Will depot worsen congestion on Highway 95?

George Johnson thinks that a depot at the city center will do just that. He proposed three alternative locations.

CAMBRIDGE – Long-time Cambridge resident and developer George Johnson is "terribly concerned about the direction the depot task force is moving."
He discussed his opinions with the Cambridge Passenger Rail Depot Task Force during its Nov. 12, 2008 meeting.
Johnson noted that he is strongly opposed to placing the proposed depot at the Cambridge City Center. The reason? The impact he thinks it will have on Highway 95 congestion.
Johnson explained that he first became active in solving traffic issues in Cambridge in 1968 when the Transportation Action Model was created. One of the items that came from this was the formation of Opportunity Boulevard several decades later.
He is now the chair of the Cambridge-Isanti Transportation Action Council (CITAC). "Every one of our transportation studies has pointed to east/west traffic on Highway 95 as the primary traffic problem in the city," Johnson observed.
"We have really serious congestion on Highway 95."
As a developer, Johnson pointed out that the main deterrent to businesses coming in is the traffic.
"I believe the most important criteria you guys are going to have to consider in a depot is what is the impact on Highway 95," he stated. "The city center depot location will absolutely cause the largest delays."
He questioned the assumption that the train will cause minimal delays. At the city center location, the trains will begin moving from a stop one block away from the intersection with Highway 95. "It will take much longer to get across 95 than if they were going 60 or 90 miles per hour," stated Johnson.
"The delays will be serious. It will aggravate one of the most serious issues we have in town."
In addition to the time needed for the train to actually cross the road, there will be the time required for the railroad crossing bars to go down and back up.
After placing a call to a Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railroad signal master, Cambridge property owner Ray Mullen noted that presently trains traveling at 50 to 55 miles per hour trigger crossing bars to lower when they are one-quarter mile away. Trains at 79 miles per hour trigger them at one mile, and those at 110 miles per hour at one and one-half miles.
Additionally, when a train is stopped within an area, as would occur with the passenger rail depot, the guards remain down until the train has passed. Thus, if a depot were located at the city center, the guards at Highway 95 would remain closed from the time the train came close to the time it was on its way again.
"There would be a long delay," stated Mullen.
Cambridge City Development Director Dave Carlberg pointed out that because of possible delays, a one-mile siding has been proposed in the city. A train picking up passengers on the siding would not trigger the crossing guards.
Additionally, Northern Lights Express planners are considering laying dual tracks along the section of line north to Cambridge.
Carlberg pointed out there is much the Cambridge Task Force doesn't yet know, such as the speed of trains as they go through the city and the requirements of the double crossing bars that will replace the existing bars. This information will be procured during a feasibility study which the larger Passenger Rail Alliance is commissioning. It has just received $1.1 million in a federal grant to pay for the work.
"We need a lot more information from the Northern Lights people," said Carlberg.
Task force member and Isanti County Commissioner Susan Morris pointed out, "Trains will cross 95 no matter where the depot is located."
POSSIBLE UNDERPASS
Johnson asked that the city not even consider the city center location unless an underpass is installed at Highway 95.
Even then, he's not sure that he supports the underpass option.
He pointed out it will impact businesses along that road from Emerson west to Main Street. Also, even if the city obtained federal funding, he noted it would not cover the entire cost, and the remainder would fall on local taxpayers.
"Just because we can get federal funding, does that mean we should do it?" he asked.
HIGHWAY 95
Morris noted that last year she served on the Highway 95 Task Force, which looked at the various options of resolving congestion along Highway 95.
In the end, the recommendation the task force made was to widen 95. This option will impact many businesses along that stretch. She noted that the full cost of the project has not been tabulated.
The task force had laid aside both the overpass and underpass options at that time because of the price tag associated with each.
Morris believes the congestion issue needs to be addressed "sooner rather than later." The city may be able to get it done by combining the work with passenger rail.
"This is the ticket to solving a lot of our Highway 95 issues," said Morris.
IS THE DECISION MADE?
Steve Ritchart, who owns land being considered as one option for the depot, asked if the decision about the depot location has already been made. He said that's what he's heard around town.
Ritchart added that from his point of view, it doesn't seem as though there has been much public input on the decision. "I believe the task force hasn't been totally forthcoming," he said.
Task Force Chair Bob Guetschoff replied that the decision has "absolutely not" been made. Rather, the task force has established a list of criteria, and is evaluating five possible sites at this point.
The sites include: the peaking plant area north of town, the Cambridge City Center, First Baptist Church area, the former Ford dealership, and Westrom's Corner.
Task force members are evaluating the sites based on impact on traffic, walkability, space for adequate parking, and potential for future development.
When the evaluation process has been completed, the information will be compiled and presented at a public meeting, as was done with the Highway 95 Task Force. After this, a recommendation will be made to the city council.
This is not a process that will be over in a few weeks, but will take some time.
"We will do our homework," promised Cambridge Mayor Marlys Palmer.
OTHER OPTIONS
Johnson presented task force members with five alternative drawings of how a depot could occupy three sites. One is at 512 South Main, just south of the area the task force has been considering. One option is to locate the depot and parking entirely within the railroad right-of-way. With another, the city could purchase the vacant lot at 512 (which Johnson owns) to offer more parking. The city could also choose to acquire Odmark Electric and the used car dealership along Fourth, vacate the road, realign Fifth Avenue and extend Adams to Fifth. This option would provide more parking and clean up a road that is not well-aligned now, noted Johnson.
This option would place the depot four and one-half blocks from Highway 95 to the south, which may still not be far enough away to eliminate congestion, according to Johnson.
However, it would offer superior walkability to the medical center and industrial park across the tracks which employs 1,000 people.
The second location Johnson proposed was 2440 South Main, the old Ford dealership property. This spot is two miles from Highway 95. The city could acquire only the vacant land, or the former Hayford Ford building, as well, for use as retail or office space. The city could also choose to clean up the area and spread to the land south currently occupied by Watson's and North Country Fabrication.
Another possible location is to bring the depot outside the city of Cambridge and locate it along County Road 19. In CITAC's transportation plan for the region, County Road 19 would become a major thoroughfare with overpasses at Highway 65 and the railroad, and a bridge along the Rum River. This location would pull traffic off Highway 95 altogether.
Morris questioned how many parking spaces were provided in the options presented by Johnson. He did not have the figures, but stated he could return with them.
At its next meeting, set for Jan. 13, 2009 at 3 p.m., the task force will continue evaluating sites.
Citizens who would like to give input are encouraged to contact Carlberg at 763-689-3211 or email dcarlberg@ci.cambridge.mn.us.

CRITERIA
*The task force is evaluating each possible site location using the following list of criteria.

• Downtown location
• Automobile access
• Public transit access
• Walkability
• Bicycle traffic
• Walking distance to major trip generators (Cambridge Medical Center, government center, shopping areas, college)
• Auto drop-off
• Long-term parking
• Short-term parking
• Traffic concerns
• Trains crossing Highway 95
• Acquisition costs
• Future expansion space
• Joint depot (commuter and passenger)
• Land restrictions
• Utilities
• Economic development opportunity
• Building proximity to railroad
• Expansion opportunities