East Metro Recovery

Tracking Economic Recovery and Stimulus Projects in Ramsey, Washington and Dakota counties

Archive for August, 2009

County Road 96 construction gets go-ahead

Aug 27

Posted by Dakota in Dakota County | No Comments

Dakota County received Recovery Act funds to pave and reconstruct County Road 96.

Dakota County received Recovery Act funds to pave and reconstruct County Road 96.

Reconstruction and paving of County Road 96 in Dakota County was originally intended to use County levy dollars, but the County applied for and will receive federal funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Now approved by the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Dakota County can now go out for bids and move towards awarding a contract for the project. This could happen as early as October.

This project includes:

  • The reconstruction and paving of County Road 96 (320th Street) from County Road 23 to Highway 3 in Greenvale and Waterford Townships. County Road 96 is currently a gravel road.
  • The project includes two railroad crossings. Both locations will have new concrete surface crossings and railroad signals with gates.
  • The existing curve on County Road 23 at County Road 96 will be removed and an intersection will be constructed.
  • A southbound right turn lane on Highway 3 will be constructed at County Road 96.

The funding (based on the construction cost estimate) for the project is:

  • Federal ARRA: $1,890,217
  • Federal – RR signal: $179,859 (this was already programmed prior to securing the ARRA funding)
  • County funds: $366,724
  • Total: $2,436,800

County Road 96 will remain open over the winter as a gravel road. Because a contract will be awarded so late in the season, activities this fall will probably be limited to clearing trees or moving utility lines. The bulk of the construction will take place in 2010.

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More Central Corridor News

Aug 26

Posted by Ramsey in Transit | No Comments

From the city of St. Paul:

Assuming the responsibility to fulfill long-standing commitments to Central Corridor project partners and residents, Mayor Chris Coleman and Councilmembers Melvin Carter III and Russ Stark agreed that the City would assemble, from its own budget, the resources necessary to build the first of three additional stations on the light rail transit line between Rice and Snelling streets.

The decision comes as a compromise with the Metropolitan Council, which in return for the city’s effort to build the station at Western Avenue, Hamline Avenue or Victoria Avenue, will assume responsibility for the acquisition of the diagonal right-of-way through the block bounded by 4th and 5th, Cedar and Minnesota. It will further commit $1.5 million to improving the façade of the line’s Operations and Maintenance Facility in Lowertown.

Entire story is here.

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Ramsey County Stimulus Update

Aug 25

Posted by Ramsey in ARRA, Ramsey County, Stimulus | No Comments

bridge-550

Ramsey County has updated its list of projects and grant applications filed under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. To read the latest information on stimulus-funded projects in Ramsey County, click here.

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Union Depot Project Moves Forward

Aug 24

Posted by Ramsey in High Speed Rail, Ramsey County, Stimulus, Transit, Union Depot | No Comments

depot-aerial-with-trains

Environmental Assessment Published

In order to secure federal funding for the purchase and renovation of Minnesota’s Union Depot, Ramsey County and its partner agencies were required to perform an environmental assessment of the project. A notice of availability was published in the August 24, 2009 EQB Monitor on behalf of the Federal Highway Administration and Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority in cooperation with the Federal Transit Administration.

The comment period for the Draft EA will remain open from August 24-October 8, 2009. Written comments on the Draft EA will be accepted until the close of business on October 8, 2009.

Comments may be made by:

Mail: Steve Morris, Transit Project Manager, RCRRA, 50 W Kellogg Boulevard, Suite 6560 RCGC-West, St. Paul, MN 55102

Phone: (651) 266-2795 (note: This line will record comments only and is not staffed. To ask questions about the project or the environmental assessment, contact Steve Morris at (651) 266-2784)

Fax: (651) 266-2761

E-mail: Steve Morris

Public Hearings Scheduled

To afford an opportunity for all interested persons, agencies and groups to comment on the EA, two public hearings have been scheduled for September 9, 2009, at the Union Depot Head House, 214 4th St. E., St. Paul, MN 55101:

  • 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
  • 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The public hearings will be open house format with formal presentations. The formal presentations during the afternoon meeting begin at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.; for the evening meeting the formal presentations will be at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. A court reporter will be on hand to record oral comments. Individuals with a disability who need a reasonable accommodation to participate in the public meeting or comment on the Draft EA should contact the RCRRA Project Manager (651-266-2784).

Copies of Environmental Assessment Available for Review

Copies of the EA for the rehabilitation and reuse of Minnesota’s Union Depot as a multi-modal transit hub are available for review online (Click here for the complete assessment, broken into sections. Some of the sections are still large and might require some time to download) or at the following libraries and RCRRA offices during regular business hours:

  • St. Paul Central Library, 90 West Fourth Street, St. Paul, MN, 55102
  • Rondo Community Outreach Library, 461 N. Dale Street, St. Paul, MN, 55103
  • Hamline Midway Library, 1558 West Minnehaha Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55104
  • Merriam Park Library, 1831 Marshall Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55104
  • St. Anthony Park Library, 2245 Como Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55108
  • Dayton’s Bluff Library, 645 East 7th Street, St. Paul, MN, 55106
  • Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority, 50 W Kellogg Boulevard, Suite 6560 RCGC-West, St. Paul, MN 55102
  • Mn/DOT Library, Minnesota Department of Transportation, M.S. 155, Room 175, Transportation Bldg., 395 John Ireland Boulevard, St. Paul, MN, 55103

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Private Journalism Project Tracks ARRA

Aug 7

Posted by Ramsey in ARRA, Dakota County, Ramsey County, Washington County | No Comments

The private, public interest journalism site ProPublica has launched a site for tracking American Recovery and Reinvestment Act spending, breaking down the totals by county and state across the U.S. Click here to see the Ramsey County list. Click here to see the Dakota County list. Click here to see the Washington County list. Click here to see the state of Minnesota list. [A note of caution: The list contains several errors, such as listing funding for the Upper Sioux Community in Western Minnesota and the Grand Portage Reservation in Northern Minnesota under the Ramsey County heading. Ramsey County's list also includes federal ARRA grants to state agencies based in St. Paul].

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Public Health Project

Aug 7

Posted by Ramsey in Ramsey County | No Comments

rc-logo-transparent-50Ramsey County Property Management has undertaken a Public Health Clinic Fire Suppression, Ceiling Tile and Lighting project as part of the county’s capital improvement plan. The $560,000 project is bringing improvements to the Public Health Clinic at 555 Cedar Ave. in St. Paul.  This is a busy location where a variety of health services are provided.  As an older, low-rise building, 555 Cedar has minimal fire suppression resources.  This project will significantly improve the fire suppression and do necessary ceiling tile and lighting replacements.

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Roseville Library Expansion

Aug 7

Posted by Ramsey in ARRA, Ramsey County | No Comments

Roseville Library renovation project is under way.

Roseville Library renovation project is under way.

The renovation and expansion of Ramsey County’s busiest library, the Roseville Library has begun! McGough Construction, a Ramsey County company, is overseeing the construction at the intersection of County Road B and Hamline Avenue. Site clearing and ground work is occurring. Sections of the building exterior have been removed to allow for the expansion. Meanwhile, library users can visit the temporary library and coffee shop at 2680 Arthur Street until the library reopens in 2010. Follow Ramsey County Library updates on Twitter: @rclreads

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Stimulus Act Resource for Taxpayers

Aug 7

Posted by Ramsey in ARRA, Stimulus | No Comments

arra-transparentThe IRS has published a useful pamphlet for individual taxpayers, “Catch a Break: Overview of some of the key provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.” The booklet includes a rundown of tax benefits, credits and other information on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Click here to download a copy (520k PDF).

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Ramsey County Seeing Green

Aug 7

Posted by Ramsey in ARRA, Energy, Ramsey County | No Comments

compact-fluorescentRamsey County is committed to fiscal and environmental stewardship.  The Energy Conservation and Efficiency Block Grant will allow Ramsey County to quickly make some environmentally sound changes that will not draw resources from programs that are serving people in these tight fiscal times.

Twelve buildings owned by Ramsey County will have lighting retrofits which will reduce carbon emissions (CO2) by 1,850,000 pounds and 1,100,000 kWh of energy upon completion.  Visitors to these buildings may not notice a change in the lighting, but will know the County is committed to energy efficiency.  The systems in nine additional buildings will be evaluated and modified to increase energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption.  Twenty electric vehicle charging stations will be installed at five high-traffic and high-visibility locations throughout the County.  Electric vehicles are becoming more prevalent in the County and providing charging options for customers of County services is another way of providing high quality customer service.  This work will be performed by contractors hired by the County and is estimated to create or retain 6 jobs in private industry.

Other activities to be funded by the grant include drafting a comprehensive energy plan, procuring an alternative energy source as a backup energy supply for the County’s new disaster data recovery center, and installation of energy management software on computers.

Outcomes will include the development of a comprehensive energy plan, improved internal coordination of energy projects and policies, improved tracking of energy improvements, energy conservation,  cost savings, and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

In order to manage the development of a comprehensive energy management plan and to manage the Recovery Act-funded energy projects, Ramsey County will hire a energy/sustainability coordinator and contract for specialized, technical consulting services. This will result in improved internal coordination of energy projects and policies and a better capacity for tracking energy improvements such as energy and cost savings and reductions in greenhouse emissions.

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Resources for Laid-Off Workers

Aug 7

Posted by Ramsey in Jobs, Ramsey County | No Comments

Help is available from Workforce Solutions

Help is available from Workforce Solutions

Being laid off from a job can be devastating. The loss of income and security are hard enough but the blow to self-esteem can also be great. You do not need to go through this transition alone. Workforce Solutions’ Dislocated Worker Program is an important resource for laid-off workers. Employment-related services are available at no cost to eligible individuals to help them find employment again. An employment counselor will offer a listening ear, coping mechanisms, multiple resources, help creating a resume, interviewing assistance, job search strategies, job leads, skill building or retraining. For more information visit Workforce Solutions on the Web.

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