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In this Issue
With just over a week
left of the legislative session, there is still no deal on a transportation
bill. However, I’ve been heartened by the support that has stepped forward for
a meaningful transportation bill. From riders, advocates, businesses across the
region, letters to the editor, the Star Tribune opinion piece, and the poll
that came out, it is clear that Minnesotans understand that investing in
transportation is an investment in the state's future.
Wednesday afternoon, the House passed an
updated version of the transportation bill. While the one-time money
would hold off deep cuts to Metro Transit bus service and Metro Mobility
service, there could still be some immediate service cuts, with
possibly much deeper cuts and more aggressive fare increases into the
future.
Here are some of the
details:
- One-time appropriation of $50 million over two years retains a $17.5 million deficit in 2018/2019
- Does not account for increased demand in Metro Mobility
- By not addressing the structural deficit, the deficit will grow to at least $110 million beginning in 2020, forcing even deeper cuts to bus and Metro Mobility service
- Transit Link service eliminated
- Eliminates the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB)
- Makes the Council a 28-member board composed of local elected officials, giving each county equal weight in decision-making, rather than weight based on population.
The Senate has not yet voted on this bill. It expects to do so on Monday. Today, Governor Dayton said at a press conference that he will veto the transportation bill if it comes to his desk, noting a shortage of transit funding and “poorly thought through” and “controversial” governance policy.
I agree with Governor Dayton and hope you do, too – our region is stronger with a robust transit system.
As always, if I can be of any assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Sincerely,
Cara
Metropolitan Council Member
for District 8 (Northeast Minneapolis, Southeast Minneapolis, parts of South
Minneapolis, and St. Anthony Village)
Metropolitan Council Environmental Services
(MCES), operator of the metro-area wastewater collection and treatment system,
is constructing a new odor control building, removing the current undersized
odor control biofilter and rehabilitating two underground wastewater
structures between West River Parkway and the Mississippi River, north of Lake
Street in Minneapolis.
The project is nearing
completion on the building construction; restoring a driveway that also serves
the adjacent Minneapolis Rowing Club building; and grading the work site to
prepare it for landscape restoration. Throughout summer, testing of
mechanical, air handling, and communications systems in the building will occur
before starting them up. The sewer odor control system (activated carbon
filtration of the odorous air) is scheduled to be in full operation by late
summer or early fall.
In late 2016, some residents and members of Friends of the
Mississippi River (FMR) noted some concerns about the building height, roof
line, and translucent windows. Some also questioned whether there was adequate
opportunity for public input. Several MCES staff and senior management met with
Friends of the Mississippi River to discuss these concerns, and reiterated their commitment to engaging
with the group and continuing our established, positive relationship. They
discussed remaining work on the new odor control building and how Friends of the Mississippi River staff can
weigh in on the post-construction landscape restoration. We also alerted Friends of the Mississippi River to
short- and long-term regional sanitary sewer improvement projects in the
Mississippi River Corridor, and how we can stay engaged with them moving
forward.
Metro Transit will be temporarily installing tactile
pavers to mark the locations of all four doors of the center light rail vehicle
on both sides of the platform. These pavers have a directional bar pattern and
the primary purpose is to help people with visual disabilities safely locate a
vehicle door. A similar installation was completed at the Green Line’s Raymond
Avenue station last year, although at a different door location and with a
different size tile. Modifications at the Lake Street station are based on
customer feedback and conversations with rail operations. Timing depends on the
relocation of signal loops, however tiles will likely be installed this
summer.
Lots of action this week at the Capitol:
CTIB (Counties Transit
Improvement Board) struck a deal Monday over details related to its own
dissolution. Read
the Star Tribune story “Deal struck in Twin Cities transit board break
up.” CTIB provides funding for transit and had been targeted by House
and Senate legislation, which would have forced dissolution and dictated
the distribution of its remaining funds. This deal means the Metropolitan
Council will not have to resort to using Certificates of Participation –
or COPS – to finance the remaining state share of Southwest Light Rail.
The Council had said it would issue the COPs, which function similar to
bonds, this summer to cover the remaining local share of the capital
costs. Under the deal, Hennepin County will assume the remaining local share.
COPs would have contributed $9 million to the Council’s biennial deficit
of $74 million.
The House and Senate are moving
forward with policy provisions focused on Met Council governance and
attempts to halt SWRLT. Last week Governor Dayton told legislative leaders
he wouldn’t begin negotiating the transportation bill until the new
policies in the conference committee report were debated. Monday night
the Senate approved on a party line vote a bill that would change the
Council’s membership to a 27-member board comprised primarily of county
commissioners and select local elected officials like city council
members. Each of the seven counties would have one representative,
regardless of the county’s population as a percentage of the region. Read
more about this vote in the Star Tribune.
The House is expected to also vote today on a similar bill which includes
provisions related to farebox recovery and prohibiting regional rail
authorities, cities and counties from spending money to study, plan or
construct light rail. It is unclear how the proposed self-dissolution of
CTIB impacts these bills.
This morning
Speaker Daudt and Senate Majority Leader Gazelka indicated they would be moving
forward with their various budget bills “soon,” and that negotiations with the
Governor were going “too slowly.” At this point, we continue to monitor the
Capitol for any developments on the transportation bill.
Learn more
at the status of Transit at the Capitol
You can read more about the transportation proposals and the
latest news coverage at the new “Transit at the Capitol” website. We’ll
update the website regularly, so you can stay up to date on the latest transit
news.
As you may recall from my previous newsletter, we are proposing a fare increase of $0.25 on local and express routes or $0.50 on local and express routes. However, we want to hear from you before we vote on this issues. Below is the schedule of public hearings near our district. I hope that you are able to come!
Public Hearing in Minneapolis on May 31 at noon at 300 Nicollet Mall Open House in Edina on June 8 at 6:30pm at 7001 York Avenue S. Open House in Minneapolis on June 13 at 6:00pm at 1315 Lowry Avenue North Public Hearing in St. Paul at 6:00pm at 390 N. Robert St
For a complete list of all open houses and public hearings, click here.
Water problems related to
water quality, water quantity, and wastewater infrastructure issues facing the
region today are often addressed as separate individual concerns and are not
tied to other urban planning issues associated with land use, transit
development, water infrastructure, and parks and green space. The Metropolitan
Council is interested in working with local governments to implement integrated
solutions directed at solving our region’s water-related problems in ways that
provide multiple benefits, maximize the extent of positive impacts, and are
technically sound.
An integrated approach to solving water-related
problems will mean thinking about all aspects of water when determining the
best solutions for the situation. This approach promotes the concept of a
community examining wastewater issues, stormwater issues, and water supply
issues together to determine the most efficient and cost effective way to
address the issues. Desired outcomes include:
- Protecting the quality and
quantity of the region’s water resources
- Prioritizing the need for
improved, aging infrastructure
- Protecting the economic
vitality of the region, cities, and neighborhoods
- Protecting natural ecosystems
and park systems
Examples of water-related problem solutions
include but are not limited to:
- Private property mitigation of
service lateral replacements and foundation drain and sump pump disconnections
that reduce inflow and infiltration to our wastewater infrastructure
- Water supply projects such as
low-flow plumbing fixture installations and irrigation management systems
to help stretch water supplies
- Installing low impact
development projects that reduce the volume of stormwater and/or improve
water quality
- Utilizing green infrastructure
to manage flooding, help to recharge our aquifers, and revitalize
neighborhoods
- Water reuse or other projects
that diversify and stretch our water resources while fostering climate
resilience
- Deploying advanced technologies
and projects that support multiple water benefits (such as fixing a
wastewater issue while addressing a surface water issue) while reinforcing
and improving decision-making on all levels
The Council has $1 million available
for the pilot grant program. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to
metropolitan area cities. The number of communities receiving a grant will
depend on the projects proposed. The Council may divide the funds among
mulitple projects or select a single project to receive the entire $1 million.
Grantees must be able to provide a 100% match
to the dollars requested for the program. Grantees must also be able to enter
an agreement with the Metropolitan Council, using standard Council contract
terms. Finally, the grantees must be able to identify and quantify at a
watershed level the water impacts and outcomes expected from the project.
APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN
JULY 17.
Projects awarded funding must be completed by
Dec. 31, 2019 (barring extenuating circumstances).
The Council will encourage all successful
applicants to include Metropolitan Council Underutilized Businesses in
grant-funded activities. The Council will require all grantees to report on the
results of these efforts. For more information about these businesses, visit
the Council's website, or contact the staff listed
below.
If you have any questions, please contact Judy
Sventek or call 651-602-1156.
On April 20, I attended Lake Street Council's (LSC) annual meeting. This annual meeting
brings together
business leaders and stakeholders from throughout the Lake Street corridor, and
gives out the 2017 Community Impact Awards. Congratulations to this year's
winners: New Horizon Academy, Daniel
Farias of Mi Boleto Travel and
La
Matraca, Miguel Zagal with Taqueria La
Hacienda, and Edris Kosar owner of Banadir
Pharmacy.
I also attended the 2017 Commuter Choice Awards on April 26th. I also attended the Standish Erickson Neighborhood Association
Annual Meeting where I was able to provide updates to several projects in the neighborhood.
I am looking forward to Bike to Work Day on May 19 and to the opening of the new Cedar Grove Station on the Red Line which will trim 10 minutes off the route.
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