01-24-2000 Council Work Session - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

I Rail transit or light rail transit alternatives deserve renewed-invcstigaliuii. Th ere has -been no rail passenger service to Orono since th e last train from Mound ran in 1958. At one time up to 18 trains da ily ran on ho urly he adways between ^^ft)ttnd and Minneapolis %vith five stops inside Orono and t\%~enty Tninine service to d cn\Tito\\T>. Th e increased population of th e lak e area, th e- increasing energy problonis, the incrcasinjily crowded roads and the decreasing roadway niuintonancc bnd g ets all—combine—to—make —the —time—ripe—to reinvestiga te—ah emative transportation mode s such as ligh t rail transit utilizing th e existing under-used uil right-of“\vay th rough urban Orono. Light rail transit seizing the western suburbs deserves renewed investigation. There has been no rail passenger service to Orono since the last train from Mound ran in 1958. At one time un to 18 trains daily ran hourly between Mound and Minneapolis with five stops inside Orono and twenty minute service to downtown. The potential exists For a light rail corridor along 1-394 which would provide an alternative to commuting via bus or passenger automobile. Rail freight service operates along both of Orono's Burling ton North ern existing rail lines. Main line serv'ice is provided on the east west Burlington Northern line along Highway 12 past the Orono Industrial Park. Local freight service operates week ly regularly between \Vav7.ata and Hutchinson on the branch line paralleling County Road 15. although no Orono properties arc ser\ed because this line traverses residential neighborhoods in Orono. The Citv is reviewing the possibility of conversion of this rail line to a regional trail. Orono's trail system provides recreation opportunities as well as local transportation alternatives. As part of our recreation-open space plan. Orono is proposing has developed and is imnlementing an extensive road-side bike-hike trail plan link ing th e commercial area-of Navarre with Spring Park . Tonka Day (and-Lxcelsior) Wayrata. Long l;ake and most of Orono's urban neigh borho ods providing links between both local and regional recreational and open space areas, as well as links within the urban area for pedestrian and bicvcle access to Orono's Navarre commercial area. Besides offering walking and bicycle recreation, this trail system provides an excellent local alternative to auto travel between home and shopping or friends. In addition, the DNR's Luce Line Trail provides extended east-west linkage between several other cities and between several of Orono's north-south bike trails. Taken together, these trails provide a cohesive network of alternative local transportation routes. Orono's air transportation involvement is limited to seaplane operation on Long l.ake and Lake Minnetonka. Orono is not within any metropolitan airports search area and Orono is not within the normal landing or takeoff flight pattern of any regular airport. Maple Plain has a small Held (?) south of that City used by private planes that ma\ fly over northwest Orono on one runway pattern, but there is no adverse effect from the current usage level and the location is such that there are no special land use or height restrictions necessaiy’. I I I I 1 1 I I t I CMP 4A - 8