Metropolitan Sytems Information Statement 1989

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. ABOUT THIS AMENDMENT The Metropolitan Council is required by the regional transit legislation passed by the 1989 Minnesota Legislature to amend its Transportation Development Guide/Policv Plan by January 1, 1990. Specifically, the legislation states (Section 20): "Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 473.146, by January 1, 1990, the Council shall revise the light rail transit element of its transportation plan, taking into consideration all the comprehensive plans and studies of corridors and preliminary design plans of regional railroad authorities." The attached proposed amendments have been prepared to respond to the legislation and the issues identified prior to drafting the amendment. The following are highlights of the amendment: 1. While the plan amendment does not increase the number of light rail transit corridors in the metropolitan transit system plan at this time, it includes a process for the Council to add corridors if they meet the performance evaluation measures contained in the plan, upon recommendation of the Regional Transit Board (RTB). 2. A maximum threshold of $4.00 per passenger total cost (annualized capital plus operating costs), including supporting bus service, has been established for a corridor to be included in the 20- year plan. This threshold is based on capital and operating subsidy thresholds of the regional bus system. 3. Light rail transit plans need to include an equitable financial plan that draws on sources consistent with the Metropolitan Development and Investment Framework and the transportation funding principles of the Transportation Development Guide/Policy Plan. A minimum level of regional and/or local participation should be established, but whether the source is "regional" or "local" is secondary to the need for equity in how funds are generated. 4. The staging of the regional system within the 20-year time frame (to be determined by the RTB in the development and financial plan) is to be based primarily on cost-effectiveness and regional/local financial participation, along with implementation opportunities. 5. The results of the light rail transit development and financial plan and coordination plan must be reflected in the Regional Transit Board's implementation plan to enhance coordination of light rail and other regional transit services. 6. The inventory of reconunended highway improvements has been clarified to specifically include light rail transit as a potential improvement in the I-35W corridor south of downtown Minneapolis. 7. The highway ranking process criterion for increasing people -moving capacity has been revised to include light rail transit as an improvement eligible for points. The first five changes above occur in Policy 2, Strategy C and Policy 10 of the TransDonation Development Guide/Policy Plan. In addition, the metropolitan transit system plan element (Chapter 3) has been revised to reflect the above changes. The sixth change and seventh changes are found in Chapter 5 and Appendix E, of the policy plan, respectively.