I was reading the front page article in the Strib this
past Friday at the same time i was listening to MPR
morning news talking about what many perceive as a
congestion problem at MSP airport. The two stories
gave rise to the thought that for years now I have
watched city, county, regional, and state officials
dilly-dally about future plans.
In both the case of air traffic and mass transit,
those we have elected to lead and manage these systems
have acted indecisively to the point that now we are
stuck with clogged streets and overcrowding at the
airport and the attendant noise problems we face
today. These problems can only get worse in the near
future.
Instead of tending to the business that only
government can do, government has instead injected
itself into the province of private enterprise, i.e.;
business and land development projects such as massive
loans to Northwest Airlines, overuse of TIF in
downtown areas, etc. And when government tends to its
knitting often the results are mixed, at best, and
downright disappointing most of the time.
Much has been written about light-rail in general and
the Hiawatha line in particular. Despite the most
optimistic predictions of usage, this does not appear
to be anywhere close to beginning to solve our transit
woes in the metro area. And yet we are moving ahead
with a plan that has only started to overrun its cost.
Get ready for heftier tax increases in Hennepin
County, the city and state as subsidies climb to
transport min-
imal numbers of users.
Does it strike anyone else as ridiculous to make
comparisons between Mpls. and other light rail cities
with distinctly different climates? The idea of
walking several blocks to a windswept light rail
station is no more appealing than walking several
blocks to a windy bus stop. And light rail will only
increase downtown congestion when it plows down 5th
street.
Another factor in downtown congestion now and in the
future is the new zoning code, trumpeted loudly by
members of the city councils as though it were an
improved edition of the ten commandments. This measure
was fought by the DOMA for good reason. If you look
at the concentration of so many office towers in close
proximity to each other does it make anyone wonder why
we have congestion as thousands of people leave work
all at once.
Spread things out a bit and it might ease congestion.
Give people a reasonable alternative to the choices of
our present bus system or their own vehicles and we
might see less congestion and even greater growth not
dependent on tax increment financing. A light rail
system that moves at grade level and clogs city
streets is not a growth strategy. I make no secret of
my preference for subways.
Hate to kill another sacred cow cuz I know how people
love the skyways but their existence or the perceived
need to provide them has been justification for tax
increment financing in some cases. I'll admit I use
them on occasion but I believe I lived here for twenty
some years before they arrived on the scene and I
survived quite nicely.
Our airport is a total joke. Another runway is
earrings on a pig. There may be room for more planes
to land but the terminal and parking are close to
being maxed out. If we don't build a new airport we
should at least be lokking long and hard at increasing
services at both Rochester and St. Cloud and
connecting all three airports via heavy rail higher
speed train service for both passengers and freight.
Maybe it makes greater sense for instance for FEDEX,
UPS, etc to fly into both St. Cloud and Rochester and
build their distribution centers midway between both
cities and the Twin Cities.
Minneapolis continually acts as though it isn't quite
sure it's going to be here 100, 200, years from now.
Hence we have a series of half-measures that never
quite solve our problems and keep us just one step
away from oblivion.
I might be wrong about light rail; It might do fine. i
hope I am wrong given its cost. I can only speak for
myself when I say that I would be just as happy with a
bus as I would with light rail. One is Bush, the other
is Gore. Give me a Nader.
I know this is rambling a bit but I'm still recovering
from my recent brush with people last week regarding
my feeling about un-uniformed pistol packing policemen
not undercover, not in plainclothes, and not out on
"smoke break."
Thanks to Clark from the ward that is the site of the
big picnic for brightening my day at 9th and Nicollet
when he patted himself down and assured me he was not
carrying. Smiles are priceless.
Cheers!
Tim Connolly
Ward 7
D.T. Resident
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