02-029• CITY OF SHOREWOOD
RESOLUTION NO.02 - 029
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE PRESERVATION AND USE
OF THE DAKOTA RAIL RIGHT-OF-WAY
AS A CONTINUOUS TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR,
AND SUPPORTING ITS CONVERSION TO A REGIONAL RECREATION TRAIL
WHEREAS, the Dakota Rail right-of-way is a beautiful, unique, and valuable transportation
corridor that serves the area from Wayzata to Hutchinson; and
WHEREAS, the Dakota Railroad corridor has been purchased by the Hennepin County
Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA); and
WHEREAS, the HCRRA is evaluating the financial feasibility of restoring freight rail service
on the corridor, including specifically the cost of infrastructure improvements and repairs necessary
to make the corridor safe and efficient for freight rail service; and
WHEREAS, the Dakota Railroad is in a state of severe deterioration and any future use of the
corridor for freight rail service will require the expenditure of a significant amount of public funds for
is rehabilitation of track, bridges, drainage facilities, and other infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, the Dakota Railroad is an established transportation corridor, and reuse of the
corridor should consider the broadest definition of transportation; and
WHEREAS, the possibility of selling right-of-way to owners of adjoining properties would
remove the transportation corridor; and
WHEREAS, past sales of portions of real estate within the corridor by rail operators has
unnecessarily diminished the usefulness of this unique "east -west" corridor along the north shore of
Lake Minnetonka for future public transportation uses; and
WHEREAS, the use of the Dakota Railroad corridor as a continuous recreation trail is in the
public interest because pedestrians and cyclists using the corridor, including specifically youths, will
not be exposed to the hazards associated with mixing pedestrians and bicycles with motorized
vehicular traffic on a single corridor; and
WHEREAS, the preservation of the Dakota Rail right-of-way as a continuous corridor is
essential to enable the corridor to serve effectively the current and future transportation needs of the
area; and
WHEREAS, the Dakota Rail corridor provides connection between the cities on the north
• and west shores of Lake Minnetonka, as well as opportunities for connections with cities on the south
side of Lake Minnetonka; and
WHEREAS, the Dakota Rail corridor can provide pedestrian and cycling transportation
options that can help relieve traffic pressure and provide them a safe transportation alternative,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Shorewood, that:
1. The City of Shorewood is opposed to the rehabilitation of the corridor for renewed use as a
freight railroad;
2. The City of Shorewood is opposed to any further sale by the HCRRA of real estate parcels
lying within the railway corridor;
3. The City of Shorewood supports conversion of the continuous corridor in Hennepin County
for use as a regional recreation trail and, if a trail is constructed, the City opposes any
diversion of expected pedestrian and cycling traffic onto existing County or local roadway
rights -of -way.
ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SHOREWOOD this 8th day of
April 2002.
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ATTEST:
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