Agenda - Council - 03/11/1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNTY OF ANOKA Office of the County Board of Commissioners GOVERNMENT CENTER 2100 3rd Avenue · Anoka, Minnesota 55303-2265 (612) 323-5680 February 26, 1997 I997 The Honorable Tom Gamec City of Ramsey 15153 Nov,then Boulevard NW Ramsey, MN 55303 Dear Mayor Gamec: In 1991 Congress passed, and the President signed, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Effidency Act (ISTEA). In doing so, the federal government dramatically changed the way in which transportation planning and funding would be conducted. The purpose of the Act was to bring greater coordination between planning and transportation improvements and better integration of various transportation modes within individual corridors thereby assuring higher levels of mobility and efficiency, while reducing dependence on highway improvements alone. ISTEA's original authorization will expire in October of this year and Congress is in the process of developing a re-authorization bill. As part of the process, the leadership of the House committee responsible for drafting the bill is inviting submission of funding proposals for projects of special significance from around the county, which could be incorporated into the bill. A number of groups and governmental units in our area have proposed submitting an application to fund a study of the feasibility of multi-modal transportation improvements along the Highway 1 O/Burlington Northern corridor, from St. Cloud to Minneapolis. The purpose of the study would be to explore the effectiveness and efficiency of a variety of transportation-related developments along the corridor. It would be conducted by a Joint Powers Board made up of the townships, cities, counties and rail authorities along the corridor, and wou!d include an examination of the feasibilit-y of safety, trail-way or other corridor enhancements; possible highway improvements as appropriate; commuter rail; Intelligent Transportation Systems; freight capacity improvements; and integration with community planning and growth management issues. Such a study is exactly the kind of integrated, multi-modal approach ISTEA envisioned. Obviously, it could only go forward with the availability of federal funding, but we are confident that with broad support along the corridor, and the fact that Congressman Oberstar who represents much of the corridor holds the ranking minority position on the committee responsible for ISTEA, we can be successful. FAX: 323-5682 Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer TDDfTTY: 323-5289