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History & Context <br /> In the late 1990's, following a citizen-led referendum <br /> calling on the City of Ramsey to develop a `town center; <br /> Ramsey has forwarded an innovative vision for a new <br /> downtown district (The COR, an acronym for City of <br /> Ramsey),defined through a sequence of adopted plans that –° <br /> have led to a variety of successful development projects in '�•; <br /> all categories including; housing, school, medical, office, . <br /> municipal, commercial and the focus of this study, new <br /> additions to the city park and trail system—within and ` <br /> connecting to The COR. 1`'- <br /> (Excerpts from the'Mississippi Skyway Preliminary Engineering Report' <br /> -SRF et al.2014) Y <br /> "The City of Ramsey,with the Metropolitan <br /> Council,has envisioned a multi-modal town <br /> center,with access via commuter rail,car, i <br /> bicycle,and on foot.The'COR'development is a Ramsey Town Center Master Plan(CLOSE,2001) <br /> planned 400 acre mixed-use and transit-oriented <br /> development site that includes a mix of residential <br /> housing choices for people of all incomes. <br /> Establishing parks and creating quality recreational ' . <br /> and open space opportunities remains a high = <br /> priority for the City. The CITY OF RAMSEY 20301 <br /> COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE identifies the need <br /> to"Create vehicular and non-vehicular linkages <br /> to neighboring communities and between city - <br /> neighborhoods,trails,recreation,work and shopping" <br /> as a component of their future planning checklist. <br /> The Mississippi Skyway pedestrian bridge will <br /> provide a critical direct pedestrian and bicycle <br /> connection between the City of Ramsey's pedestrian- <br /> oriented'COR'development the Ramsey Northstar Proposed Mississippi Skyway(SRF,2014) <br /> Station,Ramsey Park&Ride and the resources <br /> associated with the Mississippi River and attendant <br /> regional amenities.Currently,Trunk Highway 10 <br /> (TH 10)and the parallel BNSF Railway Company <br /> and Metro Transit Northstar Commuter Rail <br /> railroad corridor are barriers to safe pedestrian and <br /> bicycle access between The COR and the river. <br /> At its heart,the Mississippi Skyway project is <br /> fl about overcoming boundaries to safe bicycle <br /> and pedestrian circulation while expanding and <br /> LTJ <br /> 0 enhancing multi-modal transportation,economic <br /> development and recreational options to promote <br /> a livable,vibrant region and community." <br /> More recently, The City of Ramsey invited a team of <br /> consultants to work with City Department Leadership to <br /> set baseline assumptions that would help inform ongoing <br /> decisions related to future park and trail projects within The <br /> COR. This process outlined expected uses, facilities and <br /> features (a very basic design program),that was translated <br /> into a preliminary estimate of potential construction costs <br /> for each of the primary COR area components. Study <br /> Development Plan 6.0(Landform 2012) conclusions included a summary of possible `Scenarios <br /> + Strategies' available to support project funding and <br /> implementation. <br /> Public Realm Framework+Cost Evaluation 3 <br />