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<br />Ms. Ruehle stated because MnDOT does not have funds in their budget for things like relocation, <br />Ramsey has been fronting relocation costs to be reimbursed by MnDOT. MnDOT has been <br />covering residential relocation costs, but commercial costs are being fronted by the City. <br /> <br />Ramsey Commuter Rail Station <br /> <br />Mr. Tinklenberg indicated originally it was anticipated that there would be a full funding grant <br />agreement completed this spring, however the FT A has indicated the agreement may not be <br />completed until fall. The Tinklenberg Group has been talking with Senator Coleman's office <br />asking if he will try to get the FTA's attention about this and encourage them to move faster. <br />Mr. Tinklenberg stated the strategy has been to secure inclusion of a Ramsey station in the <br />Northstar Commuter Rail service, and he continues to believe it is a strong likelihood that there <br />will be a Ramsey station. However, the strategy has been not to push until the full funding grant <br />agreement has been signed off on by the FT A. While there is a lot of work behind the scenes <br />addressing the Ramsey station, the key issue is the full funding grant agreement and trying to <br />push that as fast as they can. <br /> <br />Mr. Tinklenberg stated there is a great deal of interest in a Phase 2 of the Northstar from Big <br />Lake on to St. Cloud. He cannot determine a formula that shows it would be better to end the <br />line in Big Lake, rather than St. Cloud, but that is the decision that was made. There is a group <br />in St. Cloud working hard on getting the line extended, and the mayor of St. Cloud is behind the <br />extension. At this point, given the interest in rail projects in Minnesota and the politics of other <br />projects being considered for federal transit, there is a lot of competition for those dollars, and <br />Phase 2 will have an uphill climb. This should not have an effect on the Ramsey station. The <br />possibility of adding the Duluth corridor to the line opens up additional capacity and would help <br />pay for additional improvements in the Fridley yards area, and may add capacity onto Northstar. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec questioned if the $1.2 million appropriation in funding that was obtained by the <br />City has been eliminated due to the deadlock at the legislature. <br /> <br />Mr. Tiz.li<:lenberg explained Congress was not able to pass the 2007 transportation budget. After <br />the change in leadership it was determined to do a continuing resolution, which maintains the <br />2006 budget through 2007, and to begin work on the 2008 budget in 2007. Those funding <br />requests that had come in from around the country were all eliminated. There has been a lot of <br />discussion about earmarks. The important thing to remember about transportation earmarks is <br />that it is all an open process and there will not be a lot of changes in the earmarking process in <br />terms of applications. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec asked whether the City should request funds through the appropriations for <br />Highway 10. <br /> <br />Mr. Tinklenberg replied this would be the recommendation of The Tinklenberg Group. He <br />explained the hardest request is the first one. Once that is moving and funding has been <br />received, Congress likes to see projects with two things: broad support and the money being <br />used. The other thing is that in 2009, Congress will begin the process of redrafting the 6 year <br />transportation bill. That will be an opportunity to go after more significant dollars, and assuming <br /> <br />City Council Work Session / February 20, 2007 <br />Page 5 of8 <br />