Title
Granting municipal consent for the Minnesota Department of Transportation's I-35E MNPASS Project (S.P. 6280-367).
Body
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) plans to reconstruct I-35E from just north of Maryland Avenue to Little Canada Road(including bridges), to include MNPASS lanes, and
WHEREAS, the I-35E MNPASS project was developed concurrently and will be constructed concurrently with the I-35E Cayuga with work to begin in 2014, and
WHEREAS, the addition of MnPASS lanes in the I-35E corridor will reduce current and future congestion by meeting the corridors travel demands by moving more people through the corridor, not just more vehicles; and
WHEREAS, the current Gateway Trail bridge crossing I-35E will be removed and the new Arlington Avenue bridge over I-35E widened to accommodate and maintain the Trail's regional purpose while reducing the public cost on infrastructure, and
WHEREAS, MN/DOT and their consultants have worked with City and County staff and a Visual Quality Advisory Committee to improve and address multi-modal access, safety and aesthetics concerns and have submitted a final layout to the City for review, comment and municipal consent; and
WHEREAS, to provide a 30 day notice prior to the public hearing on December 26, 2012 the City Council, by Resolution 12-2377, set the February 6, 2013 Council meeting for the public hearing; and
WHEREAS, the City Council held the public hearing and after receiving public input determined that final layout addresses City multi-modal, safety, and aesthetic concerns; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Saint Paul grants municipal consent to the Minnesota Department of Transportation for the I-35E MNPASS project (S.P. 6280-367).