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®CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK <br /> Mayor Buttigieg continued, The first thing that I found surprising, but important, is that there is <br /> relatively little variations among the travel time in the different options. That is not really <br /> something one would expect. You would think the further west the station, the quicker the route <br /> would be. But really, all of them were within a couple of minutes of each other. That was an <br /> interesting finding. The second thing that I think is pretty clear from the data is that the rerouted <br /> airport option is more expensive than we originally expected and may also have a little bit less <br /> economic development potential than I would have guessed before we got this analysis back. The <br /> third is that this study validates that Downtown appears to be the highest reward but also the <br /> highest cost option. There is a lot of potential around it but we are also looking at north of$100 <br /> million. That is something we should think about from a long term planning perspective in the <br /> sense that while on one (1) hand we don't have that kind of funding available, on the other hand, <br /> it is not a preposterous figure if we were to make it a major and essential community priority. The <br /> fourth interesting finding is that the Honeywell option could be done for quite a bit less. A lot <br /> depends on whether the track is altered or whether we are just talking about adding a station. Of <br /> course a lot also depends on what features the station ought to have. As I looked at the data, it <br /> seemed there be what one might describe as a skinny option that might make sense. The fifth thing <br /> that comes out in some of the memos is that there are some differences in the speed of the ability <br /> to complete the different options because they involve different environmental impacts. That is <br /> something else to consider. I think most of us are very eager to start capturing the economic benefit <br /> of that ninety (90) minute ride as quickly as possible but some options can be delivered more <br /> quickly than others and that is a little bit separate from the question of cost. Those are some of my <br /> initial reactions with this preliminary data. I also want to clarify, as the consultant team said,their <br /> role was not to say which option was the answer, but to provide more information than we had in <br /> order for us to make an informed decision. I know this is a decision that, obviously, the <br /> Administration needs come to through dialogue with other stakeholders,especially NICTD. It has <br /> to make sense for us and for them and we are interested and eager to get the Council's and public's <br /> opinion on this. Thank you to everybody that got us to this point. <br /> Councilmember Karen White left the meeting at 5:41 p.m. <br /> Council President Scott stated, I would like to recognize Vice President Oliver Davis for leading <br /> the charge on the resolution that this Council brought forth as well as the Administration for taking <br /> on this task to look at the different options. He then opened the floor to questions and comments <br /> from the Committee and Council Members. <br /> Councilmember John Voorde stated, This is certainly a worth-while exercise. There is a lot to <br /> consider in the short and long term. There is also a lot to consider in terms of economic feasibility <br /> and impact. I don't think we will end up with paralysis by analysis but I think this is necessary. <br /> I'm glad the Administration took the lead in doing this. <br /> Committeemember Davis stated,Thank you,President Scott,for your comments. I would also like <br /> to thank the other sponsors, Councilmembers Voorde, Williams-Preston and White. I would also <br /> like to thank our Council for encouraging this whole effort of us looking at a study. I would like <br /> to thank Mayor Pete, Eric Horvath and Jitin Kain. We all came together to put it together which I <br /> really appreciate. I would like to thank the members of Ardmore and a lot of other people here <br /> who really came together to says let's be pro-transit and pro-housing at the same time. I would like <br /> EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT <br /> 455 County-City Building 1 227 W.Jefferson Bvld I South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 lf574.235.9173 ITTD574.235.5567 1www.southbendin.gov <br /> 9 <br />