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Elwyn Tinklenberg, The Tinklenberg Group, stated as part of the first 30 days, he was asked to <br />look at opportunities to demonstrate a real promise for additional Highway 10 improvements and <br />if there was opportunity to work with other communities in terms of pursuing those <br />improvements. He reported there was interest in Andover and Coon Rapids to work jointly but <br />he was not successful in attracting interest in that kind of structure with Anoka. He stated in <br />terms of opportunity for additional improvements on Highway 10 and to support broader <br />activities on Highway 10, he thinks those are certainly there including the momentum created by <br />the Armstrong Boulevard interchange. In addition, due to the anticipated doubling of crude oil <br />traffic on rail, the Legislature and Governor are looking at significant funding increases to <br />improve rail crossings. <br />Mr. Tinklenberg stated there are activities taking place related to broader improvements along <br />Highway 10 that bring increased attention to the corridor. Anoka County is proposing a bonding <br />initiative to cover improvements within Mn/DOT's Access Management Plan, which will create <br />opportunity. He explained how that initiative would be funded without competing for rail <br />improvement dollars, allowing both to move forward. <br />Mr Tinklenberg stated there is renewed momentum for a long -term transportation funding bill in <br />the Congress to bring additional dollars to the table. He stated there will be a hearing tomorrow <br />in the House of Representatives and they are optimistic they will be able to put a bill together <br />that does not rely on an increase in gas tax at the federal level. <br />Mr. Tinklenberg stated there will be additional grant programs available to Ramsey for rail <br />crossings and rail safety. He stated the Governor's transportation budget and proposals will be <br />presented to the House tomorrow and the Chairs of the committees will be part of a panel <br />discussion of House and Senate proposals. <br />Mr. Tinklenberg stated he thinks there is justification for the City to move forward and for an <br />independent bill related to Ramsey Boulevard to have that in place as well. He stated it is <br />important to get that bill moving very soon because deadlines are shortly after the end of <br />February. <br />Mayor Strommen stated the Highway 10 Subcommittee met with Mr Tinldenberg to discuss the <br />information just shared in the context of the State and Federal levels. A two- pronged strategy <br />continues to make sense and to be an advocate for improvements along the entire corridor. She <br />stated it is important to keep everyone aware of the full need and to take advantage of all <br />opportunities including rail safety and rail crossings as it puts Ramsey Boulevard in a different <br />category than intersections in Anoka. She noted that Item 5 in the proposal may even be <br />considered for the top of the list. <br />Mr. Tinklenberg commented on his conversation with Senator Hoffman and Representative <br />Uglem and proposal to pull a group together so there is better coordination. It was noted that last <br />year, Representative Abeler presented a larger bill to keep everyone aware of needs in the whole <br />corridor as well as a smaller bill relating to Armstrong Boulevard. <br />City Council Work Session / February 10, 2015 <br />Page 7 of 9 <br />