Central Corridor LRT

[localguy]

http://www.startribune.com/local/835743 ... aec8O7EyUr

These legal threats sure get tiring to read about....however, both the MPR lawsuit as well as the Rondo suit will not slow the development process according to Peter Rogoff , administrator of the Federal Transit Administration, in the above mentioned article:

"It is not out of the ordinary for us to get sued by a variety of parties as these projects move forward," he said. "We will continue to move the project forward, lawsuits or no lawsuits, up and until someone gets a temporary restraining order, and we would obviously fight that."

[Heatonator]

http://www.mndaily.com/2010/02/14/light-rail-construction-will-jam-traffic

Light-rail construction will jam traffic

The University has traffic management plans to help construction run smoothly.

Published: 02/14/2010
By Alex Holmquist

Construction of the Central Corridor light-rail line may cause some traffic jams in surrounding neighborhoods, but the University of Minnesota is working to make the construction less bothersome.

The University has planned several traffic management improvement projects that will begin this summer and be completed by fall.

Construction of the light-rail line will bring major changes to the University area, including the permanent closure of Washington Avenue between Walnut and Pleasant streets.

That portion will be open only to buses, emergency vehicles, light-rail traffic and pedestrians.

[Heatonator]

http://www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/84527857.html

As light-rail process chugs along, it's Sue City, Sue

Construction has yet to begin on the Central Corridor light-rail line connecting Minneapolis and St. Paul, and already it's been an unequivocal success.

Before today's rail barons have even managed a taste of the nearly $1 billion in funds it will take to build it, the little train that could has managed to do the impossible: It has brought together two competing cities, linked the geniuses at the University of Minnesota to the sophisticates at Minnesota Public Radio, tied them both with the have-nots of St. Paul's Rondo neighborhood and even put them on the same side as the Love Doctor, Troy DeCorsey, who owns a naughty lingerie and small-appliance shop on University Avenue.

Maybe they should call the line "The Unifier," because few things in memory have been able to bring together so many disparate people to complain about it.

If you haven't kept a scorecard, the number of lawsuits against the Met Council in its attempt to build the intra-city choo-choo is now three. They all say they want a train, just not the way it's being offered.

[Heatonator]

http://www.startribune.com/local/85858257.html

U decides not to file another suit over light rail

U President Bruininks says the two sides are close to a deal.

JENNA ROSS
Last update: March 1, 2010 - 4:51 PM

After a nearly 2-hour, closed-door meeting, University of Minnesota officials decided Monday not to file suit in federal court over the Central Corridor light-rail line. The deadline to file was today.

"We believe we can resolve our differences without federal litigation," U president Robert Bruininks said in a statement.

The university has not withdrawn its original suit against the Metropolitan Council, which it filed in district court in September. In that suit, the U maintained that construction and operation of the line "may destroy the public's enormous investment in the university's research facilities."

University and Met Council officials continue to negotiate. According to the U, the two sides have "tentative agreements in place" over how to minimize the light-rail's impact on research labs.

"We are meeting almost daily to reach agreement on how to measure and fix any problems that may occur in the future," Bruininks said. "Given the distance we've come, these last steps seem within our powers."

The Met Council also faces lawsuits from Minnesota Public Radio and a group of activists and business owners over the 11-mile line, which transit officials expect to begin service in 2014.

[MNdible]

Thank goodness some cooler heads seem to be prevailing.

Let's hope the others see the light.

[elfangor801]

I went to one of the station area plan meetings for the three new stops they added and took some snazzy pictures. Should have brought a real camera, these guys are from my phone. Also, they're doing the Snelling station at grade. That was probably established a while ago but I've been away from the site for a while.

[elfangor801]

And two more

[maudio]

Wow that's a huge change around the Westgage station. I used to live over there right along the border. I take it this development is just to look pretty and show what *could* happen? Or is there actually a plan for all of these improvements and these developments?

[elfangor801]

Oh yeah that's just the massing for what they're expecting over time. The city of St. Paul folks who were there said they kind of want to ease into it by redoing the street grid along the strip mall areas to plat it for future development and then let developers take over.

[jhop]

Oh yeah that's just the massing for what they're expecting over time. The city of St. Paul folks who were there said they kind of want to ease into it by redoing the street grid along the strip mall areas to plat it for future development and then let developers take over.

I'm happy to hear the street grid will be improved. Once the tracks are down, circulation will need to be improved. Public right of way with building frontage will be a huge improvement over the asphalt lake now.

The massing seems a little weird, with the mix of warehouse style big box awkwardly holding out.

[spectre000]

From the MetCouncil, finally some "firm" construction timeline dates.


Heavy construction starts in August on Robert St. north of I-94
ST. PAUL - March 10, 2010 -- Shovels will start digging for the Central Corridor LRT line in August east of the Capitol where work will begin on Robert and 12th streets north of Interstate 94, the Central Corridor Project Office said today. Utility relocations in this area will be done concurrently with LRT construction.

Some utility relocation work in advance of construction along University Avenue between the Westgate and Rice Street stations, as well as along Cedar Street in St. Paul, could begin this summer and fall. However, the schedule for utility relocation along University is not firmly established yet.

Heavy construction is not expected to start on the western end of University Avenue in St. Paul until spring 2011 and on the eastern end until spring 2012.

The Federal Transit Administration is expected to execute a Full Funding Grant Agreement in September. An FFGA is the federal government's commitment to reimburse half the cost of building the $957 million line. The plan requests 50 percent from the federal government, 30 percent from the Counties Transit Improvement Board, 10 percent from the state, 7 percent from Ramsey County, 3 percent from Hennepin County and lesser amounts from St. Paul and the Central Corridor Funders Collaborative. For construction to begin before an FFGA, the FTA will have to issue Letters of No Prejudice, which are promises to reimburse project partners for half the construction costs if the federal agency later approves an FFGA.


Work divided into segments
Work on the civil east construction package will be in segments, which will be divided into smaller portions with input from the contractor. More specific information will be available once the contractor is hired by summer and the work schedule is developed. The project's construction communication plan calls for 30-day public notification before work, excluding unforeseen circumstances, begins in any given area. The project office has created an online sign-up form for the public to fill out and submit to receive weekly construction updates and a monthly newsletter. The form is at
http://www.metrocouncil.org/transpor...TSubscribe.htm

The civil east construction segments are:
University Avenue from the city limits at Emerald Street to Hamline Avenue will be under heavy construction from March 2011 to November 2011, when road reconstruction is expected to be substantially complete.
University from Hamline to Robert will be under construction from March 2012, with road reconstruction expected to be substantially complete by November 2012.
Road reconstruction on Fourth Street in St. Paul will be substantially complete by November 2010. Utility relocation in advance of heavy construction began in this area last year and is expected to finish by fall.
Work to demolish the vacant Bremer Bank building where the tracks will be built on a diagonal from Cedar Street to Fourth is anticipated to start in April 2011. Building removal and work to reconnect the skyway will be substantially completed by November 2011.
Heavy construction on Cedar is to start in April 2011. Road reconstruction should be substantially completed by November 2012.
Robert and 12th east and south of the Capitol should have road reconstruction substantially complete by November 2010.
Installing concrete paving for signalized intersections
Building an infiltration trench for collecting storm water
Constructing at-grade pedestrian crossings
Demolishing the vacant Bremer Bank building, reconnecting the skyway

The project office released the civil east construction bid documents last week to qualified bidders and will open bids this spring. The Metropolitan Council will award the civil east construction contract by summer.

Contractor incentives
Contractor incentives being built into the two main civil construction packages are intended to encourage responsiveness, create a partnership between contractors and the community and promote cooperation. The civil west contract, which includes work around the University of Minnesota, has a $250,000 incentive. The civil east contract in St. Paul has a $600,000 incentive. Quarterly incentives will range from $10,000 to $70,000.


The process of awarding incentives begins with the creation of construction coordinating committees. The project office will form the committees this spring to review performance standards and recommend award of incentives. The project office is recruiting interested members of the Business Advisory Council (BAC) and Community Advisory Committee (CAC) to serve on their local construction coordinating committees. The new committees, which will replace the BAC and CAC, will conduct quarterly evaluations and make recommendations. Project Director Mark Fuhrmann will approve the awards.

Evaluation criteria will include conformance with notification requirements, timely response to public concerns, maintenance of vehicle access and accessible pedestrian routes and cleanliness of construction sites.

[talindsay]

To quote Judith from "the Life of Brian",
It's happening, Reg! Something is finally actually happening!

Seriously, the beginning of heavy construction on this project is huge. Once heavy construction commences, we're pretty much committed. Very good news. Now, when will the new LRVs show up? Obviously they can be used on Hiawatha until Central is done...

[MNdible]

Meanwhile, the U and the Met Council continue sniping at each other.

Really grown up.

[Heatonator]

http://www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/87598407.html

Central Corridor isn't just about moving people

Light-rail line advocates are anticipating new development along University Avenue, although they acknowledge it will take years.

By CHRIS HAVENS, Star Tribune
Last update: March 13, 2010 - 9:57 PM

Taking 40 minutes each way, the Central Corridor light-rail line won't be the fastest way to get from St. Paul to Minneapolis when it starts rolling in 2014.

But speed isn't the point.

As the line gets closer to becoming reality, the reality is that the transit project is as much --or more -- about economics as it is about moving people. It's seen as the key to economic development, new investment and neighborhood revitalization.

The federal government also is paying more attention to what happens off the rails than what happens on them. Recent rule changes for funding big transit projects put a higher priority on economic benefits.

Cities across the nation that have built light-rail lines, from Salt Lake City to Charlotte, N.C., have reported billions of dollars of economic investment and increased land values along the tracks. A recently released University of Minnesota study showed that houses near Hiawatha light-rail stops in Minneapolis gained about $5,000 in value after the line went into service.


An image of the kind of stations that will be built at the newly added stations at Victoria, Hamline Avenue and Western Avenue bring the total to 23 and mean there will no longer be any mile-long gaps between stops, a major point of contention for neighborhoods along the 11-mile, nearly billion-dollar line.

[talindsay]

Had dinner at Tanpopo noodle shop tonight and was scoping out the CCLRT project area in DT St. Paul. A few observations:

• I hadn't noticed *which* building they plan to pull down for the 4th&Cedar station. For one, the building does not appear to be abandoned - there were lights on in the upper floors. For another, it's a much bigger building than I thought it was. And finally, it doesn't seem to be in disrepair especially - it's an interesting old building. Why exactly are they pulling it down? Up to now I'd been under the impression that it was all about convenience - it was a lot that needed to be cleared anyway for an abandoned building, and it would lower the project cost to run the station through the block. But looking at the building, I don't see it. Why pull it down? Is there something severely wrong with it? If so, why is it currently in use?
• The Diamond Products building is one ugly-ass building. Why in the world would anybody in Lowertown be fighting against this reuse, which will result in the building's façade being redone? The whole area around it looks terrible except on the Farmer's Market side, and I don't see how this reuse would hurt that.
• The headhouse of Union Depot is gorgeous. I hadn't been in there before and didn't realize how well maintained it is. Truly a beautiful space. I wonder if the Greek restaurant will be thrown out, shrunk back, or left as-is while this space gets restored as a train station? I can't really imagine what it would be like living in a brand new condo in the middle of a train station, but at least the condos are off to one side. The restaurant seems like a pretty big obstacle unless it's shrunk way back though.
• Cedar will be pretty profoundly reshaped by this project, but I don't think it will be negative in any way once you're south of the highway bridge. Between the Capitol building and the freeway, it's definitely going to turn what currently feels like more of a boulevard into something more urban, but that's probably good too. From 94 to 4th, it will make a somewhat urban street into an intensely urban street, and that's good.
• I don't think they plan to close 4th to auto traffic, especially given the drive-up loop in front of Union Depot, but it's going to be a very crowded street with light rail and one lane of traffic in each direction. I wonder if they'll convert a parallel one-way into a two-way as part of the project.

All in all it's looking like things are proceeding down there - but it's really hard to imagine that part of the line once it's done. That whole area is so sleepy now, which is weird because there's plenty of density, lots of mixed uses and few shuttered buildings, but it feels like there's nobody there - the traffic and bustle are mostly west of Cedar, with Cedar feeling like easternmost busy street in DT St. Paul. From the perspective of crowd and bustle, it feels like the line should be about two blocks west. I know the numbers support Cedar, but it doesn't *feel* like there's anything urban east of Cedar.