HomeMy WebLinkAbout20090817 - VI-11-B
City of Hastings
Resolution 08- -09
Resolution of the City of Hastings
supporting the submittal of an ARRA Grant Request for
the Twin Cities to Chicago High Speed Rail Corridor
by the Minnesota Department of Transportation
WHEREAS
, the Minnesota High Speed Rail Commission (hereafter known as
The “Commission”) is a political subdivision and local government unit of Minnesota; and
WHEREAS
, the Commission is established by Joint Powers Agreement by and
between Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority, Washington County Regional
Railroad Authority, Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority, Goodhue County
Regional Railroad Authority, Wabasha County Regional Railroad Authority, Winona
County Regional Railroad Authority, City of St. Paul, City of St. Paul Park, City of Cottage
Grove, City of Hastings, City of Red Wing, City of Wabasha, City of Goodview, City of
Winona, City of St. Charles, City of Utica; and
WHEREAS
, the Commission is working to establish high speed intercity passenger
rail service between the Union Depot in St. Paul and Chicago along the current Amtrak
Empire Builder route in Minnesota which parallels the Mississippi River; and
WHEREAS
, States of Minnesota and Wisconsin have jointly submitted a pre-
application requesting $49.9 million in American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA)
funding for the Milwaukee WI, to St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN leg of the MWRRI; and
WHEREAS
, the award of this funding will allow Minnesota and Wisconsin to
complete environmental documentation and preliminary engineering along the Corridor to
determine a preferred alignment; and
WHEREAS,
the Commission believes that the data driven analysis will result in the
selection of the Canadian Pacific Railway alignment paralleling the Mississippi River due to
its existing passenger rail use, shorter route length and travel times, and significant traffic
generators including Native American tribal interests and its higher education facilities; and
WHEREAS,
the completion of this work is necessary for the establishment of high
speed rail between the Union Depot in St. Paul and Chicago; and
WHEREAS,
the Commission is committed to working with its partners to provide
connections that enhance passenger rail service and use.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED
that the City of Hastings, as a member
of the Commission, hereby supports the efforts by State of Minnesota to seek ARRA
funding for the completion environmental documentation and Preliminary Engineering work
for the Milwaukee WI, to St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN leg of the MWRRI; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
that the Commission is prepared to offer essential
assistance for the development of ARRA application to the extent that, in the judgment of
Commission, its resources permit.
Ayes:
Nays:
Absent:
th
Approved by the City Council of the City of Hastings this 17 day of August, 2009
Paul J. Hicks, Mayor Melanie Mesko Lee, City Clerk