Agenda - Council - 12/13/2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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0 MetroTransit Northstar Line July 14, 2016 Metro Transit 5606 1h Avenue North Minneapolis,MN Attn. TAB Coordinator SUBJECT: SUPPORT FOR THE MISSISSIPPI SKYWAY PEDESTRIAN OVERPASS PROJECT Dear Elaine Koutsoukos: Foremost, thank you for your service in administrating the federal transportation finds for locally initiated projects to meet regional transportation needs. What you do aligns well with our guiding principles at Metro Transit: "We believe that public transportation is essential to the economic vitality, environmental stability and quality of life in the Tivin Cities region. " As you know, the Northstar Commuter Rail Line is all about public transportation, connecting the northwest metropolitan area to many tens of thousands of jobs between Big Lake and Minneapolis and St. Paul. But Northstar also enhances quality of life for metro area residents, allowing affordable transportation and multimodal choices,as well as the opportunity to use Northstar to access regional parks and trails. Did you know that all Northstar trains allow bikes and have bike racks, and that there are 1.331 bike parking spaces along the stations? And that there are more than 200 bike lockers available, including the City of Ramsey's 800-stall covered parking ramp—and, immediately adjacent to the skyway at the Ramsey station there are also electric vehicle charging stations? For all of the above reasons, I enthusiastically support the extension of the existing skyway by Ramsey's proposal before the Transportation Advisory Board. 1 also support the pedestrian bridge as a rail station enliancement, as it will add ridership, both immediately and as more people call the area home. Sincerely, Jo n Paul 7.anaska Director. Northstar Commuter Rail Metro Transit www.rreti*otransit.org P.O. Box 40, 19699 Co. Rd. 43 Big Lake, MN 55309