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City of Gem Lake City Council meeting minutes July 21, 2020 Page 2 Rush Line Discussion The council moved on to discuss the request by the BRT Rush Line organization to provide a resolution to approve the 15% plan for the proposed bus line project. A motion was introduced by Councilmember Lindner, seconded by Councilmember Kuny so the matter could be considered. A lengthy discussion ensued. Council members expressed numerous concerns with the project including the following: •All four councilmembers expressed their support of mass transit, but felt this solution fell short of addressing the obvious problems with traffic congestion north of White Bear Lake into such areas as Forest Lake, Hugo and even farther north to Wyoming and Stacy. Original concepts for light rail often included these areas; •State of Minnesota is in a budget deficit situation – at the same time, work patterns have changed – employers have gone virtual and numerous employees are now working from home – some of this will not return to “normal”. This could make the need for a bus line less pressing, perhaps the project should be put on hold and re-evaluated; •Disappointment was expressed as to how the project parameters have changed so much since the inception of planning, first to Forest Lake with a fully dedicated lane and pedestrian bridges –to the current route, which is 14 miles shorter, and basically the same price tag; •Concern that the price tag involved in a bus line would negate the possibility of eventual light rail; •Traffic congestion produced with up to 80 buses per day going in and out of downtown White Bear; •Parking problems, especially around Hoffman’s Corner; •The location of the end of the line station – given its proximity to the eventual mega school being built next door; •The lack of real service to Gem Lake residents. Only two homes are within walking distance of a station; •Major safety concerns with County Road E and Cedar street stations, given that crossing of Highway 61would likely occur; •The need for feeder lines to make the bus project effective, especially at County Road E; •Other bus routes in the area were very lightly used during a test evaluation by council members last summer – two buses in the a.m. and two in the p.m. were monitored for two days – each bus only had a handful of riders; •Park and Ride to Maplewood exists and was well used, as was the Park and Ride at Walmart (pre-pandemic); •Major skeptism that buses would be utilized or needed 19 hours per day. The public was asked to provide feedback. Fourteen out of fourteen who spoke up were against the project. The most common reasons were concerns that ridership would simply not exist, traffic congestion into White Bear Lake and major skeptism as to whether this was the wisest use of public funds at this time, given changing work habits. The council voted unanimously against the motion. Addendum Contract for Arbitrate Monitoring Service