i know it's a tired subject and i hate to keep griping
about something that is a done deal. it is
instructive, for me anyway, only in how it makes clear
the need for better leadershp.
this is one of the issues that galvanized my
opposition to the existing power sructure in this
region.
i began clipping articles out of the strib, pipress,
and anywhere i saw them last april 2000, i wrote
unpublished letters to newspapers, i made copies and
produced packets detailing the lack of support for the
hiawatha line and sent them with letters to senators
and representatives in d.c who had as yet not released
the funds. i'm certain they thought e a madman.
its not much fun being a naysayer.
in an earlier pot imentioned alternatives to the
hiawatha line but even those don't jazz me.
i've always had the feeling that the powers that be
have this incredible inferiority complex that maes
them propose such folishness just to show how hip,
modern, and progressive we are. in the end, i think
they exhibit just how insecure we are.
there is one place i've thought where it might make
sense to run light rail to begin with as a
demonstration of sorts and that would be along
nicollet avenue. it might even come closer to paying
for itself.
it also would get the buses off the Mall and make it a
much more pleasant street for sidewalk cafes in the
summer and all year round for pedestrians and
bicyclists.
it would necessitate moving k-mart but working toward
that anyway. it would fit with the development planned
for lake-nicollet, it would feed Eat Streeet with a
stream of diners from neighborhoods along the line all
the way to bloomington.
there are numerous gaps along the route between grant
street all the way out to about 40th street where new
housing could be developed with no major investment by
the city. just in the stevens square-loring heights
area it would have a major beneficial impact.
but then i keep thinking of terry matula from hastings
who talks about how rail projects are the most
susceptible public works projects to run over on
costs. i happened to hear on the radio just this
morning that the budget for the northstar corridor
train from st. cloud to mpls.just got upped $50
million.
all aboard!
Tim Connolly
Ward 7
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