Title
Approving a Preliminary Design Study for the Canadian Pacific Ford Spur.
Body
WHEREAS, the Canadian Pacific (CP) Ford Rail Spur is no longer used to serve the Ford Motor Company Twin Cities Assembly Plant; and
WHEREAS, the CP Ford Spur represents an opportunity to provide important transportation and recreation options by incorporating multiple modes of transportation in a corridor that passes through diverse neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul City Council passed Resolution 14-723 in April 2014 authorizing the Department of Planning and Economic Development to apply for a Federal TIGER VI Planning Grant to prepare a plan for the Canadian Pacific Ford Rail Spur; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Transportation (“DOT”) awarded a $100,000 grant (FHWA FY 2014 TIGER Planning Grant No. P-18, T14HP039; S.P. # 164-070-014) to the City of Saint Paul to be used in the preparation of a preliminary design study (“Study”) of the Canadian Pacific Ford Rail Spur to identify constraints and opportunities for multi-modal use and develop preliminary design concepts; and
WHEREAS, the Grant was combined with $70,000 from the pre-development account of the Loan Enterprise Fund Budget of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the City of Saint Paul to fund the Study; and
WHEREAS, East Metro Strong generously donated $20,000 to the City of Saint Paul to be used in support of the Study; and
WHEREAS, Ford Motor Company generously donated $10,000 to the City of Saint Paul to be used in support of the Study; and
WHEREAS, a project team led by Alta Planning + Design and Planning Commission staff, and supported by Sambatek and Kimley-Horn, undertook a study of the CP Ford Spur using the grant application and agreement as guides; and
WHEREAS, Project and Technical Advisory Groups were assembled to represent stakeholder interests and provide input throughout the Study process; and
WHEREAS, a series of community forums was held between May of 2017 and March of 2018 to help guide the Study direction and recommendations; and
WHEREAS, the Study provides recommendations for
• Preliminary trail designs
• Crossing considerations
• Interactions with pedestrian, bicycle, and transit infrastructure
• Future environmental investigations
• Trail-supporting facilities
• Operations and maintenance considerations; and
WHEREAS, the Transportation Committee, on June 18, 2018, forwarded its strong endorsement of the Study and recommendation for support to the Planning Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Comprehensive and Neighborhood Planning Committee on June 27, 2018, forwarded its recommendations to the Planning Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission on July 13, 2018, forwarded the study the Mayor and City Council with a recommendation for approval;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council hereby approves the study as a foundational document for future design and engineering work.