Laserfiche WebLink
10. <br /> <br />Does the project have national or regional significance? <br /> <br />The TH 10 Corridor has regional, statewide and national significance. This corridor is <br />the primary transportation route for rail, truck freight, and automobile travel between <br />the northern Twin Cities area and St. Cloud. The multiple modes now operating in <br />the corridor are each suffering from increasing congestion and declining safety, with <br />no other vehicle currently available to address the corridor systematically and provide <br />integrated safety and capacity enhancements for all modes. <br /> <br />St. Cloud, one of the state's freestanding and rapidly growing economic centers, is <br />also home to St. Cloud State University, St. John's University, and St. Benedict <br />College. TH 10 links this booming growth corridor with Anoka County and the <br />economic, education and transportation opportunities in the Twin Cities. The corridor <br />also serves as a gateway to tourism in central and northern Minnesota. <br /> <br />The corridor provides an essential link to the Twin Cities regional highway system <br />and MSP International Airport. The Burlington Northern/Santa Fe Railroad line in <br />the corridor is the railroad's main line to the northern Midwest and the northwestern <br />United States. Through access to the region's core transit network, links are provided <br />to St. Paul and the University of Minnesota, one of the nation's premier educational <br />and medical facilities. <br /> <br />11. <br /> <br />Has the proposed project encountered, or is it likely to encounter, any sign~Cicant opposition or <br />other obstacles based on environmental or other types of concern? <br /> <br />No significant areas of opposition are expected. <br /> <br />12. <br /> <br />Describe the economic, energy efficiency, environmental, congestion mitigation, and safety <br />benefits associated with completion of the project. <br /> <br />Economic Benefits: This project will improve safety, truck and rail freight movements, <br />transit service, and vehicular capacity along TH 10 between St. Cloud and the Twin <br />Cities. Multimodal transportation improvements developed in a systematic program <br />will better accommodate the cross-regional trips between the two economic centers <br />and major intermodal terminals for rail and air passenger and freight transportation. <br />Corridor improvements will also facilitate this route's function as a gateway to <br />tourism, which contributes greatly to the economies of central and northern <br />Minnesota. <br /> <br />Energy Efficiency: A fully multimodal corridor with commuter rail service and non- <br />motorized trails for recreational and distance bicycle travel would strengthen the <br />region's focus on moving more people, rather than more vehicles. The transit focus <br />increases both the efficiency of existing transportation facilities and the energy <br />efficiency gained with increased transit ridership rather than travel in single-occupant <br />vehicles. Improved safety and travel times for the movement of goods as well as <br />people will significantly improve the energy efficiency of the major truck movements <br />in the corridor. <br /> <br />#24~56 5 <br /> <br /> <br />