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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes November 14, 2006 Page 3 2 Commissioner Parker displayed a map of the current Metro area transit corridor. She explained 3 Ramsey County has been involved in planning for light rail transit. She mentioned that several 4 years ago the state legislature authorized the County Boards of Commissioners to purchase a 5 band of railroad lines as they become defunked. She mentioned Ramsey purchased various 6 corridors. She pointed out the closest to St. Anthony is in the northeast diagonal identified on 7 the map which would run between Minneapolis and Roseville. She stated the plan is in the 8 Metropolitan Council planning process for the 20/20 transit system to become a bus way. She 9 mentioned the next one to be built in Ramsey County would be a light rail system for the Central 10 Corridor between Minneapolis and & St. Paul. Commissioner Parker stated Ramsey County has 11 received federal funding for this project. She mentioned the cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis 12 are very involved with the project. 13 14 Commissioner Parker reported Ramsey County received a $50 million grant to renovate the 15 Union Depot into a multi modal transit hub. She stated transportation methods such as Amtrak, 16 light rail, and buses would eventually come into the depot. 17 18 Commissioner Parker explained work on pedestrian traffic in Ramsey County is taking place 19 with a project called Active Living Ramsey County that looks at how the built environment 20 might be affecting people's ability or inability to get around either by bicycle or walking. She 21 explained the initiative started with the concern for pedestrian safety, the rising obesity rate, busy 22 roads, and getting around communities safely. She reported schools are cutting down on buses, 23 so Ramsey County sponsored a walkable communities event last spring that was well received. 24 25 Commissioner Parker reported a class from the University of Minnesota did a best practices 26 study in six Ramsey County communities. She explained the class generated ideas to use during 27 a comprehensive planning process to create a city more conducive to pedestrian and bicycle 28 traffic. She stated Ramsey County received a grant to hire a person to provide technical 29 assistance during the comprehensive planning process to. build in pedestrian friendly 30 communities. 31 32 Commissioner Parker stated that as part of the Active Living project, the County Board funded a 33 matching grant program to build more benches in the community. She stated the goal is to build 34 1000 benches throughout the county. She explained findings indicate older people and those 35 with disabilities are more apt to walk if they have benches available where they could rest 36 periodically. Commissioner Parker invited all municipalities to submit proposals; the County 37 would then match funds for a series of benches in the community. She stated the project is 38 called Paths to Health. Commissioner Parker explained the benches would be within eyesight of 39 each other to encourage residents to walk more. 40 41 Mayor Faust shared that the walkable communities participation resulted in good news and bad 42 news. He mentioned St. Anthony did not receive the grant but the good news is a sidewalk 43 would still be constructed between 29th to 37ffi Avenues. He stated the Council would take the 44 comp plan opportunity to heart. He stated St. Anthony is wrapping up the comprehensive plan 45 with a focus on sidewalks, streetlights, bicycling and bike racks, but believes it is not too late to 46 add in benches as part of the plan.