Public input sought on proposed Milwaukee-Twin Cities high speed rail corridor

The Minnesota Department of Transportation will host a Dec. 6 open house in Rochester to solicit public input into the environmental impact study for the proposed Milwaukee-Minneapolis/St. Paul high-speed passenger rail corridor.

The Tier 1 National Environmental Policy Act Study is part of an effort by Mn/DOT, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative, and the Federal Railroad Administration to analyze all possible routes for high-speed passenger rail between Milwaukee and the Twin Cities. The study began in March 2010.

Monday, Dec 6, 2010
5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Mayo Civic Center; Elliott Suite
30 Civic Center Drive SE
Rochester, MN 55904

Mn/DOT Elk Run & Hwy. 14 Beltline Open Houses scheduled for next week

Public open house for Highway 52 "Elk Run" interchange near Pine Island set for May 18

Individuals interested in the Highway 52 interchange construction project near Pine Island are invited to attend an open house on Tuesday, May 18. The project is scheduled to begin construction in fall 2010.

The open house, hosted by the Minnesota Department of Transportation, will be from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Talon Events Center, 322 South Main Street, in Pine Island.

Mn/DOT officials will be available to answer questions about the interchange project and will provide an overview of the right of way acquisition process for affected property owners.

The Mn/DOT urges motorists to always drive with caution, slow down in work zones and never enter a roadway that has been blocked with barriers or cones.

Public open house for Highway 14 construction in Rochester set for May 20

Individuals interested in the Highway 14 beltline construction project in Rochester are invited to attend an open house on Thursday, May 20. The project is scheduled for construction in June 2010.

The open house, hosted by the Minnesota Department of Transportation, will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, 869 7th Avenue Southeast in Rochester. Community members can learn about the construction schedule of the Highway 14 beltline project and how traffic will be affected.

Mn/DOT and city of Rochester officials will be available to answer questions about the resurfacing on Highway 14 from Highway 52 to Marion Road.

The Mn/DOT urges motorists to always drive with caution, slow down in work zones and never enter a roadway that has been blocked with barriers or cones.

For statewide travel information visit www.511mn.org, call 5-1-1 or log on to www.mndot.gov.

SE MN Rail Alliance asks community: "What would you name the train?"

The Southeast Minnesota Rail Alliance is seeking the community's help to name the proposed high-speed passenger rail service to Rochester. Once selected, the name will be used to promote and advance the route with the general public and decision makers.

"We are calling on the collective creativity of Southeast Minnesota residents to help name the train,"says Rochester Mayor Ardell Brede, a member of the Alliance. "Names might note our unique geological characteristics, rich history, regional wildlife or notable industries. But we are looking for all ideas, including those that are considered 'outside-the-box.'"

Interested residents can submit their ideas at www.semnrail.org. The Alliance will solicit public input through Dec. 31, and announce the name in mid-January. Throughout the effort, the Alliance will provide updates through its Facebook page and Twitter account (@semnrail). The Minnesota portion of the proposed high-speed passenger rail line will serve Rochester and neighboring communities with a route that will head north to the Twin Cities, likely with a hub/stop in Dakota County.

The Southeast Minnesota Rail Alliance, which includes the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce, is committed to a rail infrastructure plan that meets the freight and passenger needs of Southeast Minnesota for generations to come. The Alliance is focused on enhancing the economic vitality, access and safety of the region. For more information, visit www.semnrail.org.

Public open house scheduled for Dec. 10 to discuss Highway 14 construction in Rochester

Interested individuals are invited to attend an open house on Thursday, Dec. 10, to discuss the Highway 14 beltline construction project in Rochester, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The project is scheduled for construction in 2010.,

The open house will be from 5:30 - 7 p.m. at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, 869 7th Avenue Southeast in Rochester. The meeting is an opportunity for business and property owners who may be affected by the project to ask questions. Community members can view updated project maps and learn about the current status of the Highway 14 beltline project.

CH2M Hill representative Howard Preston will present the final recommendations of the Traffic Study and Mn/DOT and City of Rochester officials will be available to answer questions about the concrete pavement resurfacing on Highway 14 from Highway 52 to Marion Road.

Open house for Northern Rochester Transportation Study set for Nov. 19

The public is invited to attend a public open house on Thursday, Nov. 19, to discuss the study area surrounding Highway 52 and 65th Street Northwest, according to the city of Rochester and Minnesota Department of Transportation.

The Northern Rochester Transportation Study is being conducted to review existing and projected future conditions in the study area related to traffic, safety, social, economic and environmental issues.

Two informational sessions will be held at the Community Presbyterian Church, 3705 55th Street Northwest. The first session is from 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. with a short presentation at 4 p.m. The second session is from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. with the presentation at 6 p.m. The same information will be presented at both sessions.

The open house is an opportunity for business and property owners most affected by the project to ask questions and provide feedback about the Northern Rochester Transportation Study.

Project managers from Mn/DOT and the city of Rochester will be available to answer questions about the study and provide updates about the alternatives being presented.

The following key issues have been identified:

• Congestion and safety issues along 55th Street Northwest due to heavy traffic volumes and closely spaced signalized intersections.
• Restriction of local traffic circulation due to a lack of a west frontage road between 55th Street Northwest and 65th Street Northwest.
• Congestion and safety issues associated with closely spaced access locations along the East Frontage Road (Bandel Road) north of 55th Street Northwest.
• Desire for access to Highway 52 at 65th Street due to potential development surrounding this area.
• Need to preserve mobility, operations and safety on Highway 52.

To learn more about the Northern Rochester Transportation Study and sign up for update alerts, visit http://www.northernrochesterstudy.com/.

Transportation Forums

Would you like to hear firsthand about transportation issues in the Rochester area? The first Friday of each month, September - May, members gather for a Transportation Forum at the Holiday Inn South at 7 a.m. Each month's breakfast meeting starts with a presentation on a transportation-related topic. Recent presentations include Elk Run, MnDot stimulus funds and county/city parking and planning departments. Additionally, MnDot, Olmsted County,t he City of Rochester and the Rochester International Airport regularly provide updates at each meeting.

On Nov. 6, Tim Geisler, representing the Southeast Minnesota Rail Alliance, will be updated the group on the recently released Tri-State III High Speed Passenger Rail Study. For more information, contact John Eckerman at jeckerman@rochestermnchamber.com or 507-424-5687.

Mn/DOT seeks public input for freight/passenger rail, transit plans

There has been plenty of discussion statewide and regionally on the importance of having a comprehensive statewide rail plan for both freight and passenger rail. The Rochester region has an opportunity to voice their opinion at one of the open houses MnDOT is holding across the state.

The Rochester open house will be held this Wednesday, April 22, from 5 - 7 p.m. at the RCTC Heintz Center.

The Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce encourages you to take the time and attend this important meeting addressing Southeast Minnesota’s rail interests. For more information about the open house, click here.

Minnesota Commissioner of Transportation speaks to group of 80-plus at Chamber luncheon

More than 80 community members gathered at the Ramada Hotel & Conference Center yesterday at the Chamber's luncheon with Minnesota Commissioner of Transportation Tom Sorel. The Hwy. 52/65th Street interchange and high speed rail - to nobody's surprise - were the hot topics at the luncheon.

Please find below several news items that arose from the event.

Also, on the topic of transportation, Friday is the Chamber's first Eggs & Issues series of the year and will feature special guest Mike Schadauer from MNDOT's transportation office of transit. Friday's event will also be held at the Ramada, but will be solely on the topic of High Speed Rail and how Rochester fits into the state's plan. Click here for more information or to register.

• More talk about Minnesota Transportation Projects (KTTC)
• New Transportation Commissioner Speaks in Rochester (KAAL)
• Possible Interchange at Highway 52 and 65th Street (KAAL)
• Interchange project delays called 'unacceptable' (Post-Bulletin)