HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-023ARZEN HILLS
CITY OF ARDEN HILLS
COUNTY OF RAMSEY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION NO. 2011-023
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE REGIONAL COUNCIL OF MAYORS'
RESOLUTION ON TRANSPORTATION FUNDING
WHEREAS, our present levels of congestion and our unsafe roads hinder our
economic prosperity, erode our quality of life, and complicate numerous aspects of livin g and
doing business in Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, one million additional people are expected to move to the MSP
metropolitan region in the next two decades, further exacerbating our already unacceptable
traffic congestion; and
WHEREAS, solving our region's transportation problem is a complex and long -term
challenge that will require various strategies; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota needs to adequately and strategically expand both its transit
and road systems with predictable, adequate, and long -term sources of funding; and
WHEREAS, transportation funding must prioritize public transit within a
comprehensive, multi - modal, interconnected transportation system that serves the 11 county
metro area; and that our planned light rail and commuter rail lines, along with expanded bus
service, both regular route and BRT, must be expanded to support the population and
businesses in our fast - growing region; and
WHEREAS, courageous and visionary legislative leadership is vital to forging a
sustainable, long -term transportation plan for our state and region.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that as elected leaders representing the
City of Arden Hills, we hereby declare our belief that transportation has become one of the
most vexing problems facing our communities and state. We call upon the leaders in the
legislature to create a long -term solution to our transportation needs and, in the short -term, in
order to keep our metropolitan area economy vital and flourishing, we call upon the
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legislature to exercise good judgment and provide adequate funding for Metro Transit as well
as all suburban transit providers, namely Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA),
SouthWest Transit, Plymouth Metrolink, Maple Grove Transit, Prior Lakes Laker Line,
DARTS and Shakopee Transit, so as not to adversely affect the ability of all our transit
providers, whether urban or suburban, to move workers, students, and thousands of other
residents who use those services on a daily basis to get to their jobs, to school, or otherwise
engage in important economic activity that benefits the region and the State of Minnesota; to
not halt or otherwise defer or delay progress on transit projects, including the Central
Corridor and the Southwest LRT; to do nothing legislatively that will impede planning for
other rail and bus rapid transit projects presently underway; to be mindful that adequately
funding our existing transportation system and having the foresight to continue the
commitment to both plan and build out our future transit system is critical to the well being
of our state and we urge the legislature to provide the kind of leadership and stewardship
necessary to accomplish those goals.
ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARDEN HILLS
THIS 9TH DAY OF MAY, 2011.
Patrick Klaers, CITY ADMINISTRATOR
David Grant, MAYOR
Regional
�. Council of
a,
Regional Council of Mayors
Resolution on Transportation Funding
Whereas, the Regional Council of Mayors ("RCM"), is composed of the mayors of
Minneapolis, St. Paul and approximately 45 municipalities in the developed and developing
suburbs. The collaborative partnership provides a non-partisan platform focused on building
action strategies to raise overall economic competitiveness, accelerate innovation and
improve the quality of life in the MSP region; and
Whereas, our present levels of congestion and our unsafe roads hinder our economic
prosperity, erode our quality of life, and complicate numerous aspects of living and doing
business in Minnesota; and
Whereas, one million additional people are expected to move to the MSP metropolitan region
in the next two decades, further exacerbating our already unacceptable traffic congestion;
and
Whereas, solving our region's transportation problem is a complex and long-term challenge
that will require various strategies; and
Whereas, Minnesota needs to adequately and strategically expand both its transit and road
systems with predictable, adequate, and long-term sources of funding; and
Whereas, transportation funding must prioritize public transit within a comprehensive, multi-
modal, interconnected transportation system that serves the 11-county metro area; and that
our planned light rail and commuter rail lines, along with expanded bus service, both regular
route and BRT, must be expanded to support the population and businesses in our fast-
growing region; and
Whereas, courageous and visionary legislative leadership is vital to forging a sustainable,
long-term transportation plan for our state and region.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that as elected leaders representing cities in
Minnesota's fast-growing 11-county metropolitan region, we hereby declare our belief that
transportation has become one of the most vexing problems facing our communities and
state. We call upon the leaders in the legislature to create a long-term solution to our
transportation needs and, in the short-term, in order to keep our metropolitan area economy
vital and flourishing, we call upon the legislature to exercise good judgment and provide
adequate funding for Metro Transit as well as all suburban transit providers, namely
Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA), SouthWest Transit, Plymouth Metrolink, Maple
4.26.05
rI Relgional
aa
nil of
Regional Council of Mayors yr
Resolution on Transportation Funding
Grove Transit, Prior Lakes Laker Line, DARTS and Shakopee Transit, so as not to adversely
affect the ability of all of our transit providers, whether urban or suburban, to move workers,
students and the thousands of other residents who use those services on a daily basis to get
to their jobs, to school or otherwise engage in important economic activity that benefits the
region and the State of Minnesota; to not halt or otherwise defer or delay progress on transit
projects, including the Central Corridor and the Southwest LRT; to do nothing legislatively
that will impede planning for other rail and bus rapid transit projects presently underway; to
be mindful that adequately funding our existing transportation system and having the
foresight to continue the commitment to both plan and build out our future transit system is
critical to the well being of our state and we urge the legislature to provide the kind of
leadership and stewardship necessary to accomplish those goals.
baoi(d Oralil X,6-& �( / l°
Name of Mayor (Print) Name of City
ial I
Signature
4.26.05