Title
Supporting the inclusion of the La Crosse Area Planning Committee as a financial party member of the Minnesota High Speed Rail Commission.
Body
WHEREAS, The Minnesota High Speed Rail Commission (Commission) is a joint powers board under the provisions of Minnesota Statutes Sections 471.59 and;
WHEREAS, the Commission is established by a Joint Powers Agreement by and between Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority, Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority, Goodhue County Regional Railroad Authority, Wabasha County Regional Railroad Authority, Winona County Regional Railroad Authority, City of Cottage Grove, City of Goodview, City of Hastings, City of Lake City, City of Red Wing, City of Saint Charles, City of Saint Paul, City of Saint Paul Park, City of Utica, City of Wabasha, City of Winona; and
WHEREAS, the Commission is working to establish high-speed intercity passenger rail service between the Union Depot Multi-Modal Transportation Hub in Saint Paul and Chicago along the current Amtrak Empire Builder route in Minnesota which parallels the Mississippi River (the River Route); and
WHEREAS, The La Crosse Area Planning Committee (LAPC) is a Metropolitan Planning Organization, a federally mandated and federally funded transportation policy-making organization in the United States that is made up of representatives from local government and governmental transportation authorities; and
WHEREAS, the LAPC is an ex officio member of the Commission and has expressed interest in joining the Commission as a Financial Party; and
WHEREAS, the Commission determined that it would be desirable for the LAPC to join the Commission as a Financial Party, recognizing LAPC’s importance for the work of the Commission and to ensure that the public, business leaders and legislators in the La Crosse area are aware of the benefits of high-speed rail in the River Route and invited LAPC to consider joining the Commission; and
WHEREAS, the LAPC voted to join the Commission and participate as a Financial Party; and
WHEREAS, amending the Joint Powers Agreement will enable the LAPC to join the Commission as a Financial Party;
Now Therefore Be It
RESOLVED that the Saint Paul City Council supports that the Joint Powers Agreement be amended to include the La Crosse Area Planning Committee as a Financial Party.