As stewards of all park assets in Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) has a fundamental responsibility to protect parkland. It has also consistently and regularly communicated its support of light rail transit and its position regarding options for the Southwest LRT route as it impacts parkland. After the route was established in 2010, MPRB worked with Southwest LRT officials and other government agencies to come to an agreement on parkland impacts of the transit corridor at the Kenilworth channel between Cedar Lake Park and Lake of the Isles Park. In 2014-15, the MPRB hired experts to investigate options and costs for the Southwest LRT segment that crosses this parkland. All resolutions, presentations and news releases related to this issue are available below.
July 15, 2015
- Board Action – Resolution 2015-254
- Resolution Approving the Comment Letter to Metropolitan Council for the Southwest Light Rail Transit Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement
March 4, 2015
- Board Action – Resolution 2015-139
- Resolution Determining that the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) Will Not Pursue Tunnel Crossing Options for the Southwest Light Rail Transit (SWLRT) Project; Approving a Memorandum of Understanding with the Metropolitan Council that 1) Establishes a Process that Recognizes Parks and Park Resources in the Transit Project Development Process, 2) Outlines a Process for Collaboration Between the Southwest Project Office and MPRB on Design of Bridge Crossings at the Kenilworth Channel, and 3) Results in an Agreement Between the Metropolitan Council and the MPRB to Facilitate Approval and Construction of the SWLRT Project; and Authorizing the Superintendent to Initiate Agreements with Metropolitan Council to Reimburse the MPRB for Costs Related to Its Work on the SWLRT Project and the Blue Line Light Rail Transit Extension (Bottineau) Project
February 27, 2015
- News release – Understanding on SWLRT Kenilworth Channel Crossing Reached Between Met Council and MPRB
January 27, 2015
January 13, 2015
- SWLRT Fact Sheet [PDF]
January 7, 2015 – Regular Meeting
- Board Action – Resolution 2015-106
- Resolution Authorizing an Amendment to Professional Services Agreement with Brierley Associates for Engineering Services Related to the Feasibility and Prudence of Kenilworth Channel Crossing Alternatives in the Amount of $248,275 for a New Contract Total of $493,775
- Board Action – Resolution 2015-107
- Resolution Approving a Letter Requesting a Meeting to Discuss Legal Jeopardy to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) New Starts Program Created by the Implementation of the Program for the Southwest Light Rail Transit Project in Minneapolis, Minnesota by the FTA and the Metropolitan Council
January 2, 2015
- News Release – Minneapolis Park Board considers two resolutions related to SWLRT and protection of parkland
November 19, 2014 – Regular Meeting
- Board Action – Resolution 2014-347
- Resolution Authorizing a Professional Services Agreement with Brierley Associates for Engineering Services Related to the Feasibility and Prudence of Kenilworth Channel Crossing Alternatives in the Amount Up to $245,500
October 23, 2014
October 1, 2014 – Regular Meeting
- Board Action – Discussion item
- Presentation and Discussion on Stinson Leonard Street, LLP’s Legal Review and Recommendations for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Regarding the Southwest Light Rail Transit Project
September 17, 2014 – Regular Meeting
- Board Action – Resolution 2014-293
- Resolution Authorizing a Professional Services Agreement with Stinson Leonard Street, LLP for Legal Services Related to the Southwest Light Rail Transit Project in the Amount of $22,000
May 21, 2014 – Regular Meeting
- Board Action – Resolution 2014-209
- Resolution Stating the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board Determination That, Based on Southwest Light Rail Transitway Project Office Preliminary Finding of Feasibility, Tunneling LRT Under the Kenilworth Channel May be the Only Section 4(F) Feasible and Prudent Alternative Within the Shallow Tunnel Option Regarding Minneapolis Parkland Impacted by the Project, However that Determination Requires Greater Analysis
February 5, 2014 – Regular Meeting
- Board Action – Resolution 2014-114
- Resolution Urging the Southwest Light Rail Transitway Project Office to Conduct a Detailed Engineering Feasibility Study and Cost Comparison of Tunneling Under the Kenilworth Channel as Part of the Shallow Tunnel Option
August 21, 2013 – Regular Meeting
- Board Action – Resolution 2013-282
- Resolution Stating the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board’s Position on Project Design Alternatives Recently Developed in the Preliminary Engineering Phase of Southwest Light Rail Transitway Planning
May 2, 2013 – Open House
- Flyer [PDF]
December 5, 2012
- MPRB approved the Comment Letter [PDF] for the Southwest Transitway project
November 26, 2012 – CAC Meeting
- Agenda [PDF]
- DRAFT Comment Letter [PDF]
- PowerPoint Presentation – Cedar Lake Parkway Crossing Options [PDF]
- Presentation Narrative [PDF]
November 15, 2012
November 9, 2012
October 26, 2012
October 23, 2012 – CAC Meeting
- DRAFT Agenda [PDF]
- Southwest Transitway Draft Environmental Impact Statement
- Table of Contents [PDF]
- Alternatives Considered [PDF]
- Social Effects [PDF]
- Environmental Effects [PDF]
- Transportation Effects [PDF]
- Draft Section 4(F) Evaluation [PDF]
- Indirect Effects and Cumulative Impacts [PDF]
- Environmental Justice [PDF]
- Evaluation of Alternatives [PDF]
- Public and Agency Coordination and Comments [PDF]
- Appendix H: Supporting Technical Reports and Memoranda [PDF]
September 6, 2012 – CAC Meeting
- DRAFT Agenda [PDF]
- PowerPoint Presentation [PDF]
- DRAFT Comment Letter Outline – Cedar Lake Parkway [PDF]
August 6, 2012 – CAC Meeting
- Agenda [PDF]
- PowerPoint Presentation [PDF]
- Meeting Notes [PDF]
2011
September 27, 2011
May 17, 2011
- Outcomes [PDF]
March 17, 2011 – CAC Meeting
- Agenda [PDF]
- PowerPoint Presentation [PDF]
January 20, 2011 – CAC Meeting
- Agenda [PDF]
- Outcomes [PDF]
- PowerPoint Presentation [PDF]
December 16, 2010 – CAC Meeting
- DRAFT Agenda [PDF]
- Outcomes [PDF]
December 2, 2010 – CAC Meeting
- DRAFT Agenda [PDF]
- Meeting Minutes [PDF]
- Outcomes [PDF]
November 18, 2010 – CAC Meeting
- DRAFT Agenda [PDF]
- Meeting Minutes [PDF]
- Outcomes [PDF]
- PowerPoint Presentation [PDF]
November 4, 2010 – CAC Meeting
- DRAFT Agenda [PDF]
- Outcomes [PDF]
- PowerPoint Presentation [PDF]
October 14, 2010 – CAC Meeting
- Agenda [PDF]
- Meeting Minutes [PDF]
- PowerPoint Presentation [PDF]
September 23, 2010 – CAC Meeting
- Agenda [PDF]
- Meeting Minutes [PDF]
- PowerPoint Presentation [PDF]
- Communications Letter [PDF]
- Video Presentation
September 10, 2010
- MPRB convenes CAC to review Southwest LRT in relation to parkland
August 13, 2010
- CAC to help develop recommendations regarding Southwest LRT and parkland
July 21, 2010
- Charge and composition of the SW LRT CAC – Regular Meeting Minutes [PDF]
- Staff Report [PDF]
- September 1, 2010 – Revised CAC Charge – Regular Meeting Minutes – not yet posted online
January 2010
2006
- Bassett Creek Valley Master Plan
May 2004
- Minneapolis Near Northside Master Plan
October 2000
April 1998
December 1997
July 1997