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relocating the tracks; the City cannot afford to pick up the cost of the <br />entire project. Burlington Northern realizes that the railroad corridor <br />needs upgrading and the City is looking at protecting a corridor that would <br />be safer if Burlington chooses to relocate the tracks in the future. <br /> <br />Counciln~mber DeLuca stated that the City is trying to determine if it is <br />possible for the tracks to be relocated and set aside the necessary <br />easements to do so before develounent occurs which would cause the cost of <br />the easements to become too great. <br /> <br />Ragna Pearson - Stated that attempts to sell property will fail when <br />potential buyers become aware of the easement. <br /> <br />C~)uncilmember Cox replied that any potential buyer will want to know if <br />there are plans to make the railroad crossings and highway access; these <br />issues will have to be addressed in the future whether the proposed <br />relocation corridor is in place or not. <br /> <br />Mike Powers - Inquired as to how wide the corridor would have to be and how <br />would the relocation affect the upcoming improvements to Armstrong Blvd. <br /> <br />Mr. Hartley stated that the railroad corridor would have to be 100 feet <br />wide. <br /> <br />Councilm~mber Cox noted that there has been no decision made to relocate <br />the tracks. Ramsey cannot afford to do the project alone; it would have to <br />be a combined effort on the part of Ramsey, Minnesota, Anoka County and <br />Burlington Northern. The problems that exist in the subject area will grow <br />as the population numbers increase. <br /> <br />John Ottenstroer - Inquired if it is possible to research other realignment <br />options. <br /> <br />Councilmember Cox stated that Burlington Northern has indicated that there <br />are only a few corridors that would be acceptable and the subject proposal <br />appears to .be the most acceptable to Burlington. <br /> <br />Mr. Hartley explained that the subject proposal is the one most acceptable <br />to Burlington as it is policy that track alignments have no curves and if <br />so, that they occur over many miles. <br /> <br />Mike Powers - Stated that the proposed realignment could be shifted 200 <br />feet to the north without creating a curve. <br /> <br />Mr. Hartley stated that Mr. Powers' suggestion brings the railroad corridor <br />to close to 153rd. <br /> <br />Mr.. John Ottenstroer - Stated it would be easier to relocate 153rd than <br />existing homes and buildings; Northfork moved in and changed the scope of <br />the community and it looks like Northfork is being protected. Mr. <br />Ottenstroer stated that he doesn't like to hear that there is only one <br />option for realignment and he would like to hear from Burlington that only <br />one realignment option is possible. <br /> City Council/May 19, 1988 <br /> <br />Page 3 of 5 <br /> <br /> <br />