February Board Meeting Features SW Corridor Transit
Study
By Bob Corrick
Residents are encouraged to attend the next CIDNA Board meeting to hear Katie
Walker, transit analyst from the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority
(HCRRA), present an update regarding the pending Southwest Corridor Transit
Study. The meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 4 at the Jones
Harrison Residence.
The HCRRA is conducting a rail transit study between Minneapolis and Eden Prairie.
The purpose of this study, which is expected to be complete in 2003, is the
following:
Define and evaluate rail transit technology and alignment alternatives
Estimate ridership and costs (capital and operating)
Identify potential environmental, economic, and social impacts
Identify station locations & transit-oriented development opportunities
Involve the public, elected officials, and agencies to solicit their input throughout
the study process
Recommend a rail transit technology & alignment for further study
*
Possible transit technologies include Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) and Light Rail
Transit (LRT). Two alignments through CIDNA are being seriously considered:
the Kenilworth Trail and the 29th Street Midtown Greenway.
CIDNA has not yet taken a position regarding the current study.
The Southwest Transitway Corridor is loosely defined as the property owned by
the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA) from downtown Minneapolis
to Eden Prairie via St. Louis Park, Hopkins, and Minnetonka. In the early 1990s,
the Canadian Pacific (CP) Rail Company decided to abandon the northern portion,
but retain ownership of the southern portion of their rail line between Minneapolis
and Eden Prairie. The HCRRA acquired the abandoned portion in order to preserve
it for a future transit use. In 1999, the HCRRA entered into an agreement with
Suburban Hennepin Parks to allow them to construct a bicycle/pedestrian trail
within the Southwest Corridor. The long-term vision for the Southwest Corridor
is a multi-modal (transit and trail) corridor. Source: Hennepin County Regional
Railroad Authority SW Corridor Transit Study website.
CIDNA could pass resolutions pertaining to alignment, technology, transit stops,
landscape improvements, railroad grade, and mitigation measures. In 1987, after
significant deliberation, in response to a previous transit study from Hopkins
to Minneapolis, CIDNA passed a resolution opposing rail transit in the corridors,
favoring the Greenway over the Kenilworth alignment if necessary.
For more information about the Southwest Corridor Transit Study, or to communicate
comments and opinions, you are encouraged to contact:
the HCRRA: HOTLINE: (612) 373-6875,
Website: http://www.co.hennepin.mn.us/tcw/welcome.html,
Email:[email protected]
In addition, you may send comments to Kathy Hendricks, President of the CIDNA
Board of Directors, at [email protected]
For more information, see a previous
article from this site, which also includes a map.