HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 246-20 - Reaffirming Commitment to Federal Transit Authority Small Starts Application
RESOLUTION
Reaffirming Commitment to Federal Transit Authority Small Starts Application.
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 and
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, an alternatives analysis was completed 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 Destination Medical Center Corporation considered the route alignment
and mode for the Downtown Rochester Rapid Transit Project (“the Project”) and adopted
a locally preferred alternative (“Locally Preferred Alternative”) for route and alignment
(2nd Street and Broadway) and mode (bus rapid transit, or “BRT”), on October 18, 2019;
and
WHEREAS, the Rochester Common Council subsequently approved City Resolution No.
245-19 adopting the Locally Preferred Alternative on November 18, 2019, and submitted
a request to the Federal Transit Administration (“the FTA”) to enter the Project
Development phase as part of the FTA Capital Investment Grant Program; and
WHEREAS, the Project was granted entry into the Federal Transit Administration Project
Development phase On February 10, 2020; and
WHEREAS, on May 4, 2020, the Rochester Common Council approved a phased
nd
implementation strategy for the Project consisting of BRT on 2 Street from the Mayo
West Lot to downtown Rochester; and
WHEREAS, on May 22, 2020, the Destination Medical Center Corporation approved the
revised LPA with a phased implementation and initiated a boundary modification process
to adjust the DMC Development District to include the route and transit village location
for Phase 1 of the Project; and
WHEREAS, the current phase of the Project includes 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 Downtown Rapid Transit Project, and Rochester Public Transit (RPT),
annual operations and maintenance costs will be funded through fare revenue, the
general fund, state, and federal funding sources at current levels and; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, The Rochester City Council directs staff to
submit a Small Starts Application for funding of the Downtown Rapid Transit Locally
Preferred Alternative, to the FTA Small Starts Program, subject to approval by the
Destination Medical Center Corporation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, The Rochester city Council approves the New Rapid
Transit for a Growing, Equitable Rochester a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)
Planning Study as a guiding document on land use and economic development for the
Downtown Rapid Transit corridor; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, The submission of a Small Starts Application is contingent
on a similar approval by the DMC Corporate Board; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, The City will begin contributing operating funds in 2023
and continue in perpetuity to fund the balance of any annual shortfall.
PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA, THIS __________ DAY OF _______________, 2020.
___________________________________
PRESIDENT OF SAID COMMON COUNCIL
ATTEST: __________________________
CITY CLERK
APPROVED THIS _____ DAY OF ______________________, 2020.
___________________________________
MAYOR OF SAID CITY
(Seal of the City of
Rochester, Minnesota)