Resolution Req State Bonding for Trunk Hwy 371

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CITY OF PEQUOT LAKES 11.1 RESOLUTION REQUESTING STATE BONDING FOR TRUNK HIGHWAY 371 WHEREAS, Trunk Highway 371 is a vital inter regional corridor in central Minnesota and provides an economic link between the Twin Cities Region and the Central Lakes Region of Minnesota; and WHEREAS, the Federal Government and the State of Minnesota have recognized the significance of the Trunk Highway 371 corridor in the past and, in doing so, have made considerable investments in order to improve the corridor south of Nisswa to a 4 -lane Expressway Design, and WHEREAS, Trunk Highway 371, between the Cities of Nisswa and Pine River, has severe safety and traffic capacity constraints; and WHEREAS, Crow Wing County along with Cass County, the Cities of Nisswa, Pequot Lakes, Jenkins, and Pine River have joined together to advocate a project to improve 16 miles of Trunk Highway 371 to a 4 -lane expressway design as well as upgrade and enhance local street and utility infrastructure along the highway corridor; and `.. WHEREAS, The goals of the project include: Improve Traffic Safety, Reduce Travel Time, Improve Multi -Modal and Recreational Mobility and Safety, Enhance Regional Economic Opportunities, and Preserve Unique Environmental Resources; and WHEREAS, The Minnesota Department of Transportation has completed the Environmental Impact Statement for the project and has developed the project with considerable public and community involvement; and WHEREAS, The Minnesota Department of Transportation has programmed the highway project in two phases, with Phase 1 from Nisswa to Jenkins programmed in 2018, and Phase 2 from Jenkins to Pine River beyond 2018 with a total cost exceeding $126,000,000; and WHEREAS, The project partners are in agreement that the corridor improvements need to be completed prior to 2018 and that the project is ready to move forward now, to the great benefit of the Central Lakes Region and the entire State of Minnesota; and WHEREAS, Crow Wing County is expected to receive $12,440,000 in federal High Priority Project funding for design and right of way acquisition for the Phase M