HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution - 2004-52 - Supporting Legislation to Provide Improved Funding for I-494 Corridor Improvements - 03/23/2004 CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE
HENNEPIN COUNTY,MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION NO. 2004-52
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE IMPROVED FUNDING
FOR 1-494 CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS
WHEREAS, the cities of Bloomington, Edina, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Plymouth and Richfield
have joined together to promote improvements of I-494 from the Minnesota River to I-94 in order to
increase road capacity and to improve the productivity and convenience of resident and businesses
throughout the region; and
WHEREAS, accelerating the scheduled expansion of I-494 is a common and high priority objective
of the I-494 Corridor Coalition communities; and
WHEREAS, the I-494 corridor is at 50 percent overcapacity in many locations; the cost of traffic
congestion along the corridor is $100 million per year, and congestion is expected to double in the
next 20 years; and
WHEREAS, funding for improvements to the I-494 corridor, the Twin Cities metropolitan region
and greater Minnesota has not kept pace with growth and demand due to a lack of any state gas tax
increase in Minnesota since 1988; and
WHEREAS, transportation spending, as a percentage of the state gross product, has declined from
1.2 percent to .9 percent over the past decade, transit is funded at 65 percent that of similarly sized
regions and planners estimate that at least $1 billion in improvements per year for the next decade is
needed to simply keep up with anticipated congestion; and
WHEREAS, the costs and ramifications of congestion are an impediment to business development,
economic growth,and reduce the overall quality of life in the metropolitan area.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Eden Prairie that this
Council supports an increase in the state gas tax specifically dedicated for metro road projects, full
allocation of Motor Vehicle Excise Taxes, a dedication of.5 percent of the sales tax collected in the
metropolitan area and other steps to increase the state revenues available for improvements to the I-
494 corridor and other metropolitan transportation systems.
ADOPTED by the Eden Prairie City Council on March 23,2004.
Na yra- tens, ayo
ATTEST: SEAL
K/hGl-
thle A. Porta,City Clerk