6.4. SR 01-05-09~/
Elk REQUEST FOR ACTION
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River
To Item Number
Ci Council 6.4.
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
Administration Janua 5, 2009 Lori ohnson, Ci Administrator
Item Description Reviewed by
A Resolution Requesting Federal and State Funding for Trunk
Highways 10 and 169 Improvements Reviewed by
Action Requested
Adopt the resolution requesting federal and state funding for Trunk Highways 10 and 169 improvements.
Background/Discussion
As the resolution states, the City is in need of federal and state funding to make necessary unprovements
to Trunk Highway 10 and Trunk Highway 169. The City has spent $1,500,000 of its own funds to pay
for engineering to design the improvements. The cost of making these improvements far exceeds the
City's ability to pay making state and federal funding mandatory if these improvements are to be
completed. Even though these are major corridors within Minnesota that serve the tourist areas to our
North and daily commuters who travel to the metro area, the Minnesota Department of Transportation
does not have funding programmed for these projects in MnDOT's 20 year plan.
This resolution will be sent to Minnesota Senators and Representatives in Washington, D.C. to again
make them aware of the City's urgent need fox transportation funding. It is important that we continue
to keep this request in front of our legislators, especially with the possibility of a federal stimulus plan that
includes funding for highway improvements.
Attachments
• Resolution requesting federal and state funding for Trunk Highways 10 and 169 improvements
Action Motion by Second by Vote
Follow Up
S:\Council\I,ori\2009\Transportadon fixnding resolurion.doc
RESOLUTION 09-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ELK RIVER
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING FOR
TRUNK HIGHWAYS 10 AND 169 IMPROVEMENTS
WHEREAS, The City of Elk River has two major four lane trunk highways that intersect
within its borders, those being Trunk Highways 10 and 169, that serve both as key
commuter corridors from the Northwest suburban areas to Minneapolis and St. Paul and as
primary routes to northern Minnesota and its tourist areas; and
WHEREAS, The City of Elk River has experienced significant traffic congestion caused
by pass-through traffic that hinders the ability of its residents to travel through the City and
which also significantly delays the ability of workers to get to their jobs and tourists to travel
to their vacation destinations; and
WHEREAS, recent projections prepared by the Minnesota Department of Transportation
indicate that the expected continued growth throughout the area will exacerbate the traffic
congestion problems, soon limiting traffic speeds throughout the downtown area to under
15 miles per hour; and
WHEREAS, These trunk highways are used by tens of thousands of non-residents on a
daily basis; and
WHEREAS, The City of Elk River has received no funding from the State of Minnesota
for these projects and the projects are not currently included in the State of Minnesota's 30
year transportation plan; and
WHEREAS, The City of Elk River has spent $1,500,000 of its own money to fund
engineering studies to design these highways to allow the City to continue to develop the
property abutting and surrounding the roadways in a way that fits with the ultimate road
design, such studies are now in the process of being submitted to the State for final review;
and
WHEREAS, The cost of these improvements is estimated at $750,000,000, which far
exceeds the funding ability of a City of 25,000 in population and which likely exceeds the
funding ability of the State of Minnesota without significant contribution by the Federal
government; and
WHEREAS, from various news reports, it is believed that the Federal government may be
making substantial funds available in the near future for highway infrastructure purposes;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Elk River requests that
Federal and State funds be allocated to make immediate improvements to Trunk Highways
10 and 169 for the safety and benefit of all who use them.
Passed and adopted this 5`'' day of January, 2009
Stephanie Klinzing, Mayor
ATTEST:
Tina Allard, City Clerk