Let me try to add to the conversation with facts, figures, and observations from recent Access Project meetings I have attended.
Starting big (global warming, injecting as much traffic as possible): Q1: [Gary Hoover, King Field writes: "The projects are simply about moving more cars. No one has asked whether or not there is a limit to the number of cars one can move through neighborhoods before the neighborhood is effectively destroyed."] A1a: You are quite accurate. More cars will be coming. Coming because Nicollet is reopened. Coming because the KMart site is redeveloped and housing is added. Coming because full access will be provided at Lake Street. But you have omitted a key qualifier. The Access Project is about moving more cars BETTER. Where should traffic be? Where should it not be? Rather than exiting at 35th and looping back to White Castle for a slider, you will be able to exit at Lake and hang a right. Saves over 1.25 miles of internal combustion nirvana. Please don't take your angst over autos out on a project aimed at making a bad situation better. A1b: We (the n'hood reps) repeatedly ask how we can reduce the number of cars through the neighborhood. The Mitigation Subcommittee (volunteers) is meeting weekly to finalize recommendations. And I think we do know how many cars it takes to "destroy" (your term) a neighborhood. I look at 1st Ave. I think south of 31st they have too many cars for a narrow residential street. I think north of 28th, they diverted the traffic and have improved livability. That is exactly what we are working on making better. Without the impetus of the Access Project, I doubt we, the residents of SMpls, would have the opportunity or the professional horsepower needed to make traffic better. Now, on to the specifics of Lake Street, none of which have been in the previous posts (unless you go back to 8 July 02): Q2: [Barb Lickness, Whittier, wrote: "The issue I have raised with respect to the widening of Lake Street has always been about how this will affect the senior population and disabled population that live in the area...I watch as many of them struggle now just to make it across Lake street before the light changes. It will be horrid for them with a wider Lake Street."] A2: I agree with you 100%. This has been a concern all along. (Except the question I ask myself is "How will this affect Jay Clark?"--see mplsforum post on 28 July 02, "Power Walkers: Scourge of the Pathways") And the proposal deals with this by REDUCING the number of lanes to be crossed at every intersection. WHAT? Did you just read that right? That doesn't jive with David Piehl's claims of a wider Lake St. Yes, today, Lake Street is 5 lanes (62 feet) of traffic wide. With the proposal, the most lanes the eldery and Jay will ever have to cross in a single cycle is 4 lanes. Medians ranging from 18 feet to 31 feet will allow a safe place for the non-Power-Walkers to wait for the next signal cycle. Again, the facts: Lake Street is NOT DOUBLING! The sidewalks ARE DOUBLING (8' to 14'). A median is added to provide safe refuge so Jay doesn't have to cross 7 lanes at once. This seems to be good, sound, livibility, concern-for-the-eldery, pedestrian-friendly basis for the design. The real numbers: The width dedicated to cars is going from 62 feet to 85 feet at the widest (the Lake-Nicollet intersection) where the 85 feet is the sum of 48 feet and 37 feet separated by the median. The right-of-way is going from 78 feet to 131 feet to include wider sidewalks and a median. Q3: [David Piehl, Central, wrote: "Indeed, 4 blocks isn't an entire freeway, but it sets the stage for the SCHEDULED rebuilding of additional stretches of Lake Street in the near future. Once the width of Lake near I35W is doubled as planned by the Access Project...it opens the door to additional widening."] A3: And black whisper helicopters will swoop down and take us away. Good conspiracy theory. Next, you'll be telling me that Tom Johnson is a lobbyist. Q4: [Barb Lickness, Whittier, wrote: "I haven't even brought up the issue of how this impacts children. My son's bus stop is scheduled for 31st and Grand. We live at 27th and Grand."] A4: The Access Project, and Lake Street widening ends at Blaisdell. Q5: [Barb Lickness, Whittier, wrote: "I see how horrible the underpass is for pedestrians and bikers at Lake and Hiawatha. That interchange is not friendly for cars let alone pedestrians."] A5: I agree. The Mitigation subcommittee often uses Lake/Hiawatha on what NOT to do. Q6: [Becky Olson, Whittier, wrote: "...a[n] old lady in St. Paul can make it across the wide street, so [can] a parent carring large bags, one baby and two small kids can make it too." A6: See above answers about the design features to help Jay and the old ladies from St Paul. To get a sense of the medians we are adding on Lake, visit the I-94 and Lexington Parkway intersection. Then visit Snelling and University to see what NOT to do with medians. Other issues raised about the Access Project, but not directly to Lake Street: Q7: [David Piehl, Central, wrote: "As far as the [38th Street] elliptical bridge deal, I don't believe they will build it anyway; like most Access Project promo pieces, it's just a carrot to diminish opposition by neighbors that can later be cut from the budget."] A7: I'll note this as Conspiracy Theory #2. I believe the first "carrot" to be cut will be the enhancement of the 31st Street bridge and retaining wall treatments in front of the Healy Block -- just kidding. Everyone is clear that if the mitigation is not done, the project is not done. Q8: [David Piehl, Central, wrote: "Further, I believe that the I-35W PAC heard from a professional in traffic planning - Mr. Fred Dock, who believes the city/state traffic estimates for the area are overstated - by DOUBLE!"] A8: David, I've asked you in private to verify your numbers with me (as your n'hood rep) before posting false info. Now, I'm asking in public. Everything I have is yours for review, for as long as you need. Fred Dock gave us the pre-brief today (27 Aug 02) at the PAC. Yes, he is challenging the assumption of historical traffic growth. It will reduce the 20-year projections by 6.5%. The annual growth is reduced from 1.1% to 0.75%, for an overall 20-year factor reduction from 1.24 to 1.16. It sounds like Enron-math to make those facts into a claim of "DOUBLE!" Q9: [Barb Lickness, Whittier, wrote: "So, I hope people will continue to express concern over the widening of Lake Street and I thank David Piehl for his vigilence on this issue...I hope the county will continue to work with the residents and business owners who will be affected by the decisions made about this issue."] A9: I hope that you realize that vigilance takes time, accuracy, attention to detail, and facts. The county is continuing to work with us on this through the PAC, which has been a good forum to get citizen input into the design. It really beats the siege mentality. "Beware of rashness, but with energy and sleepless vigilance go forward and give us victories." -Abe Lincoln Dave Jensen Central "I just love your eyes. They're like two ping pong balls floating in a pool of green algae." - Miss Piggy to Kermit __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! 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