Item Description:
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Approval of the physical design component of the preliminary design plans for the METRO Blue Line Extension Light Rail Transit Project
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WHEREAS:
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WHEREAS, on July 26th, 2024, Hennepin County received the preliminary design plans for the METRO Blue Line Extension Light Rail Project from the Metropolitan Council; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota Statutes Section 473.3994 requires that each statutory and home rule charter city, county, and town in which a light rail transit route is proposed to be located shall hold a public hearing on the physical design component of the preliminary design as submitted by the Metropolitan Council, which hearing was held by Hennepin County on August 26, 2024; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota Statutes Section 473.3994 also requires that each statutory and home rule charter city, county, and town in which a light rail transit route is proposed to be located shall review and approve or disapprove the plans for the route to be located in the city, county, or town based on the physical design component of the preliminary design plans; and
WHEREAS, the municipal approval requirement set forth in Minnesota Statutes Section 473.3994 is based only on early review and input from local governments in the preliminary phases of the project, recognizing that the project will continue to progress into detailed design and that final decisions will then need to be made by the Metropolitan Council at a later date and after completion of necessary environmental review;
Resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED, that after review of the physical design component of the preliminary design plans submitted by the Metropolitan Council on July 26th, and within the context required by Minnesota Statutes Section 473.3994 at this preliminary stage, Hennepin County approves the physical design component of the preliminary design plans.
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Background:
Minnesota Statutes Section 473.3994 provides a mechanism for local governments, including counties, to provide early input on the physical design component of preliminary design plans for light rail projects. The statute requires a public hearing and then action by each local government along the route. If a local government has not acted within 45 days after the public hearing, that government is deemed by statute to have given approval.
The Metropolitan Council, Hennepin County and the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority held a joint public hearing on August 26th, 2024, for the physical design component of the preliminary design plans for the METRO Blue Line Extension Light Rail Transit Project (1005877 - HC TSUT Bottineau LRT Capital).
This resolution would provide Hennepin County’s approval of the physical design component of these preliminary design plans, pursuant to Section 473.3994.
Impact/Outcomes: This action supports the county’s disparity reduction efforts by investing in transportation infrastructure that reduces climate impacts and gives people transportation choices to access housing, jobs, schools, medical facilities, and recreational areas.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval