My understanding is that Central and a little strip of Lyndale (between Stevens and Nicollet) want 35th/36th St. ramps closed for the reasons cited. Opening ramps at 38th St. was introduced because it was more logical since 38th is a through street from the river to Kings Hwy. and has a lot of small business node activity along its length. It would also mean that Central could drop from five one way streets to three which would help to solidify the neighborhood. However, in terms of remediation, Central wanted to be accomodated along the strip from Lake to 38th with amenity improvements. One big one was Sabathani's parking squeeze which would happen if ramps were opened on 38th. The HOV lanes now proposed by MNDOT are still a bait and switch. WizardMarks, Central
Citizens for a Loring Park Community wrote: > > Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 19:36:29 -0600 > From: "wizardmarks" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "David Brauer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [Mpls] Strib edit: build the exta/transit lane on 35W > > 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. > > Wizard Marks wrote: > 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. > > Jana Metge writes: > > With regard to the the above statement, and having sat in on 35W meetings > for 2 years during my 8 years at CNIA, people living around 35th and 36th > street asked for the freeway ramps to be shut down. There was a survey done > during 1997 through the Weed and Seed initiative and many, many residents > felt that with the new Library expansion, as well as the New School, Early > Learning Center, and Clinic...it was now too dangerous to cross those > streets. > > There had been many a time when cars racing to get onto 35W crashed into the > fence and yard on the corner of 35th and 3rd Ave. So. Of residents in that > area surveyed, at that time, the majority wanted the freeway ramps now > closed on those intersections. Those survey results were given to the 35W > committee at the beginning of the 35W discussions. > > Additionally, at a 35W meeting, where I was present, it was Councilmember > Herron that suggested a ramp at 38th St. He felt that it would enhance the > commercial potential of that corridor. He was the one who requested that > staff research this. > > Additionally, a community involvement committee was put together. I served > on it, as did Robert Lilligren, David Sabaka from Whittier, and Sarah > Hernandez from Honeywell..several Community meetings were held at that time. > This would have been in 1999-2000. Again, residents surveyed and the > majority of those who attended (meetings at Hosmer, as well as at the Zurah > Shrine building) again asked that closing 35th and 36th St. be researched > due to safety reasons. The fast traffic was hazardous and the environment > had changed due to the school development, as well as the expanded use of > the Hosmer Library. > > If now the climate has changed again and residents are not wanting 35th and > 36th to be closed, great....but if residents are still worried about the > safety of families going to the clinic and school....we need to ask them and > see if that need is still there. Is it safe for parents to cross 35th St. > to go to the School, clinic, pre-school? Is is safe for folks to park their > cars on 36th and get out and go to Hosmer Library. > > Jana L. Metge > Phillips Resident > Staff/CLPC > > _______________________________________ > 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
