authority (RCRRA)

COMMITTEES GENERAL PUBLIC AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS

• Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce

• Dakota County Technical College• Inver Grove Community College• River Heights• Sierra Club• St. Croix Lutheran High School• St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce• Transit for Livable Communities• UMore Development LLC

Steering Committee & Technical Advisory Committee

Project Management Team

• Eagan• Inver Grove Heights• Lilydale• Mendota Heights• Rosemount• South St. Paul• St. Paul• Sunfish Lake• West St. Paul

• DARTS• Metro Transit• Metropolitan

Council• MnDOT• MVTA

PURPOSE OF OPEN HOUSE

WHY ARE WE HERE TODAY? Provide information on:

Project history Federal Transit Administration (FTA) process

Get your input on: Project purpose and need Project goals and objectives Initial range of alignment alternatives Mode alternatives

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PROJECT HISTORY

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WHAT STUDIES AND PLANS INFORM THIS ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS (AA) STUDY?Guidance includes, but is not limited to, the following: 2000 Redevelopment Design Framework: A Strategy for South Robert

Street’s Renaissance (2000) Robert Street Corridor Transit Feasibility Study (2008) Ramsey County 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2009) 2010 Regional Transitway Guidelines (2010) 2030 Transportation Policy Plan (2010) Metro Transit Arterial Transitway Corridors Study (2011) Dakota County 2030 Transportation Plan (2012) City Comprehensive Plans and Small Area Plans

2008 FEASIBILITY STUDY

Provides a foundation for the AA Identified alternatives will serve as starting

point for the AA Identified performance of alternatives—bus,

bus rapid transit (BRT), light rail transit (LRT), and streetcar.

Will support the early, efficient narrowing of alternatives in the AA

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2008 Feasibility Study

WHAT ROLE DOES THE 2008 FEASIBILITY STUDY PLAY IN THIS AA STUDY?

NEW STARTS & SMALL STARTS PROGRAM

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HOW ARE TRANSIT PROJECTS FEDERALLY FUNDED? FTA New Starts & Small Starts program for funding major capital transit

investments AA is the first step of the New Starts project development process Projects with higher benefit and lower cost are more competitive for New

Starts and Small Starts funding Passage of Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21)

changes the New Starts & Small Starts process, including the AA, but it will adhere to the same principles as previous federal legislation

FTA PROCESS

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Alternatives Analysis(Select Locally Preferred Alternative)

Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Preliminary Engineering

Final Environmental Impact Statement

Record of Decision

Final Decision/Right-of-Way

Construction

Operations

FTA

New

Sta

rts

Proc

ess

Step

s

National Environm

ental Policy Act(N

EPA) Requirements

AA STUDY SCOPE

WHAT WILL THIS AA STUDY ACCOMPLISH? The study will: Establish the purpose of and need for the Robert Street Transitway Identify a limited number of alternatives for detailed study Evaluate alternatives against project goals, objectives and performance

measures

In order to: Identify the Locally Preferred Alternative(s) Develop a recommended course of action to advance the conclusions of

the AA within guidance of federal funding process

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STUDY AREAINSERT MAP OF STUDY AREA

PROJECT PURPOSE

Draft for public input: The purpose of the Robert Street Transitway is to provide the necessary transit infrastructure and service to meet the long-term regional mobility and local accessibility needs between downtown St. Paul and areas within Dakota County.

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PROJECT NEEDS

Draft for public input: Increasing travel demand Increasing land use densities People who depend on transit Transportation system deficiencies

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PROJECT GOALS

Draft for public input: PRIMARY GOALS: Improve mobility and accessibility Enhance the effectiveness of transit service

within the corridor Provide cost effective and financially feasible

transit solutions

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PROJECT GOALS (CONTINUED)

Draft for public input: SECONDARY GOALS: Support and enhance existing and planned

development Support healthy communities and sound

environmental practices

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2008 FEASIBILITY STUDY MODES &

ALIGNMENTS

INSERT MAP OF STUDY AREA

UNIVERSE OF POTENTIAL ALIGNMENTS TO BE CONSIDERED IN AA

STUDY

INSERT MAP OF STUDY AREA

PROJECT TIMELINE

WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?

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•Finalize project purpose, need, goals and objectives•Identify initial universe of alternativesFall 2012•Preliminary definition and evaluation of alternatives

Winter 2012 - 2013

•Detailed technical analysis2013Open Houses are tentatively scheduled for February-March 2013 and Fall 2013.

NEXT STEPS TODAY

WHAT’S NEXT TODAY?We invite you to: Review materials Ask questions Provide feedback on purpose, needs, and alternatives Sign up for email list Fill out comment cards

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QUESTIONS?

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