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Washington County Regional Rail Authority adopts updated Highway 61 memorandum of understanding
Summary
The Washington County Regional Rail Authority voted unanimously to adopt a resolution entering an updated memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the City of Hugo and MnDOT to memorialize outcomes of the Highway 61 Visioning Study, which reduces some right-of-way dedication needs and preserves regional trail connections.
Madeline Dahlheimer, Washington County Public Works senior planner, presented the Highway 61 Visioning Study for the City of Hugo and recommended the Regional Rail Authority adopt a resolution to enter an updated memorandum of understanding with the City of Hugo and the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Dahlheimer said the study, completed in 2024 and delivered in partnership with the City of Hugo and MnDOT, revisits access management and right-of-way dedication needs along Highway 61 and documents a corridor layout intended to guide future planning. She told the board the study reduces some right-of-way dedication needs identified in the existing 2008 MOU while continuing to support future transit opportunities and preserving the Hardwood Creek Regional Trail corridor.
"The intent with this study, and the proposed MOU, is to serve as a guide as we continue to collaborate across agencies to support transportation and land use decision making," Dahlheimer said in her presentation.
Commissioners who spoke in support praised the study's public outreach and interagency collaboration. Commissioner Miron said he appreciated the public engagement and called the 2021 decision to pursue a unified corridor the turning point that allowed more flexible planning in the downtown area. Commissioner Karwasaki noted the large set of partner agencies and said their agreement on study details signaled broad support.
A motion to adopt the resolution to enter the updated MOU was moved and seconded and passed by roll call, 5–0. The board recorded unanimous aye votes from Commissioners Miron, Karwasaki, Cox, Begum and Claussen. The action memorializes the study report and updated corridor layout as a reference for participating agencies' planning work; it does not identify specific construction projects or commit funding beyond planning and coordination.
The Regional Rail Authority presentation and the resolution packet note that the study does not program construction projects in the county CIP at this time; the MOU is intended to guide future decision-making and collaboration among the City of Hugo, Washington County, the Regional Rail Authority and MnDOT.
