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Metropolitan Council 300 Metro Square Building Seventh and Robert Streets St. Paul, Minnesota 55101 Telephone (612) 291-6359 October 16, 1986 Ann Norris, Planner City of Ramsey 15153 Nowthen Blvd. Ramsey, Minnesota 55303 RE: North Metro Area Traffic Study Dear Ms. Norris: The purpose of this letter is to update you on the status of the North Metro Traffic Task Force river crossings study. First, let me thank those task force and technical committee members and their staffs who participated in the study. Jo Nunn and the Metropolitan Council's study coordinators advise me that everyone pitched in with the time and information necessary when asked. Selecting a location for a major new bridge that affects several communities makes cooperation essential. Since the report was provided to the task force in May, we have received resolutions concerning the study findings from Andover, Anoka, Brooklyn Park, Champlin, Coon Rapids, Fridley and Ramsey. Most resolutions endorsed the findings of the study. All resolutions asked the Council and Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) to initiate further work on a priority basis. The resolutions specifically requested "that the State of Minnesota and the Metropolitan Council allocate, on a priority basis, all necessary resources to identify, design and construct appropriate facilities to satisfy north metro area river bridge needs." While this is an important issue to us, the Council doesn't have the resources to take a leadership role. Funding for the next phase (an environmental 1rap. act study) will require participation by the communities and counties. It is our view that one of the counties or an affected city should assume the role of responsible agency for the environmental impact study (EIS). The Council would be glad to assist in defining the scope and content of the EIS and, of course, Council staff will be able to provide its information and some assistance in coordination since the river crossing is an issue of regional significance. We will encourage Mn/DOT to continue to assist and participate in the same fashion. In order to facilitate transfer of leadership to the communities for the next step, Council staff will contact each of the North Metro Traffic Task Force participants to initiate work on an EIS study design. When the study design and a preliminary cost estimate are available, it will be clearer what the EIS implies for a further cooperative effort. An Equal Opportunity Employer