HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution - 2013-73 - Support for Southwest Transit Relating to Light Rail Transit - 08/20/2013 CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE
HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION NO. 2013-73
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF SOUTHWEST TRANSIT AS PRIMARY PROVIDER
OF BUS TRANSIT SERVICES IN THE CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE AND RELATING TO
LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT'S ACCESS TO SOUTHWEST STATION
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council has begun promoting Bus Rapid Transit along the
Trunk Highway 212 corridor. Bus Rapid Transit is a system operated by the Metropolitan
Council in order to provide commuter type bus service; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council does not currently provide any commuter bus
service for the Cities of Eden Prairie, Chaska or Chanhassen and has not provided such services
since the inception of SouthWest Transit in 1986; and
WHEREAS, SouthWest Transit currently provides commuter bus services to the City of
Eden Prairie as part of its collective bus transit service to the Cities of Eden Prairie, Chaska and
Chanhassen. SouthWest Transit has in place a fleet of buses, multiple high quality passenger
waiting stations and sufficient parking. SouthWest Transit, since its inception in 1986, has
consistently provided locally controlled, high quality bus transit services. SouthWest Transit has
consistently received extremely high customer satisfaction and recognition of its exceptional
service; and
WHEREAS, if Bus Rapid Transit is determined appropriate for the Trunk Highway 212
corridor SouthWest Transit is the most logical and best suited entity from both a strategic and
operational position to control, operate and brand such a service, utilizing existing infrastructure
and retaining local control; and
WHEREAS, the City of Eden Prairie does not support the establishment of a Bus Rapid
Transit program along the Trunk Highway 212 corridor if the program is controlled, operated or
branded by the Metropolitan Council. The City of Eden Prairie is only in support of a Bus Rapid
Transit program if such a program is controlled, operated and branded by SouthWest Transit;
and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council is in the process of establishing Light Rail Transit
to the City of Eden Prairie. The Metropolitan Council has shown interest in using SouthWest
Station, a SouthWest Transit passenger station, for the Light Rail Transit; and
WHEREAS, SouthWest Station is owned by SouthWest Transit. SouthWest Station was
designed and constructed to serve bus transit as provided by SouthWest Transit. SouthWest
Station was not designed to accommodate additional Light Rail Transit. SouthWest Station may
be adapted for Light Rail Transit but only through the cooperation of all parties involved; and
WHEREAS, the City of Eden Prairie is not in support of the use of SouthWest Station
for Light Rail Transit unless the Metropolitan Council agrees to work cooperatively with
SouthWest Transit in order to maintain the high level of bus transit services currently provided
by SouthWest Transit; and
WHEREAS, the Governor has identified Trunk Highway 169 as a transit corridor, and
SouthWest Transit has modeled a strong demand for a SouthWest Transit 400+ stall facility in
Eden Prairie. The City of Eden Prairie will support the establishment of Bus Rapid Transit in the
Trunk Highway 169 corridor, if SouthWest Transit remains the transit service provider and
retains control, operation and branding for any station located within the City of Eden Prairie for
Bus Rapid Transit in the Trunk Highway 169 corridor.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE,
MINNESOTA THAT:
1. The City of Eden Prairie supports SouthWest Transit as the sole provider of bus
transit services, except for ADA transit services, in the City of Eden Prairie.
2. The City of Eden Prairie does not support the establishment of a Bus Rapid
Transit system on the Trunk Highway 212 corridor unless such a service is
controlled, operated, and branded by SouthWest Transit.
3. The City of Eden Prairie does not support the use of SouthWest Station for Light
Rail Transit unless the following conditions are met:
a. All estimated parking needed for Light Rail Transit operations must be
accounted for separately from the parking needed for SouthWest Transit
bus services. Currently the Metropolitan Council's modeling has a
significant number of the current bus transit customers migrating over to
the Light Rail Transit operations. However, while there may be some
migration, over 80% of SouthWest Transit riders have expressed their
preference for SouthWest Transit bus service over Light Rail Transit and
SouthWest Transit's bus service will be in excess of 15 minutes faster
(each way) than the Light Rail Transit. Light Rail Transit operation out of
SouthWest Station must account for separate parking.
b. SouthWest Transit will remain the principal branding at SouthWest
Station. The Metropolitan Council's current position is that standard
branding and advertising as determined by the Metropolitan Council must
be incorporated into a facility if it is part of a regional transitway (in this
case Light Rail Transit line). SouthWest Station was developed and is
owned by SouthWest Transit, and the SouthWest Transit Commission will
retain decision making authority. Regional branding will be allowed, but
it will be at the discretion and approval of the SouthWest Transit
Commission.
c. The Metropolitan Council shall guarantee that all transit service in
SouthWest Transit's defined service area, except for Metropolitan
Council's Light Rail Transit and ADA transit, will remain under
SouthWest Transit's control. SouthWest Transit shall have control over
all connector, express, Bus Rapid Transit, and demand response services.
The Metropolitan Council shall ensure adequate funding is allocated to
meet the demands related to these services as well as future service as the
communities west of the City of Eden Prairie continue to grow.
d. The Metropolitan Council supports the establishment of a SouthWest
Transit passenger station to serve the Trunk Highway 169 corridor in the
southeastern portion of the City of Eden Prairie. The Governor has
identified Trunk Highway 169 as a transit corridor, and SouthWest Transit
has modeled a strong demand for a SouthWest Transit 400+ stall facility
in this area. A new SouthWest Transit station in the Trunk Highway 169
corridor would also benefit the Metropolitan Council's Light Rail Transit
as it is likely to open up additional parking at SouthWest Station.
4. The City of Eden Prairie fully supports SouthWest Transit and the exceptional
service it has provided.
ADOPTED by the City Council this 20th day of August, 2013.
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Ka Teen Porta, City Clerk