Laserfiche WebLink
`re 4arks aqd� <br /> b <br /> o ' <br /> N <br /> N <br /> C <br /> "A <br /> St. Paul and <br /> Ramsey Coun ' Whereas, over 50% of Minnesota's railroad grades have been abandoned(over 5000 miles) in <br /> the last sixty years and another 800 to 1000 miles of railroad grades are projected to be <br /> 1621 Beechwood Ave. abandoned in the next decade, and <br /> St.Paul, MN 55ll6 <br /> 698-4543 <br /> Whereas,Minnesota's railroad grades have maximum value for transportation and recreation <br /> President purposes and the potential to host communication lines only so long as they are intact, <br /> Neil Franey and <br /> Vice Presidents <br /> Mark M.Nolan Marsha Soucheray Whereas, the public cost of acquisition is increased once grades have been sold off in small <br /> Treasurer parcels, and <br /> Jeanne Weigum <br /> Directors Whereas, abandoned railroad grades often provide the only feasible route for new trail <br /> James R. Bricher development particularly in highly urbanized areas, and <br /> Perry R. Bolin <br /> Thomas T.Dwight <br /> Bernard Edmonds Whereas,these grades often contain remnant prairie species and provide significant wildlife <br /> William Frank habitat,and <br /> Otis H. Godfrey,Jr. <br /> Milton Krona Whereas, abandonments are often unpredictable and time for public acquisition can be <br /> David Lilly <br /> MarilynnLundberg relatively short, and <br /> u <br /> Paul Mandell <br /> WBert Nethercut Whereas,engineering of railroad grades meets the needs of walkers, bicyclists and others with <br /> n O'Brien their gentle grades and turns and separation from automobile traffic, and <br /> tviarj Prokop <br /> Vice President Emeritus <br /> Samuel H.Morgan Whereas, substantial public interest exists in preserving these grades for public use. <br /> Ex Officio <br /> Dennis Asmussen <br /> John caroon NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the forward the <br /> Greg Mack following recommendations to the State Legislative: <br /> Robert Piram <br /> Executive Director <br /> and Secretary 1.That all abandoned railroad grades be expediently preserved until such time that the <br /> Peggy Lynch future public use can be determined <br /> 2. That a fund be established for the preservation of abandoned rail corridors if public <br /> use is deemed desirable. <br /> 3. An interagency panel of state agencies and local units of government be established <br /> to decide interim and ultimate use of abandoned rail corridors and to assist with conflict <br /> resolution if needed. <br /> • <br />