Holle - Just to be clear - I did bring my issues before the Board of the Bancroft Neighborhood Association a few months ago. I just thought I should bring it up before a larger forum also - since it is more than a neighborhood issue.
Mark Anderson [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, December 03, 2001 11:33 PM Subject: Re: [Mpls] Stop the Dangerous New 40th Street Greenway > Some comments about the proposed 40th Street Greenway: > > - A little background - This project was conceived as an extension of the > recreational bike paths that ring South Minneapolis; however it's neither a > true "greenway" (car-free bike path) nor a primary bike commuter route. Its > main purpose is to link existing green spaces and features that occur along > 40th Street in a more bike- and pedestrian-friendly manner: (from West to > East) Lake Harriet, Martin Luther King Park, the pedestrian bridge across > I35W, Phelps Park, Sibley Park and the Mississippi River. > > - The 40th Street Greenway is not a "done deal" by any means. In 2000 a > series of community input meetings were held to get residents' reactions to > some of the proposed designs. I attended several of these... many people in > the Bancroft neighborhood expressed support for the one-way street and the > traffic calming features. I didn't go to any of the Standish-Eriksson > meetings but I understand there are concerns about traffic flow around > Roosevelt High School. The Kingfield neighborhood has already started to > implement its end of the design. Each neighborhood may decide whether they > want to participate in the Greenway project, how it will take shape, and how > the project will be funded, in coordination with the other neighborhoods > along the route. In the Bancroft neighborhood it is still in the proposal > phase, so now is a good time to voice concerns about the safety of the design. > > - One-way streets do pose something of a hazard to two-way bikes and > pedestrians. There will need to be a special effort on cross streets to alert > drivers to the presence of pedestrians and cyclists... having a street that > looks quite unlike the other cross streets can help accomplish this. While > it's helpful to compare similar designs in Dinkytown and the Wedge, it's also > important to remember these neighborhoods are a lot busier and higher in > density than Bancroft. > > - Even if the Greenway is developed, I'm guessing many high-speed cyclists > will probably still choose 38th Street as the East-West commuting route, > because it is flat and has the right-of-way. On the other hand, relocation of > the I35W entrance ramps to 38th Street could have an adverse affect on its > use as a bike commuter route, and move heavier bike traffic to the Greenway. > > - I hope those who are interested in the progress of the 40th Street > Greenway, and the potential impact of a one-way street between Chicago and > Cedar Avenues, will take some time to communicate their ideas to the Bancroft > Neighborhood Association, 724-5313, [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > -- Holle Brian > Bancroft > (612) 822-6593 > _______________________________________ > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy > Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: > http://e-democracy.org/mpls _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
