I don't know the answer to that question, but it certainly should be. I for one am absolutely overjoyed that no more land is being taken for freeways. Is traffic a problem? So far, for my entire life the only real answer I have ever seen is build more freeways. Even when we see "alternatives" they are either not funded properly (like the bus system), or not really tried.
Take LRT for example, the price keeps changing. In the end, how much will it cost? I don't know. I'm not sure if anyone else does either.
But don't jump all over LRT unless your willing to look at the absolutely catastrophic cost of the current freeway system. It's really sad how the price is hidden all over. Do you think you have EVER seen a total cost?
What is the land worth that it's on? What does the sewer system to drain rain water away cost? How much was labour? How much is materials for concrete and iron? How much was the design cost? How many homes and businesses destroyed to clear the path? How many parks paved over? How much did it subsidize sprawl (and all of sprawl's associated costs)? How much was all of your cars that you have personally owned, so you could even use the system? How much was their maintenance? Gas? Then multiply that times all the people who drive. Yep that must be added in the cost too, consider it you ticket price, oops, that would be the taxes for your tabs, and buying your vehicle. And this isn't even any of the "unforseen" costs. (pollution?, resulting sky-rocketing health problems?)
The very modest rebuild of the 62 and 35 interchange is $100 million, without the cost of land acquisition and condemning homes and businesses.
For that I am proud of the citys for not giving more land to the freeway system. I hope it's a new trend.
It was designed as an INTERSTATE system, it sucks as a get to work system. In my opinion, it's built. The freeway folks got what they wanted. Now it's time to look at alternatives. If we don't then we really pay, with the most expensive transit system imaginable; Freeways.
But hey, it's convenient.
Tom Holtzleiter
King Field
PS It's true, the auto and oil industry conspired to eliminate public transit in order to clear the roads, and push the freeways on us, all so they could sell autos and the oil for them. They lost in the US supreme court on conspiracy charges. GM was fined $5,000. (No I didn't leave any zero's off) Go to the Library, it's WELL documented.
On 17 Jan 01, at 20:14, Tim Bonham wrote:
To:
From: Tim Bonham <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Mpls] Re: Crosstown 62 construction
Date sent: Wed, 17 Jan 2001 20:14:58 -0600
[ Double-click this line for list subscription options ]
Regarding the Crosstown 62 construction & 35W issue, the problem there is
not lack of traffic lanes (well, it is somewhat, but I agree with many that
building more lanes just attracts more traffic), the biggest problem is the
lousy criss-cross design! I travel 62 frequently, and when I just want to
stay westbound on 62, I have to weave thru 2 lanes of 35W traffic that is
trying to stay southbound on 35W, and having to weave by me to do so. Just
separating the lanes for 62 & 35W, so that only those changing from 1 road
to the other would have to switch lanes, would greatly reduce the
bottleneck there, even without adding any new lanes. Traffic flows pretty
well in only 2 lanes on most of 62, except around the 35W bottleneck.
And as far as not taking out houses for this, every time I go there I
notice a 2-block chunk of land just north of 62 that Minnegasco owns, which
seems to be mainly a storage lot for pipe & other supplies. And it usually
looks like a good portion of it pretty empty. It seems to me that some of
that could be acquired by the DOT if needed, much cheaper & easier than
tearing down houses nearby. Is there a reason this property is untouchable?
Tim Bonham, Ward 12
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