Discussion:
According to 2014 Census information, 40% of Scott County residents worked outside of the County. Almost half of Shakopee and Savage residents use the Minnesota River crossings to travel north for employment. (Attachment A). Scott County’s river crossings are currently over capacity and are projected to be worse by 2040 as the region grows. (Attachment B).
The river also provides workers and a stream of commerce for those who live in the north and either work or play in Scott County.
A well-functioning transportation system is important to the vitality of the region. The County’s constricted river crossings have the ability to negatively impact Shakopee, Savage and the rest of the County’s economic growth and residents’ quality of life.
Evaluating alternatives to address congestion at these river crossings is necessary to fully analyze workable solutions for our future. However, a legislatively imposed ban on studying the Dan Patch Corridor takes an important option off the table.
In 1997 the State began studying the feasibility of commuter rail in the metro area. That study was published in 1999 and identified the Dan Patch corridor as one of three corridors with the highest potential for success. However, in 2002, a law was introduced and passed by legislators in Hennepin County to ban the State of Minnesota, the Metropolitan Council, and regional trail authorities from studying the viability of the Dan Patch Line.
The Dan Patch Line may not be viable, but to refuse to allow a study of the corridor is untenable. We need to research all avenues and potential river crossings. The Shakopee City Council has been at the forefront for advocating for increased river crossing capacity and supporting the effort to study the Dan Patch Corridor is an important part of our ability to determine the best avenues for future crossings.