Laserfiche WebLink
<br />. <br /> <br />VI. SCREENING OF MODAL ELEMENTS <br /> <br />Modal elements of the nine transportation strategies were evaluated in an initial screening. <br />Evaluation measures were developed with the intention of identifying operational, environmental <br />and cost impacts so severe as to preclude the implementation of modal elements and thus deleting <br />the modal element from further study. The analysis was completed on the following modes. <br /> <br />. Commuter Rail <br />. Intermodal Connections (Anoka County LRT and HOV Systems) <br />. Highway Improvements <br /> <br />1. COMMUTER RAIL <br /> <br />The initial analysis of commuter rail concluded that this modal element should be retained for <br />further analysis. The primary factors were: <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. The positive conclusions about commuter rail service in the Northstar Corridor included in the <br />Phase I MnDOT Commuter Rail Study completed in January of 1998. Overall, the MnDOT <br />study concluded that commuter rail in the Northstar Corridor was feasible. The corridor is <br />located in both an area of growing population with available land to focus new development <br />and in mature commercial/retail nodes where existing infrastructure would reinforce <br />transit/pedestrian oriented development. Additionally, the corridor is located adjacent to <br />existing high capacity transportation (buses and roadways) that would reinforce the multi- <br />modal nature of the area. <br /> <br />. The results of initial discussions with Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) staff that <br />commuter rail service and existing and future freight railroad traffic could co-exist. <br /> <br />. The positive results from the commuter rail demonstration conducted in the summer of 1997. <br /> <br />2. INTERMODAL CONNECTIONS <br /> <br />The primary purpose of the commuter rail service between downtown Minneapolis and the St. <br />Cloud area is to serve relatively long trips in the Northstar Corridor. For longer trips (such as the <br />trips being made on the Northstar commuter rail system) it is common to have to transfer from one <br />travel mode to access the commuter rail service. Typical examples of services available today <br />would be: <br /> <br />. Park and ride <br />. Drop off <br />. Walk access <br />. Bike access <br />. Feeder bus <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Northstar Corridor Major Investment Study <br />Conceptual Definition of Alternatives <br />February 1999 <br /> <br />VI-l <br />