HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 2011-059 Reg. Conf. of Mayor Transportion Funding �911,,A r
�� REGIONAL CONFERENCE OF MAYORS
o @ RESOLUTION ON TRANSPORTATION FUNDING
o
Whereas, the Regional Council of Mayors ("RCM"), is composed of the mayors of Minneapolis, St.
Paul and approximately 45 municipalities in the developed and developing suburbs. The
collaborative partnership provides a non-partisan platform focused on building action strategies to
raise overall economic competitiveness, accelerate innovation and improve the quality of life in the
MSP region; and
Whereas, our present levels of congestion and our unsafe roads hinder our economic prosperity,
erode our quality of life, and complicate numerous aspects of living and doing business in Minnesota;
and
Whereas, one million additional people are expected to move to the MSP metropolitan region in the
next two decades, further exacerbating our already unacceptable traffic congestion; and
Whereas, solving our region's transportation problem is a complex and long-term challenge that will
require various strategies; and
Whereas, Minnesota needs to adequately and strategically expand both its transit and road systems
with predictable, adequate, and long-term sources of funding; and
Whereas, transportation funding must prioritize public transit within a comprehensive, multi-modal,
interconnected transportation system that serves the 11-county metro area; and that our planned
light rail and commuter rail lines, along with expanded bus service, both regular route and BRT, must
be expanded to support the population and businesses in our fast-growing region; and
Whereas, courageous and visionary legislative leadership is vital to forging a sustainable, long-term
transportation plan for our state and region.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that as elected leaders representing cities in Minnesota's fast-
growing 11-county metropolitan region, we hereby declare our belief that transportation has
become one of the most vexing problems facing our communities and state. We call upon the
leaders in the legislature to create a long-term solution to our transportation needs and, in the short-
term, in order to keep our metropolitan area economy vital and flourishing, we call upon the
legislature to exercise good judgment and provide adequate funding for Metro Transit as well as all
suburban transit providers, namely Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA), SouthWest Transit,
Plymouth Metrolink, Maple Grove Transit, Prior Lakes Laker Line, DARTS and Shakopee Transit, so as
not to adversely affect the ability of all of our transit providers, whether urban or suburban, to move
• workers, students and the thousands of other residents who use those services on a daily basis to get
to their jobs, to school or otherwise engage in important economic activity that benefits the region
City Hall 952-927-8861
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Resolution No. 2011-59
Page Two
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and the State of Minnesota; to not halt or otherwise defer or delay progress on transit projects,
including the Central Corridor and the Southwest LRT; to do nothing legislatively that will impede
planning for other rail and bus rapid transit projects presently underway; to be mindful that
adequately funding our existing transportation system and having the foresight to continue the
commitment to both plan and build out our future transit system is critical to the well-being of our
state and we urge the legislature to provide the kind of leadership and stewardship necessary to
accomplish those goals.
Dated this 17th day of May 2011.
A; sV
Debra A. Mangen, Cliiy CI rk James B. Hovland, Mayor
STATE OF MINNESOTA )
COUNTY OF HENNEPIN ) SS
. CITY OF EDINA )
CERTIFICATE OF CLERK
I, the undersigned duly appointed and acting City Clerk for the City of Edina, do hereby certify that
the attached and foregoing Resolution is a true and correct copy of the Resolution duly adopted by
the Edina City Council at its Regular Meeting of May 17, 2011, and as recorded in the Minutes of said
Regular Meeting.
WITNESS my hand and seal of said City this day of 20_
City Clerk
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