04-9482r
RESOLUTION NO. 9482
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING LEGISLATION TO
PROVIDE IMPROVED FUNDING FOR 1-35W CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS
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WHEREAS, the counties of Dakota, Hennepin and Scott and the Cities of
Bloomington, Burnsville, Lakeville, Richfield and Minneapolis, formed The 1-35W Solutions
Alliance to improve transportation capacity in the 1-35W corridor; and
WHEREAS, 1-35W is a major corridor of commerce between Mexico and Canada
connecting the region and state to international markets; and
WHEREAS, 1-35W is an integral part of this international corridor of commerce; and
WHEREAS, 1-35W is a major mass transit corridor; and
WHEREAS, the 1-35W/494 interchange is the most congested transportation
bottleneck in the State of Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, this bottleneck severely and adversely affects the region and the
state's competitive position in the country and the world; and
WHEREAS, according to the Texas Transportation Institute study of 2000,
congestion increases the cost to individuals and businesses in the Twin Cities Metropolitan
Area by wasting an average of 79 gallons of fuel and 54 hours of time per peak road
traveler per year, and increased air and water pollution; and
WHEREAS, funding for improvement to the 1-35W corridor has been insufficient and
has not kept pace with growth of traffic and demand due to a lack of increased funding
since 1988; and
WHEREAS, transportation spending as a percentage of the state's gross domestic
product has declined over the past decade, transit is funded at 65% of similarly sized
regions, and planners estimate that at least $1 billion in improvements per year for the next
10 years is needed to keep congestion from increasing; and
WHEREAS, congestion is impediment to business development, growth,
employment and reduces the overall quality of life in the region and the state.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Richfield City Council that this
Council (1) respectfully requests that the legislature increase revenues through various
taxes of at least $1 billion per year for the next 10 years to build a balanced transportation
system in the metropolitan area and of additional amounts for the entire state; (2) that
immediate priority be given to full funding and completion of the 1-35W/Hy.62 Crosstown
interchange, reconstruction of the 1-35WII-494 interchange, reconstruction of 1-35W from
46th Street to downtown Minneapolis, improvements to Mn.Hy.13 from 1-35W to
Mn.Hy.169, and completion and operation of high speed bus service on 1-35W from
Lakeville to Minneapolis; and (3) that the county state aid highway formula be revised to
reflect the concentration of population in the urban areas.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Richfield, Minnesota this 2~nd day of
June, 2004. .... \ ( .. 0
m~:n~
Martin J. Kirb)Mayor
ATTEST:
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Nancy Gibbs, City Clerk