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<br />IV. Project Staffing <br /> <br />The Deputy Director of Design position within the Northstar Project Office has <br />been filled on an interim basis by a combination of Jon Olson, the Anoka <br />County Public Services Division Manager and registered engineer, and Ken <br />Stevens, a long time consultant to the Northstar Corridor Development <br />Authority and former director of the Hennepin County Regional Railroad <br />Authority. Metro Transit is engaged in a national search to fill the position. <br /> <br />V. Advanced Design <br /> <br />Advanced design is underway, with the assistance of two teams of consultants. <br />A team led by Kimley Horn and Associates (KHA) is responsible for the six <br />commuter rail stations and the maintenance facility including the central control <br />facility. A team led by LTK Engineering (LTK) is responsible for the LRT <br />Connection and providing technical support for KHA's work on the commuter <br />rail stations and maintenance facility. The entire project design team meets on a <br />weekly basis. <br /> <br />Both teams submitted draft preliminary engineering validation reports for most <br />of their areas of responsibility. These reports validate the original preliminary <br />engineering completed in 2001, provide replacement preliminary engineering <br />plans reflecting changes in the conditions or project since 2001, or identify <br />issues to be addressed as the design advances. These reports will be carefully <br />reviewed by Mn/DOT, NCDA, and Metro Transit to ensure they fulfill project <br />requirements. <br /> <br />Key issues that have been resolved through the Value Engineering and <br />Preliminary Engineering Validation process include: <br />· Location of the Fridley Station platform and access points. The platform <br />is now moved northward and center loaded to better accommodate <br />disabled passengers. <br />· Access to the station platform at Coon Rapids has been confirmed as an <br />overpass. The underground option has been ruled out as a result of high <br />ground water tables, expensive construction to maintain continuous <br />railroad operations, and long-term liability for potential settlements <br />resulting from the construction methods, ground water, or both. <br />· The commuter rail rolling stock has been reviewed and confirmed as a <br />push-pull configuration of diesel locomotives and multi-level coaches as <br />previously defined within the preliminary engineering documents. <br /> <br />Project staff and consultants continue to evaluate several major issues including <br />Central Control Communication technology and location; Big Lake Station <br />location and layout; Inter-modal station coordination with prospective <br />developers and uses; and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. <br /> <br />Project staff and consultants meet bi-weekly with the City of Minneapolis on <br />design issues of the LRT Connection and inter-modal station. Periodic <br />Northstar Corridor Monthly Report 6 ~.~.' '.. <br />June 17,2005 ~ <br />'f):(IIDBTHSTAR <br />~IIAIL <br />