2013-06-25_PWETC_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

DRAFT Regular City Council Meeting Monday, June 17, 2013 Page 13 1 Metro Transit/Rapid Transit Process /Central Corridor Re- routing of Bus Routes 2 Vice Chair Stenlund reviewed discussions by the PWETC with Metro Transit and 3 their attempts to create a less auto - centric and more community- centric transpor- 4 tation system; with the PWETC's desire to ensure all modes of travel were evalu- 5 ated and /or re- evaluated. 6 7 Councilmember Laliberte shared her perspective in her attendance at a recent 8 planning meeting for rapid bus transit down Snelling Avenue, with additional 9 community discussions, including when it reached Roseville, probably in con - 10 junction with the City of Falcon Heights, since they shared some bus stops. 11 12 Responding to Mayor Roe's comment that the route currently stopped at 13 Rosedale, Councilmember Laliberte advised that she had pushed the discussion to 14 question why the route didn't proceed up to Northwestern and Bethel Universi- 15 ties. Councilmember Laliberte advised that rationale of Metro Transit was that 16 there had not been sufficient ridership in the past to support extending that route; 17 however, they reluctantly agreed that they would review it again and if so indicat- 18 ed, could make changes based on future ridership. Councilmember Laliberte 19 noted that Metro Transit seemed quite set in the route ending at Rosedale at this 20 time; however, she noted that their focus was based on the need to renegotiate 21 their transit station lease with Rosedale. Councilmember Laliberte advised that 22 Metro Transit had received significant input from the communities along that 23 route relative to the design of stations, curbing, stops, etc. 24 25 Mayor Roe opined that the City of Roseville, as a community, needed to continue 26 advocating other transit modes for the Rice Street corridor, along with other adja- 27 cent communities. Mayor Roe noted that it was typical that transit opportunities 28 in Roseville focused on Rosedale; however, he noted that there were a growing 29 number of people passing through Roseville to access both downtown St. Paul 30 and Minneapolis that created significant congestion on Roseville streets. Mayor 31 Roe stated that this needed to be considered to address the quality of life in Rose - 32 ville for its residents. 33 34 Councilmember McGehee opined that, southbound Rice Street seemed to have a 35 lot of activity toward University Avenue to connect with the light rail system; and 36 suggested Snelling Avenue and Rice Streets would be realistic north/south rapid 37 transit bus routes. 38 39 Councilmember Laliberte responded that it may be part of Metro Transit's long - 40 term plans. 41 42 Mayor Roe concurred with that point; as well as supporting continued advocacy 43 for the NE Diagonal. oa