HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution - 2005-50 - Supporting Legislation for Transportation Improvements to I-494 and Metro - 03/15/2005 CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE
HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION NO. 2005-50
RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING LEGISLATION
TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR I-494 CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS
WHEREAS, the cities of Bloomington, Edina, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Plymouth and Richfield
have joined together to promote improvement 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, funding for improvements to the I-494 corridor, the Twin Cities metropolitan region
and greater Minnesota has not kept pace with growth and demand; 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 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, these costs and the ramifications of congestion are an impediment to business
development, economic growth, and reduce the overall quality of life in the metropolitan area; and
WHEREAS, transportation funding, in inflation adjusted dollars, has declined by more than 25
percent over the past decade, transit is funded at 65 percent of that in similarly sized regions, and
planners and government officials estimate that $700 million to $1 billion in improvements per year
is needed over the next decade to simply keep up with anticipated congestion.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDEN
PRAIRIE that this Council supports legislation to decrease congestion and increase the state
revenues available for improvements to the I-494 corridor and other metropolitan transportation
systems including dedication of 100 percent of the Motor Vehicle Sales Tax for transportation
purposes, an increase in the license tab fee, a regional sales tax option, increased trunk highway and
general fund bonding, an increase in the state gas tax, and increased use of voluntary toll lanes.
ADOPTED by the City Council of Eden Prairie this 15th day of March, 2005.
yr "uke ayor
ATTEST:
Katldeen Porta, City Clerk