Agenda - Council - 03/25/2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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RESPONSE: The proposed three mile segment is part of the Mississippi River Regional Trail, which is a designated Metropolitan Council Regional Trail in the Metropolitan Council's 2030 Regional Parks Policy Plan. The Mississippi River Regional Trail Northern Alignment Master Plan was approved by the Metropolitan Council in August 2007. • Briefly describe how the project implements the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan in the 2030 Transportation Policy Plan (2009). RESPONSE: The Mississippi River Trail will implement Policy 18: Providing Pedestrian and Bicycle Travel Systems, as well as its supporting strategies, of the Metropolitan Council's 2030 Transportation Policy Plan. Specifically, Strategy 18a - "the Council will prioritize federal funding for bicycle and pedestrian improvements based on their ability to accomplish regional transportation objectives for bicycling or walking in a cost-effective manner and improving access to major destinations" and Strategy 18b - "recognizing the importance of walking and bicycling to a multi -modal transportation system, the Council will strongly encourage local units of government to develop a safe and attractive pedestrian environment near major transit corridors and stations with linkages for pedestrians and bicyclists from origins and destinations to buses and trains." Additionally, this trail project will implement Strategy 18c - "the Council encourages local planning for bicycle and pedestrian mobility by requiring that a local bicycle or pedestrian project must be consistent with an adopted plan to be considered eligible for federal transportation funding" and Strategy 18d - "the Council, along with local and state agencies, will coordinate planning efforts to develop efficient and continuous bikeway systems and pedestrian path, eliminate barriers and critical gaps and ensure adequate interjurisdictional connections and signage." 6. Maturity of Project Concept (200 points). Projects selected through this solicitation will be programmed for construction in 2015 or 2016. That is a fairly long time but it takes several years to complete preliminary engineering, environmental studies and acquire right-of-way. The region must manage the federal funds in each year of the TIP. Projects that are not implemented in their original program year are carried over to the next program year, or the funding sunset date. This requires other projects to shift program years to maintain fiscal balance in the TIP and STIP. Proposed projects that have already completed some of the work are more likely to be ready for funding authorization in their program year. A schedule is important to know what kind of work might be needed. Large projects that need right-of-way require more work than those that do not. Applications involving construction must complete the project implementation schedule found in Appendix K. A detailed schedule of events is expected for all phases of the project. Applications involving non -construction projects must include a detailed discussion of the timeframes involved for initiating and completing each phase of planned activities. Points under this criterion are assigned based on how many steps have been taken toward implementation of the project. These steps reflect a federally funded project development path. 24