7.3. SR 08-15-2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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VI. Advanced Design Advanced design is underway, with the assistance of two teams of consultants. A team led by Kimley Horn and Associates (KHA) is responsible for the six commuter rail stations and the maintenance facility including the central control facility. A team led by L TK Engineering (LTK) is responsible for the LRT Connection and providing technical support for KHA's work on the commuter rail stations and maintenance facility. The entire project design team meets on a weekly basis. Issues surrounding the location of the Big Lake station have been resolved. With the support of the City of Big Lake, the maintenance facility and station site will both be located on the south side of the BNSF tracks. This location fits well with the future use of the area, ties the station and maintenance facility together, and avoids a rail crossing of county road 43. The NCDA Board approved this change at its July 7,2005 meeting. Project staff and consultants are evaluating several major issues including Central Control Communication technology and location; Inter-modal station coordination with prospective developers and uses; and level boarding in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Project staff continue to meet with station city staff regarding building codes and permit processes to ensure full understanding of expectations and plans. Project staff and consultants meet bi-weekly with the City of Minneapolis on design issues of the LRT Connection and inter-modal station. Periodic meetings are also held with the State Historic Preservation Office and Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission to get their input and concurrence on the proposed plans because of the adjacent Warehouse Historic District. Project staff will continue to work with these organizations to fulfill the programmatic agreement regarding cultural resources that was included in the Project's Record of Decision. BNSF and the NPO executed a Rail Passenger Capital Improvements Engineering Agreement and the BNSF retained engineering consultants who will perform advanced and final design on a list of mutually agreed improvements to BNSF's railway in the Northstar Corridor. Ongoing negotiations continue to finalize construction and operations agreements between NPO and the BNSF. VII. Twins Baseball Stadium Coordination The Minnesota Twins and Hennepin County have agreed to a funding plan for a new baseball stadium in downtown Minneapolis. The stadium site sits adjacent to the inter-modal station connecting Northstar commuter rail and the Hiawatha LRT Connection. The plan for the $478 million facility will include private funding from Twins owner Carl Pohlad and public money from the county in the form of a 0.15% sales tax. The Minnesota Legislature must approve any county invoking a sales tax. The Legislature did not do during the regular 2005 session nor in the Monthly Report July 18, 2005 -13- Northstar Corridor Rail Project