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RESO 25-116 - Supporting Future Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Service on Highway 55RESOLUTION NO. 25-116 A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING FUTURE BUS RAPID TRANSIT (BRT) SERVICE ON HIGHWAY 55 WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council commissioned a study of Highway Transit Corridors in 2014-2015 that included a possible BRT route on the Highway 55 corridor from Medina to Minneapolis through Golden Valley; and WHEREAS, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Council, and Hennepin County funded, and the City of Golden Valley participated in, the US Highway 169 Mobility Study, which also considered BRT service on Highway 55; and WHEREAS, in 2017, the Golden Valley City Council adopted Resolution No. 17-72 supporting the US Highway 169 Mobility Study, including the location of BRT service on Highway 55; and WHEREAS, in 2019, the Golden Valley City Council adopted Resolution No. 19-76 further solidifying the City’s support for BRT from Minneapolis to Medina through Golden Valley on Highway 55; and WHEREAS, the studies of BRT service on Highway 55 have identified a strong reverse commute market to Medina, Plymouth, and Golden Valley, and found a strong market for express bus service that connects corridor communities to jobs in Minneapolis; and WHEREAS, BRT service on Highway 55 is identified in the Metropolitan Council's 2040 Transportation Policy Plan as an unfunded potential BRT route, in Golden Valley's 2040 Comprehensive Plan, and in Golden Valley's Legislative Priorities; and WHEREAS, in 2024-2025, The City of Golden Valley partnered with the Cities of Medina, Minneapolis, Plymouth, along with Hennepin County and Metro Transit on the study of implementation of a new transit line along the Highway 55 corridor which looked at four alternatives: a. Alternative 1: No Build b. Alternative 2: Highway BRT from Downtown Minneapolis to Medina c. Alternative 3: Highway BRT from Downtown Minneapolis to Plymouth d. Alternative 4: Local Route 757 WHEREAS, the current study has recommended Alternative 4 , which would begin operation of local route 757 in 2027 with 30-minute all-day service on Highway 55, with the additional inclusion of a stop at Golden Valley Road and Winnetka Avenue; and WHEREAS, the City of Golden Valley remains committed to supporting the implementation of BRT service on Highway 55. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GOLDEN VALLEY, MINNESOTA, that the City of Golden Valley requests that the Metropolitan Council and MnDOT reconsider study alternatives 2 and 3: Docusign Envelope ID: 6905271C-38A5-433D-8CC8-18BA21C5387D a. Alternative 2: BRT service on Highway 55 from Downtown Minneapolis to Medina with stops at Meadow Lane, Douglas Drive, Winnetka Ave, and Boone Ave. b. Alternative 3: Same route except a detour down to General Mills Blvd/Shelard Parkway. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Golden Valley continues to support the development of BRT service on Highway 55 and, in collaboration with other cities and agencies, is willing to further study BRT on the Highway 55 corridor to identify corridor improvements, demonstrate ridership demand, conduct additional land use analysis and consider other factors that support BRT development along the corridor. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Golden Valley requests the Metropolitan Council and MnDOT incorporate, prioritize, and consider these BRT improvements in plans, programs and projects. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that after 10 years of commitment to this project, the City of Golden Valley is still committed to moving this project forward and is committed to developing station area plans for proposed stations at the intersections of Winnetka Avenue and Golden Valley Road with the City’s Civic Center Campus project and Downtown Golden Valley planning efforts. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Golden Valley requests that the Metropolitan Council and MnDOT continue to move forward with Alternative 4, and that BRT is reanalyzed after one year of standard bus service ridership as part of Alternative 4. Adopted by the Golden Valley City Council this 2nd day of December, 2025. _______________________________ Gillian Rosenquist, Mayor Pro Tempore ATTEST: ________________________ Theresa J. Schyma, City Clerk Docusign Envelope ID: 6905271C-38A5-433D-8CC8-18BA21C5387D