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MAYOR <br />Bill 13lesener <br />COUNCIL <br />Jim LaValte <br />Rick Montour <br />Barbara Allan <br />John Keis <br />515 Little Canada Road, Little Canada, MN 55117 -1600 ADNIINISTRATOR <br />(651) 766 -4029 / FAX: (651) 766 -4048 Joel R. Hanson <br />www.ci.little- canada.mn.us <br />February 9, 2006 <br />Mr. Tom Weaver, Regional Administrator <br />Metropolitan Council <br />Mears Park Center <br />230 E. 5th Street <br />St. Paul, MN 55101 <br />RE: Proposed Park & Ride at County Road B and Rice Street <br />Dear Mr. Weaver: <br />At the direction of the City Council of Little Canada, I am writing to discuss Metro <br />Transit's possible construction of a new Park & Ride at County Road B and Rice Street <br />in our City. As you may know, the City of Little Canada has been a strong supporter of <br />transit activities, most recently evidenced by our joint efforts to facilitate the construction <br />of a transfer hub on Market Place Drive. Therefore, it is with mixed sentiments that we <br />must now express our deep concern with the above reference project. <br />This concern stems from the poor traffic conditions along the Rice Street corridor from <br />County Road B to Minnesota Avenue. Currently, traffic flow in this area is terrible, <br />especially during rush hours periods. To add 300 to 400 more vehicles into the mix does <br />not seem prudent. <br />Another concern involves our preeminent business, St. Jude Medical, Inc. They have <br />expressed frustration with traffic in this area and its negative impact on customers and <br />employees. As a growing enterprise, the City does not want to create an incentive for <br />them to grow elsewhere. (Their position is expressed in the attached letter.) <br />Little Canada believes the resolution of these issues lies in the reconstruction of the Rice <br />Street Bridge over Highway 36. Additional lanes and superior geometries should enable <br />us to alleviate the current problems. By doing so, the location of a new Park & Ride in <br />this area may prove feasible. The caveat in this regard is the new bridge could negatively <br />impact the proposed site for the Park & Ride and severely handicap its effectiveness in <br />the transit system. <br />5 <br />