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<br />CASE ~ <br /> <br />APPROVE RESOLUTION TO APPLY FOR FUNDS TO CONSTRUCT THE <br />NORTHSTAR RAMSEY RAIL STATION <br />By: Brian E. Olson, Director of Public Works/Principal City Engineer <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br />The Northstar Ramsey Rail Station has been identified as a high priority by the Ramsey City <br />Council during the strategic planning session that was held earlier this year. Within the last year, <br />the City of Ramsey has partnered with the Anoka County Regional Rail Authority (ACRRA) and <br />the Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA) by jointly completing the preliminary <br />design, preliminary cost estimates, ridership analysis, and environmental documentation of the <br />rail station. <br /> <br />On March 24, 2009, the City Council approved a resolution that was sent to the ACRRA and <br />NCDA to take the next step and begin final design for the project. <br /> <br />On May 12,2009, the City Council approved a proposal prepared by LSA Design to complete an <br />application for Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds. <br /> <br />Observations: <br /> <br />The 2009 Regional Solicitation for the CMAQ grant limits federal contribution to $7 million and <br />requires a local match of 20%. Unlike the Transportation Enhancement grant application, the <br />CMAQ does not allow for soft costs (engineering, both final and construction engineering) to be <br />used as local match therefore design is in addition to the construction costs. Right of way is not <br />eligible when it is a stand alone project but are eligible when it is part of a construction project. <br />(see attached) <br /> <br />The cost estimate for the Northstar Ramsey Rail Station was completed by Kimley Horn under <br />an earlier contract and resulted in an estimated cost of $7.7 million not including the pedestrian <br />overpass connecting the parking ramp and the rail station or the easement necessary from <br />Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railway. The pedestrian overpass was estimated at <br />$800,000 and the easement was estimated at $3-6 million. (see attached). During the preparation <br />of the application, it was discovered that the applicant (City of Ramsey) must send a letter as part <br />of the application that commits to the local match or 20%. <br /> <br />Funding Source: <br /> <br />No funding is required at this time, however, should Ramsey be successful in their application <br />for construction of the Northstar Ramsey Rail Station, the City of Ramsey would be responsible <br />for providing the local match to complete the construction. The application process does not <br />preclude the City of Ramsey for securing that local match through other sources such as the <br />