David Brauer wrote: > > One thing I have heard (and would like list comment on) is that the > "transit lane" pitch of the lane expansion is, in essence, a sham.
IMHO, it's a bait-and-switch routine. We asked for a remediation of mistakes made in the building of 35W at Lake Street. Before Freeway (b.f.), both Nicollet Av. and Lake St. were major commercial arteries. Part of the reason for decline, if not most of the reason, is attributed to the lack of access at 35W and Lake. The remediation we asked for was a Northbound entrance and a Southbound exit at Lake St., new bicycle/pedestrian bridges at 40th and 26th Sts., better looking bridge at 31st and Lake Sts. (under 35W). MNDOT came back with, 'we have to move the 35th/36th St. exits to 38th St so as not to worsen a bad design flaw and create more traffic hazards.' This latest from MNDOT is a whole 'nuther ballgame and a nose thumbing to us if ever there was one. People have worked hard on 35W for over two years only to be told it's all for nought. Had I sat through those numerous and perhaps endless meetings, I'd be royally honked off at MNDOT. Not having sat through that, I'm still royally honked. For everyone's sake, we have to get trains bringing people from the far burbs or exurbs and the mid-burbs and the near-burbs. If we were to shift just the bulk of 9-5 commuters to trains, 7a-7p. between Shokopee/Chaska, Minnetonka, etc. and the Loop, our buses could be used to cross among the burbs so every household would not have to put at least two cars on the road every day. > I think it's important for neighborhood folks - whether opposed to 35W > expansion or not - to get a fair analysis of this argument. Does the > proposed expansion really boost transit or not? > One other thought: while I am an avowed Middler (Bob Gustafson-style, > not Bette) But...I like Bette. It would be fun to be a Bette Midler--no insult to Bob at all. WizardMarks, Central > > _______________________________________ > 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
