last Monday, met council chair announced on mpr he was cautiously optimistic
an agreement with the park board would be reached this week.
here is the email announcement received at 11:40 am.
best wishes,
Cheryl luger
minnhaha
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Understanding on SWLRT Kenilworth Channel Crossing Reached Between Metropolitan
Council and Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
(Minneapolis, MN) – Metropolitan Council Chair Adam Duininck and Minneapolis
Park and Recreation Board President Liz Wielinski announced today that the two
agencies reached an understanding on the Southwest Light Rail Transit (Green
Line Extension) crossing of the Kenilworth Channel. With its engineering
studies complete, Park Board staff and legal counsel are recommending to Park
Board Commissioners support of a light rail transit bridge over the channel.
The agencies have an agreed upon memorandum of understanding (MOU) that
provides for a more direct Park Board role in the design of the proposed
bridges over the channel and earlier involvement in any light rail transit
project to address impacts to park land and park resources owned by the Park
Board.
“Thanks to the diligent work of the Park Board and project engineers, we now
have a path forward for this critically important transit investment, which is
a vital link in the 21st century transit system we will build here in the
greater Twin Cities metro,” said Council Chair Adam Duininck. “The Council is
pleased to have the Park Board’s support for bridging the channel.”
Tunnel options evaluated by Park Board and Council project engineers would
significantly add cost and time to complete the project. Increased involvement
from the Park Board as bridge designs are advanced will inform the designs and
help maintain the park-like setting throughout the corridor.
”We have received a lot of new information this month from our consultants and
the Metropolitan Council. The Park Board is very optimistic about the new, more
collaborative efforts for the ongoing work on the Southwest Light Rail, the
Bottineau Line and any future mass transit that may impact parkland in the
metro area,” said Park Board President Liz Wielinski. “Our thanks go to Chair
Duininck for his leadership in moving this forward.”
Duininck noted that the Council agreed to pay the Park Board 50 percent of the
engineering costs, not to exceed $250,000, incurred during the Park Board’s
exploration of additional tunnel options because the work will be incorporated
in the Council’s environmental documentation and analysis. The Council will
benefit from analysis conducted by the Park Board commissioned engineering
study to further evaluate tunnel alternatives under the channel. This
information will help inform the 4(f) analysis that will be addressed in the
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) and the final 4(f)
analysis.
The MOU calls for the Metropolitan Council to:
- Work together with the Park Board on design considerations offered by the
Park Board in the final engineering and design of the bridges over the
Kenilworth Channel;
- Change project office policy to engage the Park Board more directly in the
Southwest LRT project and earlier in any light rail projects that involve park
land.
The MOU calls for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to:
- Work with Metropolitan Council earlier in the planning process to identify
potential Section 4(f) impacts for park and recreational areas within its
jurisdiction;
- Collaborate more closely with the Council on design principles and final
design and engineering of the bridges over the Kenilworth Channel.
The MOU will allow Southwest LRT and future light rail projects to move through
the environmental review process more smoothly. Both the Metropolitan Council
and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board are expected to take action on
the MOU at their next regularly scheduled meetings: March 4 for the Park Board
and March 11 for the Council.
The memorandum of understanding regarding the environmental review process,
design principles and increased Park Board collaboration on current and future
light rail projects can be found as an attachment to Resolution 2015-139 on the
Park Board’s March 4 agenda. The letter committing the Council to pay 50
percent of the Park Board’s engineering costs to date is also attached to Park
Board Resolution 2015-139.
The Metropolitan Council is the regional planning organization for the
seven-county Twin Cities area. It runs the regional bus and light rail system,
including Northstar Commuter Rail, collects and treats wastewater, manages
regional water resources, plans regional parks, and administers funds that
provide housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income individuals and
families. The Council is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the
Governor.
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is an independent, semi-autonomous
body responsible for maintaining and developing the Minneapolis Park system.
With 251 park properties totaling 6,790 acres of land and water, the Park Board
provides places and recreation opportunities for all people to gather and
engage in activities that promote health, well-being, community and the
environment. More than 21 million annual visits are made to the nationally
acclaimed park system. Park Board Commissioners are elected by Minneapolis
residents."
“I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder
to see them not ashamed.”
--- Jonathan Swift
an agreement with the park board would be reached this week.
here is the email announcement received at 11:40 am.
best wishes,
Cheryl luger
minnhaha
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Understanding on SWLRT Kenilworth Channel Crossing Reached Between Metropolitan
Council and Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
(Minneapolis, MN) – Metropolitan Council Chair Adam Duininck and Minneapolis
Park and Recreation Board President Liz Wielinski announced today that the two
agencies reached an understanding on the Southwest Light Rail Transit (Green
Line Extension) crossing of the Kenilworth Channel. With its engineering
studies complete, Park Board staff and legal counsel are recommending to Park
Board Commissioners support of a light rail transit bridge over the channel.
The agencies have an agreed upon memorandum of understanding (MOU) that
provides for a more direct Park Board role in the design of the proposed
bridges over the channel and earlier involvement in any light rail transit
project to address impacts to park land and park resources owned by the Park
Board.
“Thanks to the diligent work of the Park Board and project engineers, we now
have a path forward for this critically important transit investment, which is
a vital link in the 21st century transit system we will build here in the
greater Twin Cities metro,” said Council Chair Adam Duininck. “The Council is
pleased to have the Park Board’s support for bridging the channel.”
Tunnel options evaluated by Park Board and Council project engineers would
significantly add cost and time to complete the project. Increased involvement
from the Park Board as bridge designs are advanced will inform the designs and
help maintain the park-like setting throughout the corridor.
”We have received a lot of new information this month from our consultants and
the Metropolitan Council. The Park Board is very optimistic about the new, more
collaborative efforts for the ongoing work on the Southwest Light Rail, the
Bottineau Line and any future mass transit that may impact parkland in the
metro area,” said Park Board President Liz Wielinski. “Our thanks go to Chair
Duininck for his leadership in moving this forward.”
Duininck noted that the Council agreed to pay the Park Board 50 percent of the
engineering costs, not to exceed $250,000, incurred during the Park Board’s
exploration of additional tunnel options because the work will be incorporated
in the Council’s environmental documentation and analysis. The Council will
benefit from analysis conducted by the Park Board commissioned engineering
study to further evaluate tunnel alternatives under the channel. This
information will help inform the 4(f) analysis that will be addressed in the
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) and the final 4(f)
analysis.
The MOU calls for the Metropolitan Council to:
- Work together with the Park Board on design considerations offered by the
Park Board in the final engineering and design of the bridges over the
Kenilworth Channel;
- Change project office policy to engage the Park Board more directly in the
Southwest LRT project and earlier in any light rail projects that involve park
land.
The MOU calls for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to:
- Work with Metropolitan Council earlier in the planning process to identify
potential Section 4(f) impacts for park and recreational areas within its
jurisdiction;
- Collaborate more closely with the Council on design principles and final
design and engineering of the bridges over the Kenilworth Channel.
The MOU will allow Southwest LRT and future light rail projects to move through
the environmental review process more smoothly. Both the Metropolitan Council
and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board are expected to take action on
the MOU at their next regularly scheduled meetings: March 4 for the Park Board
and March 11 for the Council.
The memorandum of understanding regarding the environmental review process,
design principles and increased Park Board collaboration on current and future
light rail projects can be found as an attachment to Resolution 2015-139 on the
Park Board’s March 4 agenda. The letter committing the Council to pay 50
percent of the Park Board’s engineering costs to date is also attached to Park
Board Resolution 2015-139.
The Metropolitan Council is the regional planning organization for the
seven-county Twin Cities area. It runs the regional bus and light rail system,
including Northstar Commuter Rail, collects and treats wastewater, manages
regional water resources, plans regional parks, and administers funds that
provide housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income individuals and
families. The Council is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the
Governor.
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is an independent, semi-autonomous
body responsible for maintaining and developing the Minneapolis Park system.
With 251 park properties totaling 6,790 acres of land and water, the Park Board
provides places and recreation opportunities for all people to gather and
engage in activities that promote health, well-being, community and the
environment. More than 21 million annual visits are made to the nationally
acclaimed park system. Park Board Commissioners are elected by Minneapolis
residents."
“I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder
to see them not ashamed.”
--- Jonathan Swift
