Agenda - Council Work Session - 02/10/2015

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Trunk Highway 10/Ramsey Boulevard Interchange Improvement Strategy 2015 This proposed strategy is based upon several important transportation funding opportunities currently under consideration at the state, federal, and regional level. Cumulatively these opportunities offer significant promise for advancing the construction of rail crossing and interchange improvements at Ramsey Boulevard (County Road 56) and TH 10. First, the improvement of Ramsey Boulevard/CR 56 would involve both the construction of a grade separation at the BNSF railroad crossing and the construction of a grade separated interchange at TH 10. These improvements are recognized as vital to the safety and economic growth of the corridor and have been included in Anoka County's 2030 Transportation Plan, MnDOT's TH 10 Access Study Implementation Plan, MnDOT's High Priority Crude by Rail Grade Crossing List and Ramsey's transportation improvement plan. Also, as a high volume feature of the TH 10 corridor and an access point for the Northstar Passenger Rail station, the Ramsey Blvd crossing improvements would be eligible for a variety of federal, state, and regional grant programs. Second, state transportation funding is a high priority agenda item for this year's legislative session. While agreement on a long term funding program to address state transportation needs may be difficult to achieve given the current make-up of the legislature, a significant one time funding allocation to transportation appears to have increasing support. Whatever the outcome however, whether long term or one time, a consensus seems to exist that rail crossing safety issues created by increasing rail shipments of crude oil must be addressed. One proposal now circulating in the legislature would allocate $122 million rail grade crossing improvements provided that the railroad companies transporting the crude oil in Minnesota match that amount. At present federal law requires only a 5% match by the railroads. Other proposals under consideration would increase funding for Corridors of Commerce, Transportation and Economic Development, and Local Road Improvement grant programs, all of which could benefit the Ramsey Blvd improvement project. Third, at the federal level prospects for a longer term transportation funding bill appear to be gaining momentum. The President has proposed a significant increase in transportation funding which, importantly, is not tied to an increase in the federal gas tax. This is a major concession to the leadership of the US House and Senate, and while there will certainly be disagreement about the details of the funding levels and sources, a non - gas tax based proposal opens the door to a possible agreement. Again, at the federal level, rail crossing safety is viewed as a high national priority and represents an opportunity for the City of Ramsey given the presence of a BNSF mainline and the volume of crude oil shipments it does and is projected to carry.