Press Release: Routing Alternatives Being Considered for the Southwest Transitway
A number of routing alternatives for the Southwest Transitway are being
considered. The routing alternatives are the result of meetings with the
Southwest Technical Advisory Committee (a committee primarily composed of
staff from the affected cities which was assembled to guide the study),
discussions with local elected officials, and comments received from the
general public through community meetings and the Southwest Corridor
website.
The enclosed map illustrates the routing alternatives currently under consideration. The routing alternatives include four options on the east end into downtown Minneapolis and eight options on the west end into Minnetonka and Eden Prairie. The east end options include both light rail transit (LRT) and diesel multiple unit (DMU). The LRT routing options include TH 100 to the Cedar Lakes Corridor, the Kenilworth Corridor, and Lyndale Avenue. The DMU routing options include the Canadian Pacific (CP) rail line through St. Louis Park and the Kenilworth Corridor. The west end options also include both LRT and DMU. The LRT options include the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA) property terminating at either TH 62 or TH 312. The LRT options also include the following options terminating at the Southwest Metro Transit Station, TH 169 to TH 212, Shady Oak Road, I-494, and Baker Road. The DMU options include use of the existing rail line to TH 62 or Dell Road.
These routing alternatives will be evaluated in a two-step process based upon
their potential transportation, economic, environmental, and social impacts.
The first step in the evaluation process will use broad-based evaluation criteria
to determine which routing options should be carried forward and undergo a more
detailed analysis during step two. The proposed criteria for the first step
in the evaluation process include the following:
Transportation
? Traffic impacts - loss of traffic capacity, change in access
? Parking impacts - loss of parking
? Transit connectivity - connectivity to other rail transit lines
? Travel Time - rail transit travel time
? Potential ridership - the number of potential users
? Service area - service to concentrations of population and employment
Economic
? Relative capital cost - the relative cost of building the system
? Operating and maintenance cost - the cost to operate and maintain the rail
line
? Right-of-way cost - the cost to acquire and/or lease right-of-wayEnvironmental
? Wetlands - wetlands within 100 feet of the alignment
? Floodplains - floodplains within100 feet of the alignment
? Parks - parks within100 feet of the alignment
? Proximity - number of existing properties adjacent to the routing alternative
Social - to be considered in step two of the evaluation process. It is anticipated
that step one of the evaluation process will be completed
in the next month. Step two of the evaluation process should be completed early
in 2003.
Comments regarding the Southwest Rail Transit Study should be
sent to:
[email protected] or
Southwest Corridor, Hennepin County Transit,
417 North 5th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401.
For more information regarding the Southwest Rail Transit Study, please contact
Katie Walker at 612.348-2190.