[Mpls] I35W Access Project

[WizardMarks]

I now remember when one of the threads which brought the Access Project happened. It was during the talks to create the Lake St. Partners, which organization was jointly created by Phillips (not divided at the time), Central, Powderhorn, and Corcoran. Each of the four neighborhoods signed an agreement to push for some things to revitalize Lake St. and the whole South Side. This was far enough back so that there was not yet a developer named to revitalize Sears (pre-Ray Harris). One of the first things discussed was I35W. It was then we decided to push for access at Lake St. The question was taken before the boards of all 4 neighborhoods each of which affirmed access as a necessary step to revitalizing Lake St. I can't remember everyone who was there, but I remember Dick Pitheon, Mike Gramling, Paula Gilbertson, Gwenn McMahon, Daryll Ansel, Joyce Krook, Julie Ingebretson, and Annie Young having been in on that creation. The room was crowded, there was a huge group. It was held at Spirit of the Lakes Church.

The "No build", anti access group have one legitimate beef. The State of Minnesota had agreed with then Mayor Sayles Belton that it was an access project only, not a widening project. MNDoT sat at the table from the beginning (1998). Two years later, they brought to the table their demand for two additional lanes and a "future" HOV lane.

In August, 2001 Sayles Belton sent a letter to the Governor strenuously objecting to MNDoT ignoring the agreement. This put the PAC in an awkward postion: they had an open process where anyone could bring suggestions and ideas, but the road, within it's present boundaries, belongs to the federal government and MNDoT is the designated caretaker of their interests.
Within it's present boundaries, they have some say--it is a federal system.

Those who think that no build is an option are very much mistaken. Once MNDoT made its demand, it meant the road was going to enlarge. The city could only say mitigation of mistakes is part of it, access at Lake St. is part of it, very minor going out of your present boundaries is part of it, it will look nice and be a lot safer, and meet the needs of our population..

If quoted accurately in the article by Steve Brandt, Robert Lilligren is incorrect. He, as a resident of the neighborhood, through his community organization (People of Phillips) did agree to this project as essential to the revitalization of his neighborhood. So did Dean Zimmerman. That they are both now saying this is no good, is immaterial. The neighborhoods--their constituents--and they themselves agreed to it several years ago.

Am I happy that State of MN/MNDoT doesn't keep it's deals? No. But I want the changes we asked for, so, having looked and listened and asked questions, I'm ready to say that yes, this project meets the problems we Southsiders agreed we needed to have addressed.

Today's Tribune has a story in the Metro section headlines, "Is it a bus?..." about an experimental cross-breed between light rail and bus that could be the solution for mass transit and 35W, more than HOV but still not light rail. Sorta lite rail, as it were.

Since MNDoT and MCTO say they won't be "ready" to put in HOV or anything else till 2015, this may be the most equitable solution to the situation as it now stands.

Who said, "politics is the art of compromise"? Must have been Og of Cave 76.

WizardMarks, Central


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