02-09-2010 Council Work Session Packet

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� � FROI� MET COEJNCIL WEBSITE - PRIPVTED 2-8-af� Region maicing �rogress towarci improvec4 �rar�s'st "We are no longer behind our peers," Bell says The Metropolitan Council is making "great progress" toward achieving its transit vision, building ridership and slowing the growth in traffic congestion, says Council Chair Peter Bell. Speaking Feb. 1 at the Council's 2010 State of the Region event, Bell said recent milestones include: •Opening the region's first commuter rail line in the Northstar Corridor. •Moving toward construction of the region's second light-rail transit line in the Central Corridor. •Completing the first phase of bus rapid transit (BRT) improvements in the I-35W and Cedar Avenue Corridors. Six transitways are now in place or under development," Bell said. "When completed in 2014, we will have a total of 115 miles of transitways." q, � �_ .. . .. ..._.��.. .. . . � . ., . . ti`� . _ , :ar1 ; �� --� �� _ . ; . � ''' r _� �,,: � ,� �Y;;- - r� � � '��: ;.. ., .. � � ,:�_ , �. __ . _ . , _ , . _ - � �- :�-. _� _, �_ The region's multi-modal transit system is no longer behind its peers across the country, Bell said in his State of the Region address. Bell also noted that since 2003, the region registered significant gains in transit ridership, park-and-ride spaces and its nation-leading system of bus shoulder lanes. "We no longer are behind peers such as Denver, Dallas, Portland, Salt Lake City and St. Louis," he said. "Our transit system is growing faster, is more productive and has a lower subsidy per passenger than most of our peers." Despite recession, region has competitive strengths Bell addressed a crowd of about 200 legislators, local officials and community leaders at the event, held at Silverwood Regional Park in St. Anthony. He said that the region has felt the effects of the "worst recession in more than 60 years," including high unemployment, record numbers of foreclosures and a record low in housing starts in 2009.