4.7. SR 06-15-1998?ity of
River
Item # 4.7.
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
Mayor and City Council
Scott Harlicker, Planning Assistant'
June 15, 1998
SUBJECT: Update Northstar Corridor Project
At the June 4th meeting of the Northstar Corridor Development Authority
there was a presentation by BRW regarding the Major Investment Study, an
update on federal legislation regarding funding and update on the Burlington
Northern feasibility study.
Maior Investment Study
BRW gave a presentation on what will be included in the Major Investment
Study (MIS). Discussion centered on the need for public involvement and how
that could best be accomplished. A series of 2 public meetings held at 3
locations will be included. The locations have yet to be determined. Likely
locations include one at the southern end of the corridor, one in the middle
and one at the northern end. A web site which could tie in with the web sites
of other cities and counties is proposed. A time schedule for the MIS through
December 1998 has been included.
A meeting has also been scheduled for Friday June 26th , 8:00 to 11:30, at the
Sherburne County Government Center for a City/County/Township planning
forum. This will be an opportunity for planners, engineers and interested
elected officials to be brought up to speed regarding the Northstar Corridor
Project. At this meeting there will be a discussion regarding potential station
locations. It is expected that a list of possible station locations will be
generated at this meeting.
Funding
Federal legislation has been approved authorizing funding for the Northstar
Corridor. The next step is for the Federal Transit Authority to appropriate
funding. The Northstar Corridor is one of approximately 170 projects seeking
funding. The Corridor was authorized for funding in two locations. Funding
was authorized as a separate project and was also included as part of the
Twin City Transitway which also includes the Hiawatha Light Rail Corridor.
13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425
Memo to Mayor and City Council
June 15, 1998
Page 2
Burlington Northern Study
Burlington Northern has been very responsive and cooperative regarding
commuter use of it tracks. BRW will be working with Burlington Northern on
the dual use feasibility study using a model provided by Burlington
Northern. The Northstar Corridor is one of two corridors on which Burlington
Northern decided to concentrate their efforts.
On a final note, the City of Rice requested membership in the Northstar
Corridor Development Authority. Their request was approved and Rice has
become the northern most member on the authority.
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Northstar Corridor Project Work Task
Monthly Deliverables Schedule
Month Work Task Deliverable
June 1998 1. Project Understanding 1. Report on Project Understanding of the
~ MiS
2. Review Studies 2. TechnicaJ Memorandum of Review
Activities of Existing and Ongoing Studies
"~ ~ and Plans
('37jPublic Involvement 3. NCDA and
PMT
Meetings,
City/County/
Township Planning Forum, and
Newsletter/Flyer
4. Purpose and Need 4. Draft Problem Statement/Purpose and
Need
5. Evaluation Criteria 5. Draft Evaluation Criteria & Measures of
Effectiveness
7a. Engineering/Costs 7a. Review of Dispatch Planning Model
(DPM), Civil Facilities, Stations,
Maintenance, Systems Engineering, Fare
Collection, and Signals/Communications
7b. Ops Planning 7b. Development of Preliminary Operating
Plans
7c. Ridership 7c. Determine Existing Travel Behavior end
Complete License Plate Survey
July 1998 3. Public Involvement 3. PMT Meeting
4. Purpose and Need 4. Final Problem Statement/Purpose and
Need
5. Evaluation Criteda 5. Final Evaluation Criteria & Measures of
Effectiveness
6. ID Multimodal Airs 6. Draft Fatal Flaw Analysis
7a. Engineering/Costs 7a. Detailed Capital Costs for All Alternatives
7b. Ops Planning 7b. Refinement of O & M Cost Estimates
7c. Ridership 7c. Prepare Forecasting Procedures
7d. Environmental 7d. Begin Analysis of Economic &
Environmental Factors
August 1998 3, Public Involvement 3. PMT Meeting and Workshop
6. ID Mulfimodal Alts 6. Final Fatal Flaw Analysis
7b. Ops Planning 7b. Draft O & M Cost Estimates
7c. Ridership 7¢, Prepare Future Year Forecasts
7d. Environmental 7d. Draft Technical Memo on Econ. &
Environ. Factors
Cantinued
Month Work Task Deliverable
September 1998 3. Public Involvement 3. NCDA and PMT Meetings and
Newsletter/Flyer
6. ID Multimodal Airs 6. Conceptual Definition of Alternatives
7b. Ops Planning 7b. Final O & M Cost Estimates
?c, Ridership 7c. Documentation of Forecasting and Final
Forecasts
7d. Environmental 7d. Final Technical Memo on Econ. &
Environ. Factors
7e. Financial Analysis 7e. Begin Financial Analysis with Capital and
O & M Costs
October 1998 7a. Engineering/Costs 7a. Refinement of Capital Costs based on
Financial Analysis
713. Ops Planning 7b. Refinement of O & M Costs based on
Financial Analysis
7e. Financial Analysis 7e. Draft Financial Analysis
November 1998 3. Public Involvement 3. PMT Meeting and Workshop
7e. Financial Analysis 7e. Final Financial Analysis
December 1998 3. Public Involvement 3. NCDA and PMT Meetings, Workshop
and Newsletter/Flyer
7. Commuter Rail 7. Commuter Rail Feasibility Report
Analysis