 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 12, 2014
Contact: Kayla Bromelkamp, public affairs, 612-348-8536
News release
Board and regional
railroad authority approve Southwest light rail transit project
The Hennepin County Board and Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority
approved the preliminary design plans for the Southwest light rail transit
project serving the City of Minneapolis. Today’s vote follows a series of
public hearings. The board also voted on the preliminary design plans for the
parts of the route serving the cities of Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Hopkins, and
St. Louis Park on July 8. For more information see the news release.
Hennepin County
Regional Railroad Authority approves various agreements regarding Southwest light
rail transit project
The board, acting as the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA),
approved land and funding commitments to the Southwest light rail transit line.
The commitment from the county is for 10 percent of the capital cost of the
project. HCRRA funding cannot be used until all other funding is assured and
cannot be used until all environmental review is completed. The HCRRA also
committed that the freight corridor would remain in public ownership so that no
additional railroads would be added to the corridor, and that the county will
work with the City of Minneapolis to ensure the Kenilworth Corridor bicycle
trail is preserved.
Agreement with Ramsey
County to explore possible joint residential treatment center for youth
The board approved an agreement with Ramsey County to explore the
possibility of a joint residential treatment center for youth. The two counties
face similar issues and challenges in addressing the needs of at-risk youth.
This agreement allows for juvenile services leadership from both counties to
explore the feasibility of a shared, single-site, juvenile correctional residential
treatment center that would serve both counties.
Currently, the Hennepin County Home School (HCHS) and Ramsey
County’s Boys Totem Town facilities are aging and need maintenance or complete
renovations. The costly building options facing both counties, for similar
programs, compel a look at a single more cost-effective program.
Board approves construction of County Road 101 (Bushaway
Road)
The board awarded a bid to Shafer Contracting Company for the
reconstruction of County Road 101, also known as Bushaway Road, in the cities
of Minnetonka, Wayzata and Woodland. The project will make improvements to
intersections, reconstruct the bridge over the BNSF railroad, reconstruct the
road, and add bicycle and pedestrian facilities throughout the corridor. The
project is slated to begin construction in September, with most substantial
work completed by the end of 2015 and some restoration work to occur in 2016.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation and Hennepin County will cover
approximately 67 percent of the approximately $41 million construction project,
with the cities and Metropolitan Council covering about 33 percent.
Acknowledgement of Nicollet-Central Modern Streetcar
The Hennepin County Board and Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority
acknowledged the proposed alignment for the streetcar as recommended by the
Minneapolis City Council, including the placement of the streetcar within
Hennepin County roads. The proposed route will run between Lake Street and 5th
Street Northeast on Nicollet Avenue, Nicollet Mall, and Hennepin/1st
Avenues, using the Hennepin Avenue Bridge to cross the Mississippi River. Adoption
of the resolution does not obligate Hennepin County to provide financial
support for the project, including sales tax contributions to the Counties
Transit Improvement Board. The acknowledgement does not commit property rights,
nor terms or conditions pertaining to property rights for the project. These
agreements would be negotiated at a future date.
Board approves ADA
pedestrian ramp reconstruction
The board approved a contract agreement with Ti-ZACK Concrete for ADA
pedestrian ramp reconstruction along Golden Valley Road (County Road 66) from
Xerxes Avenue North to Girard Avenue North in Golden Valley as well as ramps
along West Broadway Avenue (County Road 81) from Girard Avenue North to West
River Road in the City of Minneapolis. The ramps will be reconstructed to meet
current guidelines for American with Disabilities Act (ADA). The project will
reconstruct 158 pedestrian ramps at a cost of $784,037 and is slated to begin
late this summer.
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Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at www.hennepin.us/news.
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