Greg,
If the parking downtown is really that frustrating to SUV-driving, suburban
T-Wolves fans, why not post a flyer on how to take the bus?
Or better yet, how to take the new light rail system. Oh, wait, that's only
in places like Portland...
---------------------------
Kurt Waltenbaugh
ECCO, Ward 10
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of
List Manager
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2001 8:48 PM
To: Mpls list
Subject: [Mpls] Fun with parking ramps
Forwarded on behalf of Greg Finstad - David Brauer, list manager
Hello. I'm Greg Finstad, director of transportation, City of Minneapolis.
David Brauer's posting of Tuesday, April 17th implying that the City is
turning away business at its parking ramps on downtown's western edge isn't
really accurate and needs some context. On Sunday, April 15, those arriving
for the Timberwolves game and parking in the City's ramps at 5th Street and
7th Street were given a flier that alerted them to parking alternatives
within reasonable distance of the Target Center. The major message was that
there are lots of places to park downtown and if you are concerned about
congestion at one ramp, walking a little further can mean a shorter wait.
Here's why the flyer:
1. The Timberwolves approached us at the City because they had gotten
feedback from some frustrated ticket holders that, in their view, it was
taking them too long to exit the ramps after the games. Minneapolis' ramps
are well designed for timely exiting, but a nearly full ramp is going to
take longer to empty. The City's two ramps close to the Target Center are
favorites because of their skyway connections to the Target Center.
2. The City's ramp management and the Timberwolves felt it would be
helpful if people just knew more about all the available parking facilities
so that if they needed to leave quicker, there are alternatives that might
suit them.
3. We were thinking that if 200 to 300 folks (NOT 1,000 to 2,000, as
David Brauer said) parked in an alternative ramp, the congestion would be
eased noticeably. And we also know that while there are three private ramps
listed on the flyer (some have special arrangements with the Timberwolves),
the three City ramps listed, such as the new Hawthorne ramp, the ramp at
10th and Hennepin or the 4th Street ramp, would be chosen by many of these
folks who decide to park further away. So revenues won't be noticeably
reduced, which David Brauer also projected. It just won't be the case.
4. As for the state of parking in that area if a baseball stadium is
built, we can all assume that parking, and the ease of entering the area and
exiting, will be an important part of the planning. Our existing ramps will
be of great service when it comes to planning such a facility and, if built,
for its ticket-holders, given that we have 8,470 City ramp spaces within
walking distance, and the fact that we now bring in and then exit folks in
very good time (better than most).
So the bottom line: if you are parked in a full ramp anywhere, it takes
time to empty, especially after an event. If you can't spend the time
waiting, look for parking alternatives that may be less utilized and thus
will be less congested.
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