Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br />TilE ENViRONMENTAL IMpACT <br /> <br />. The alternatives currently under consideration <br />in the EIS include the No-Build Alternative, the <br />Transportation Systems Management (TSM) <br />Alternative, and the Commuter Rail Alternative. <br />The No-Build Alternative is used as a baseline for <br />comparison of environmental impacts, while the <br />TSM Alternative is included for comparison of the <br />cost effectiveness of the Build Alternatives. These <br />conceptual alternatives were developed and select- <br />ed during Phase I of the MIS study and will be <br />advanced for consideration in the EIS. <br /> <br />US 169 <br /> <br />· No-Build Alternative <br /> <br />The No-Build Alternative includes the current and <br />planned roadway and transit projects that are com- <br />mitted and funded. The current transportation <br />and transit facilities and services, with minimal <br />modifications or expansions, form the base- <br />line for this alternative. <br /> <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />· Transportation SJ8fems <br />Management (TSM) <br /> <br />Low capital cost infrastructure <br />and bus transit improvements for <br />the Northstar Corridor include <br /> <br />Mall of America <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />N <br /> <br /> <br />.t. <br /> <br />I I J II Hiawatha Line <br />(proposed LRT Alignment) <br /> <br />Potential Station Locations <br /> <br />IIIIIII Northstar Commuter Rail <br /> <br />s <br /> <br />Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) tech- <br />niques, Travel Demand Management (TDM), <br />bus operations, and other system improve- <br />ments. <br /> <br />· Commuter Rail Alternative <br /> <br />This alternative provides passenger rail service <br />on the existing BNSF rail line. It includes all <br />facilities associated with the construction and <br />operations of a commuter rail line, including <br />right-of-way, structures, tracks, stations; park- <br />and-ride lots, storage and maintenance facili- <br />ties. Both rail and bus operating plans will be <br />developed for this alternative. The Commuter <br />Rail Alternative will also incorporate the ele- <br />ments of the No-Build and TSM Alternatives, <br />and will include feeder bus improvements to <br />provide access from local and regional land <br />uses to the commuter rail connection. The con- <br />nection of the Hiawatha Corridor LRT service <br />to the commuter rail line will be included in <br />this alternative. <br /> <br />Twelve potential station locations were identi- <br />fied during Phase I of the MIS Study. These <br />locations, listed below, were used for preliminary <br />technical analysis, including ridership forecast- <br />ing and capacity modeling. <br /> <br />· Rice <br />· Downtown St Cloud <br />· East St Cloud <br />· Clear Lake <br />· Becker <br />· Big Lake <br />· Elk River <br />· Ramsey/ Anoka <br />· Coon Rapids <br />· Fridley <br />· Northeast Minneapolis <br />· Downtown Minneapolis <br /> <br />Specific station locations will be identified <br />during a collaborative effort with neighborhood <br />residents and businesses, elected officials, com- <br />munity staff, interest groups and the general <br />public. The station area planning discussions <br />will identify actions necessary to link commuter <br />rail to current and future land uses. e <br />