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Local Issue: Transit Hub

Submitted by Rob Hardy on Mon, 12/03/2012 - 8:55am
Q-Block-aerial.jpg

On December 4, 2012, the Northfield City Council approved a recommendation to locate a proposed local transit hub on the Q-Block, on the southwest corner of Second Street and Highway 3. This is an important step forward in a project that began in 2001, with the completion of a Rice County local and regional transit study that identified a need for a transit hub in Northfield. The proposed transit hub is envisioned as the central element of a redevelopment of the Q-Block which would also include the relocated and renovated Northfield depot.  For those interested in learning more about this issue, here is a timeline and a compilation of documents and links related to the transit hub project.

Timeline

2001 Rice County transit study identifies the need for a local and regional transit hub in Northfield

2003 The City of Northfield submits a request for a transit hub to MnDOT

2006 Congress earmarks $277,200 for a transit hub, requiring a 20% local match (total: $346,500)

2007 The City identifies a site on Laurel Court (behind Walgreens) for the proposed transit hub, and submits a request to MnDOT, whch approves the request. The City envisions the site as a dual transit hub and trial head for the Mill Towns Trail.

2009 The City undertakes a Highway 3 & 19 Multimodal Transportation Study “to carefully consider how all modes of traffic and transportation users will be able to safely and efficiently access the future transit hub.” The study is undertaken as part of the process of applying for a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Discretionary Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

2011 The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requires the City to reopen the site selection process for the transit hub.

2012 An engineering consultant considers three sites for the proposed transit hub: the Laurel Court site, a site in Babcock Park, and the Q Block. Save the Northfield Depot advocates for the Q Block site as part of its plan to redevelop the old depot; the Mill Town Trails board advocates for the Babcock Park site as a potential dual transit hub and trail head.  City staff recommends the Q Block site.

December 4, 2012: The City Council votes 6 to 1 to approve the Q Block as the transit hub site. Mary Rossing casts the one no vote. The site is now eligible for $277,200 in Federal money for environmental clean-up.

Resources

Save the Northfield Depot

TIGER Trail

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