South news briefs: Newly merged transit agency launched

The merger of the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA) and the BlueXpress entities in Scott County is official at last.

A final party to the agreement, Scott County, approved a joint powers agreement in September.

The MVTA board now consists of nine cities and counties: Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Prior Lake, Rosemount, Savage and Shakopee, plus Dakota and Scott counties.

Officials say the merged entity aims to:

• At least maintain BlueXpress's existing level of service;

• Maintain and upgrade existing capital assets;

• Review overall service plans, for express and local buses, examine unmet needs and consider possible changes;

In a written statement, Mike McGuire, a Prior Lake Council member, said that with "a larger system, the potential for future transit services is far greater than what the BlueXpress could provide. We are excited to see where this takes us."

The look of buses in Scott County will change, and a study of transit needs in northern Scott County is to be conducted in 2015-16.

Buses are being modified to include the MVTA's technology, including free Wi-Fi.

Some key moments are arriving in the next few days for major transportation projects affecting Shakopee.

Officials are reporting that:

Work will start on the Shakopee side and head north to Chanhassen over the next year. Highway 101 will remain open, with some delays.

The Carver County Road 61 connection between Shakopee and Chaska/Chanhassen could reopen this weekend. That would end the Highway 101 detour.

• The new Highway 169/County Road 69 interchange is almost done, and two ramps are to open this week.

The 169 ramp to northbound 69 and the southbound 69 ramp to 169 are to open to traffic. The bridge will remain closed to through traffic.

• Repairs of County Road 16, damaged by June flooding, should start early this month. A contractor will replace culverts.

And they're promising that countywide discussions are underway on responding longer term to the flooding problem.

The city is asking people who still have sandbags to remove them before winter.

City staff will pick up and dispose of sandbags placed in the right of way free of charge through Oct. 17. Call 952-447-9800 to request a pickup.

Sandbags that have come in contact with flood water can be contaminated with pollutants, so proper disposal is important.

The Prior Lake City Council hosted a workshop in September to discuss long-term flood planning and related issues. Elected and appointed officials from cities, townships and watershed organizations attended.

Lakes and rivers saw extremely high water levels. Spring, Prior, Markley, and McMahon lakes were among those at high levels for several weeks. Prior Lake's 906.17 feet on June 30 was its highest in more than 100 years.

Issues to address, officials say, include surface water regulation, education and flood preparedness.