Item Description:
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Neg agmts PR00005525 with the City of Eden Prairie, 08/22/23-12/31/26, NTE $200,000, PR00005526 with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, 08/22/23-12/31/26, NTE $200,000; incr funding and budget authority for SWLRT project by $1,672,995
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that consistent with the Southwest LRT Community Works Investment Framework, the County Administrator be authorized to negotiate Grant Agreements PR00005525 with the City of Eden Prairie, or affiliated entity, for the Golden Triangle Area Station Connection Trail, with the not to exceed amount of $200,000 and PR00005526 with Minnehaha Creek Watershed District for the Blake Road Station Area Cedar Trail Connection, with the not to exceed amount of $200,000 (Southwest LRT Community Works - CP 0031805), during the period August 22, 2023 through December 31, 2026; that following review and approval by the County Attorney’s Office, the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign the agreements on behalf of the county; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that funding and budget authority for the Southwest LRT Community Works project - CP 0031805 be adjusted from $11,173,999 to $12,846,994 to accurately reflect $1,106,530 in revenue received from Three Rivers Park District and $566,465 in revenue received from Calhoun Development LLC for a combined total of $1,672,995 in revenue received, and that the Controller be authorized to accept and disburse funds as directed.end
Background:
In 1993, Hennepin County launched Community Works, an innovative, place-based, cross-jurisdictional program that addresses areas with declining tax bases through coordinated public investments in corridor-scale infrastructure, natural systems, and redevelopment. Today, Community Works is a nationally recognized approach to community redevelopment, one with a track record of stimulating development, providing access to employment, building the long-term value of communities, and improving existing implementation systems.
Community Works program principles in were originally adopted in 1994 (Resolution 94-9-775):
1. Enhance the tax base
2. Stimulate employment development
3. Strengthen communities through connections
4. Maintain and improve natural systems
5. Build bridges for effective planning and implementation
Updated program goals were adopted in 2014 (Resolution 14-0397):
1. Enhance the tax base
2. Stimulate economic development and job growth
3. Strengthen and connect places and people
4. Innovate and advance sustainability
5. Lead collaborative planning and implementation
As part of the competitive request for proposals process conducted for the Transit Oriented Development Program in spring 2023, applications were accepted for concurrent consideration of funding from the Bottineau, Penn, and Southwest Community Works Programs. This allowed a more streamlined process to consider projects and an opportunity to invest the respective program dollars more strategically.
Southwest Community Works
The Southwest Light Rail Transit Community Works project was established to provide an organizational structure and process for coordinating light rail transit (LRT) engineering and a land use plan (Resolution 09-0596). In 2010, the County Board directed staff to begin project implementation to maximize the opportunities to enhance the public benefits of transit investments through strategic, coordinated public and private investments “beyond the rails” that will support economic development, creation of accessible jobs and housing, more efficient use of land, and creation of healthy, safe, and walkable neighborhoods served by public transit (Resolution 10-0303R1).
The current action increases the authorized funding and budget authority of the Southwest Community Works project (CP 0031805) to recognize the total combined revenue amount of $1,672,995 received. This correction eliminates the need to request additional funding for CP 0031805 in 2024, as described below:
• Resolution 16-0428 authorized two agreements for construction of three trail grade-separations along the METRO Green Line Extension/Southwest Light Rail Transit corridor. Subordinate Funding Agreement A154416 authorized payment of up to $2,605,000 to the Metropolitan Council for construction of the trail grade-separations, and Agreement 154100 authorized the receivable amount up to $1,106,530 from Three Rivers Park District as contribution toward construction. In accordance with these agreements, $2,605,000 has been paid to Metropolitan Council and $1,106,530 in revenue has been received from Three Rivers Park District.
• Similarly, Resolutions 17-0514 and 18-0512 authorized Subordinate Funding Agreements A177958 and A189347 providing payment up to a combined total of $579,000 to the Metropolitan Council for the realignment of 31st Street adjacent to the West Lake Green Line Extension LRT Station in Minneapolis. Agreement A178359 with Calhoun Development LLC authorized the receipt of up to $579,000 as payment-in-full of all costs incurred for the 31st Street realignment. The full cost of $566,465 has been paid to Metropolitan Council, and $566,465 has been received from Calhoun Development.
Agreement PR00005525 with the City of Eden Prairie will provide funding for a multi-use trail in the Eden Prairie Golden Triangle LRT Station area. The proposed trail segment will run from the Golden Triangle LRT Station south one half-mile to Valley View Road, connecting to an existing trail network serving commuters and businesses located in the southern Golden Triangle Area Business Park with over 9,000 jobs. The trail connection improves access to employment opportunities in the Golden Triangle station area and is likely to increase ridership.
Agreement PR00005526 with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District will contribute funds for a bicycle and pedestrian connection under the freight rail, light rail, and regional trail bridges between the Minnehaha Creek Preserve and the Cedar Lake Regional Trail, which connects to the Blake Road LRT Station. The proposed trail closes a gap in the Minnehaha Creek Greenway system and improves access to and from the light rail station at Blake Road.
These funding awards are consistent with the Southwest LRT Community Works Investment Framework and opening day improvements identified in the Transitional Station Area Access Plan (TSAAP), as well as previous Southwest Community Works project funding of trail grade separations in Hopkins and St. Louis Park (A154416), and the closing of a trail gap along Flying Cloud Drive in Eden Prairie (A15972).
Consistent with the Southwest LRT Community Works Investment Framework and existing Cooperative Agreements in place with cities along the corridor through 2025, remaining Southwest Community Works (CP 0031805) budget authority (approximately $1,068,451) would be made available to cities in 2024 and 2025 for first and last mile connections or other high priority projects on a competitive basis in coordination with the Transit Oriented Development program.
Current Request: Negotiate Grant Agreements PR00005525 with the City of Eden Prairie with a not to exceed amount of $200,000; and PR00005526 with Minnehaha Creek Watershed District with a not to exceed amount of $200,000, during the period of August 22, 2023 through December 31, 2026, and increase the funding and budget authority of CP 0031805 by $1,672,995.
Impact/Outcomes: The Golden Triangle Area Station and Blake Road Station Area trail connection projects will connect transit riders to major job and employment destinations and to a larger bicycle and pedestrian network.
Budget table: CP 0031805 Southwest Community Works
|
Revenues: |
Budget to date |
Current Action |
Total project |
|
Bonds - GO |
9,250,000 |
|
9,250,000 |
|
Federal - Other |
825,000 |
|
825,000 |
|
Other |
1,098,999 |
|
1,098,999 |
|
Three Rivers Park District |
|
1,106,530 |
1,106,530 |
|
Calhoun Development LLC |
|
566,465 |
566,465 |
|
TOTAL: |
11,173,999 |
1,672,995 |
12,846,994 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenditures:3 |
Budget to date |
Current Action |
Total project |
|
Land |
400,000 |
|
400,000 |
|
Construction |
7,148,999 |
1,672,9954 |
8,821,994 |
|
Consulting |
2,375,000 |
|
2,375,000 |
|
Other costs |
750,000 |
|
750,000 |
|
Contingency |
500,000 |
|
500,000 |
|
TOTAL: |
11,173,999 |
1,672,995 |
12,846,994 |
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval