12-08-2020 Work Session Agenda W O R K S E S S IO N
V IR T U AL ME E TIN G H E L D V IA W E B E X
D E C EMB E R 8, 2020
6:15 P M
C all to order
1.Metropolitan Transit P roject Manager S hahin K hazrajafari will be presenting an overview of the forthcoming
Metro Transit D L ine B us Rapid Transit project, the anticipated construction timeline, and will be available to
answer any questions.
A djournment
Auxiliary aids for individuals with disabilities are available upon request. Requests must be made at least 96
hours in advance to the City Clerk at 612-861-9738.
AGENDA SECTION:Work Session Items
AGENDA ITEM #1.
WORK S E S S ION STAFF RE P ORT NO. 31
WORK SESSION
12/8/2020
RE P O RT P RE PA RE D B Y: Joe P owers, A ssistant C ity E ngineer
D E PA RTME NT D IRE C TO R RE V IE W: K ristin A sher, P ublic Works D irector/C ity E ngineer
12/2/2020
O THE R D E PA RTM E NT RE V IE W: N/A
C ITY MA NA G E R RE V IE W: K atie Rodriguez, C ity Manager
12/2/2020
I T E M F O R WO RK S E S S IO N:
Metropolitan Transit Project Manager Shahin Khazrajafari will be presenting an overview of the
forthcoming Metro Transit D Line Bus Rapid Transit project, the anticipated construction timeline, and
will be available to answer any questions.
E X E C UT IV E S UM M ARY:
Metro Transit is moving towards construction of planned improvements to the Route 5 corridor with the D Line
Bus Rapid Transit (B RT) project after securing final project funding at the legislature in the recent bonding
bill. The project will be a positive asset to the City of Richfield and enhance the overall metro transit system in
our region.
The D Line will substantially replace Route 5, running primarily on Portland Avenue within Richfield and on
Chicago, Emerson and Fremont Avenues in Minneapolis. Rapid bus brings better amenities, such as:
Faster, more frequent service;
Pre-boarding fare payment for faster stops;
Neighborhood-scale stations with amenities;
Enhanced security; and,
Larger & specialized vehicles.
D Line stations in Richfield will be located at:
Portland Ave. & 66th St.;
Portland Ave. & 70th St.;
Portland Ave. & 73rd St.; and,
Portland Ave. & 77th St.
Prior to the C OV I D-19 pandemic, Route 5 was the Twin Cities’ busiest bus route, carrying about
16,000 customers each weekday. During rush hours, Route 5 buses make up less than 2 percent of
vehicle traffic but carry more than 20 percent of people traveling through the corridor. T he D Line is
projected to be about 20 percent faster than Route 5 with longer station spacing, fares collected at
stations, and raised curbs for accessibility.
D IRE C T I O N NE E D E D:
No direction needed at this time but Councilmembers are encouraged to ask questions about the
project.
B AC K G RO UND INF O RM AT I O N:
A.H IS TOR IC AL C ON T E X T
The Richfield City Council adopted resolutions of support for the D Line Bus Rapid Transit project at the
April 24, 2018 & April 9, 2019 regular City Council meetings and are attached.
B.P OL IC IE S (resolutions, ordinances, regulations, statutes, etc):
The Metro Transit D Line B RT Project is consistent with the City’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan (Chapter 7
- Transportation).
C.C R IT IC AL T IMIN G IS S U E S:
Construction is slated to start in spring/summer 2021.
Council will be asked in J anuary 2021 to approve a J oint Powers Agreement/Cooperative
Construction Agreement between the City and Metropolitan Council. This agreement has been
reviewed by City staff and the City Attorney and governs Metropolitan Council (Metro Transit)
access onto City property, which is needed to construct the D Line I mprovements.
D.F IN AN C IAL IMPAC T:
There is no financial impact to the City of Richfield as part of the D Line project.
E.L E GAL C ON S ID E R AT ION:
None
ALTE R N AT IV E(S):
None
P R IN C IPAL PAR TIE S E X P E C TE D AT ME E TIN G:
AT TAC H ME N T S:
D escription Type
2018 Resolution of S upport Resolution L etter
2019 Resolution of S upport Resolution L etter
RESOLUTION NO. 11493
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE METRO D LINE PROJECT
WHEREAS, The City of Richfield's Comprehensive Plan promotes an integrated
transportation system that will serve the future needs of its residents, businesses, and visitors; as
well as supports the City's redevelopment plans to complement the metropolitan transportation
system; and
WHEREAS, Metro Transit's Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) offers riders fast, frequent service
with numerous amenities, that will give riders on the region's transit system more mobility options
and connect people with jobs; and
WHEREAS, The A Line BRT, which opened in summer 2016, has drawn increased
ridership and is an overwhelming success; and
WHEREAS, the proposed build out of the region's BRT system would connect an additional
200,000 people to 500,000 jobs; and
WHEREAS, the existing local bus route in this corridor has the highest productivity in terms
of carrying the most passengers each hour; and
WHEREAS, The D Line could result in a faster trip, up to 25% faster, by stopping less
often, deploying bus priority at traffic signals, and implementing off-board fare payment; and
WHEREAS, The D Line would operate in Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis, Richfield, and
Bloomington; and
WHEREAS, The City of Richfield will benefit from improvements to stops within Richfield,
which will offer improved amenities, including security features, improved lighting, real-time
signage, and heated shelters. The stop locations in Richfield are:
Portland Ave. & 66th St.
Portland Ave. & 70th St.
Portland Ave. & 73rd St.
Portland Ave. & 77th St.; and
WHEREAS, The D Line project still needs to secure $35 million in funding to move forward
into construction in 2020; and
WHEREAS, Governor Mark Dayton has included a $50 million busway investment in his
Bonding Proposal, which would be used to fund the remaining gap for D Line.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Richfield expresses its support for
the Metropolitan Council's D Line BRT project, with the inclusion of the four stops listed above,
which would serve this community and urges the Minnesota Legislature to adopt Governor Mark
Dayton's state bonding proposal to invest $50 million in regional BRT projects, including the D
Line.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Richfield, Minnesota this 24th day of April, 2018.
Pat Elliott, Mayor
ATTES
L/1L(LLbC .
Elizabeth VanHoose, City Clerk
RESOLUTION NO. 11618
RESOLUTION OFSUPPORT FORTHE
METRO DLINEPROJECT
WHEREAS, the City of Richfield’sComprehensive Plan promotes an integrated
transportation system that will serve the future needs ofits residents, businesses, and
visitors; as well as supports the City’s redevelopment plans to complement the
metropolitan transportation system; and
WHEREAS, Metro Transit’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) offers riders fast, frequent
service with numerous amenities, that will give riders on the region’s transit system more
mobility options and connect people with jobs; and
WHEREAS, the A Line BRT, which opened in summer 2016, has drawn increased
ridership and is an overwhelming success; and
WHEREAS, the proposed build out of the region’sBRT system would connect an
additional 200,000 people to 500,000 jobs; and
WHEREAS, the existing local bus route in this corridor has the highest productivity
in terms of carrying the most passengers each hour; and
WHEREAS, the DLine could result in a faster trip, up to 25% faster, by stopping
less often, deploying bus priority at traffic signals, and implementing off-board fare
payment; and
WHEREAS, the D Line would operate in Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis, Richfield,
and Bloomington; and
WHEREAS, the City of Richfield will benefit from improvements to stops within
Richfield, which will offer improved amenities, including security features, improved
lighting, real-time signage, and heated shelters. The stop locations in Richfield are:
Portland Ave. & 66th St.
Portland Ave. & 70th St.
Portland Ave. & 73rd St.
Portland Ave. & 77th St.; and
WHEREAS, the D Line project still needs to secure $20 million in funding to move
forward with construction in 2020; and
WHEREAS Governor Walz’s capital budget directs $20 million toward the
implementation of the D Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor.
NOW, THEREFORE, BEITRESOLVED that the City of Richfield expresses its
support for the Metropolitan Council’sD Line BRT project, with the inclusion of the four
stops listed above, which would serve this community and urges the Minnesota Legislature
to adopt Governor Tim Walz’s state bonding proposal to invest $20 million in the Metro
Transit D Line BRT Project.
Resolution No. 11618
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Richfield, Minnesota this 9th day of April,
2019.
tAt9t g
Maria Regan Gonza ez, Mayor
ATTEST:
11/i
Elizabeth VanHoose, City Clerk
Resolution No. 11618