jeff carlson wrote:
The list of businesses and residents on Lake opposedWM: I'd like you to think about this historical factor for a moment: The Chair of the PAC asked why Lake Street, unlike 54th, 46th, 42nd, 38th, 36th, 35th, 26th, and Franklin, there was a built hill for a bridge over Lake and 31st.--the current status of 35W. The reply from MNDOT was that the Lake Street merchants had pressured the state to build that hill--rather than dig out under Lake Street and 31st.--so that freeway users could see their businesses from the roadbed. It was an honest mistake. Remember that until that point Americans had never thought "super highway", it was a very new concept. However, the last 30 years have not proven the merchant's assertion. When the PAC asked the state if it would be possible to dig it out this time to correct the mistake, the answer was "No, it's too expensive."
to the Access Project is building. I am beginning to
think it is unanimous.
This put the PAC in the position of having to create a plan which disallowed the most efficient re-design. The question I don't have an answer for might be: "Is the cost of the re-design as chosen by the PAC with mitigation more expensive than it would have been to dig out under Lake St. and mitigate the problems and the eyesore?" I plan to ask the question at the next open house.
At the next PAC meeting, presumably toward the end of November, the PAC will choose between 6A and 6B. This is their designation for two similar sub-plans of the plan voted on in October, only one of which can be chosen. At their open house coming earlier in November than the PAC meeting, the two alternatives will be laid out for public commentary. At their previous open houses, they have had stenographers to take down the public commentary, print it up, and give it to the PAC to consider while they moved through the process. (There have been either 3 or 4 of these open houses so far.) Anyone is free to come and provide commentary for the stenographer.
Whether the PAC's recommendation to either the city, county, state, MNDOT, or feds will be approved has not yet been decided. That's the work of elected officials. (Though Lilligren and Nisiolek (sp.) sat on the committee and voted already. Nisiolek voted to abstain. Lilligren voted against the project as rep for West Phillips. The appointed representative for the eighth ward, M.Vikla, voted for the project.)
However, there are two other processes to be worked through which will also affect Lake St. and 35W. One is whether or not to re-open Nicollet at Lake, the other is the Lake St. Repaving Project, the process for which should begin early in 03. Some of the changes to Lake St.reflected in the PAC's recommendation may happen anyway as a result of the repaving project and the re-opening of Nicollet once that process is worked through.
The opportunity is there for everyone concerned to make a thoughtful response to the materials the PAC will lay before us. I'm looking forward to this open house. Since the PAC has been busy winnowing the choices down to just two, it will be much easier to grasp and be able to make a thoughtful response to the whole magilla.
WizardMarks, Central
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