HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 222-19 - Resolution Approving Circulator Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA)
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Minnesota Statute 469.40 provided for the establishment of a Destination Medical
Center Development District (“District”) for the purpose of facilitating development of public infrastructure
projects that support the state and local objective of creating a destination medical center; and,
WHEREAS, Pursuant to statute, the Destination Medical Center Corporation adopted a DMC
Development Plan (“Plan”) on April 23, 2015 and the Rochester Common Council adopted the Plan on
March 23, 2015; and
WHEREAS, Action by the Rochester Common Council in City Resolution #133-15 adopting the
DMC Plan recognized the need to complete further study and refinement of the transportation strategies
and actions identified in the Plan in order to provide an in-depth assessment of options and fully evaluate
the details of the transportation solutions proposed in the Plan; to insure projects best serve the needs of
the City and the District and are the most cost effective solutions; and
WHEREAS, In furtherance of the goals of the DMC Development Plan, the Rochester Common
Council authorized funding for the Destination Medical Center Transportation & Infrastructure Program
Integrated Transit Studies (“Transit Studies”) for the purpose of providing a rigorous assessment of
alternatives for vehicular, transit, pedestrian, and bicycle travel at a level of detail needed to generate
confidence in the study’s findings, conclusions, and recommendations and support for the economic
development, sustainability and community livability goals of the DMC Development
Plan; and
WHEREAS, Rochester Common Council approved City Resolution #237-18 accepting the findings
and conclusions of the DMC Transportation & Infrastructure Program Integrated Transit Studies, providing
a planning framework for the transportation projects and programs needed to support the economic
development efforts of the Destination Medical Center Corporation (“DMCC”) and City of Rochester (“City)
towards creation of a Destination Medical Center; and
WHEREAS, The purpose of the Rochester Downtown Transit Circulator is to provide high
quality downtown public transportation service for residents, commuters, businesses, patients,
students, and visitors that will support the City of Rochester and DMC district transportation, economic
development, and livability goals and substantially increase public transportation use downtown; and,
WHEREAS, An alternatives analysis has been completed to analyze rapid transit (bus) and
streetcar alternatives connecting the Mayo West Lot with Saint Marys Hospital, downtown Rochester,
and Graham Park/ Seneca Foods site; and
WHEREAS The purpose of the alternatives analysis was to evaluate and recommend transit
service that enhances mobility and access to opportunities for residents, businesses, and visitors, and
to cultivate economic prosperity; and
WHEREAS, The technical analysis and public engagement have led to the identification of a
Locally Preferred Alternative that includes the definition of the mode, conceptual alignment, and
general station locations which can be refined through further station-area and transit-oriented
development planning as well as environmental and engineering efforts; and
WHEREAS, Rapid Transit on Broadway Avenue South best meets the project’s purpose and
need and would likely qualify for Federal Transit Administration Capital Investment Grant Program
funding; and
WHEREAS, The Destination Medical Center Corporation Board is considering Rapid Transit
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on Broadway Avenue as the Locally Preferred Alternative at their October 18, 2019 meeting; and
WHEREAS, The selected locally preferred alternative is further defined as rapid transit along
2nd Street Southwest and Broadway Avenue South within a business-access and transit lane for
approximately four miles connecting the Mayo West Lot with Saint Marys Hospital, downtown
Rochester, Discovery Square, and Graham Park/Seneca Foods site; and
WHEREAS, The next phase of the Circulator project will include further design and
environmental analysis under the federal and state environmental review processes; and
WHEREAS, The public will continue to be engaged throughout the environmental review
process and subsequent design, engineering and construction phases to ensure that the project is
reflective of the needs of the diverse communities within and visiting Rochester; and
WHEREAS, The City of Rochester and its project partners intend to pursue Federal Transit
Administration Capital Improvement Grant funds through the Small Starts Program; and
WHEREAS, The first phase of the Small Starts program is called Project Development, and to
enter Project Development the Federal Transit Administration requires that project sponsors provide
documentation of commitments of funds for the Project Development work; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, The Rochester City Council supports the selection of
Rapid Transit on Broadway Avenue South as the Downtown Circulator Locally Preferred Alternative;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, The Rochester City Council directs the City Clerk to send this
resolution to the Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments for consideration for inclusion of the
Downtown Rapid Transit as the Locally Preferred Alternative in the region’s long-range transportation
plan; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Council authorizes $3.872 million be allocated to
Downtown Rapid Transit Project Development in the form of engineering designs development and
environmental clearances in the 2020 Capital Improvement Program and $7.59 million in the 2021
Capital Improvement Program.
PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA, THIS __________ DAY OF _______________, 2019.
___________________________________
PRESIDENT OF SAID COMMON COUNCIL
ATTEST: __________________________
CITY CLERK
APPROVED THIS _____ DAY OF ______________________, 2019.
___________________________________
MAYOR OF SAID CITY