There has been a ton of discussion on this list about the Access Project and rightfully so because it will affect us for years to come and I know this will be a long and arduous process. As a member of the PAC representing Lyndale Neighborhood I think it's important to talk about why I support the Project and why I sincerely believe this project will be a regional benefit in the years to come. It is by no means a perfect plan but one whose benefits greatly outstrip its burdens.
The vitality of Lake Street Lake Street is not currently an economically vital corridor, it is greatly improved from what it was 5 years ago but lets face it we still have a long way to go. My test of vitality is one of safety, is Lake Street safe? Do you want to walk alone on Lake Street after dark? Not in it's current configuration and if we don't change anything or let MNDoT build whatever access they want at Lake Street than I know it will continue to be an unsafe and therefore not vital corridor. Without access at Lake Street it will continue to be a service dominated corridor with no potential for commercial growth and that will doom Lake Street. Coffee shops are not economic development folks, white and blue collar living wage jobs are what makes a city stronger and there is no way we can lure those employers onto Lake Street without full access and a transit station anchor on I35W. With the Access Project we have a much better chance to pitch Lake Street as a location for those employers. No-build is not a good option for Lake Street. The Flyover I support the flyover for two reasons, to ease potential gridlock on Lake Street and to keep truck traffic delivering to Wells, Allina, and the future Chicago-Lake tenant off Lake Street. With the Southbound exit at Lake we will be introducing a lot of new traffic onto Lake and without the flyover we would need to add thru lanes and I don't think any us of support more thru traffic lanes on Lake Street. Like it or not the flyover also helps pedestrians by keeping the Wells/Allina traffic out of the Lake Street interchange. The loss of housing is a very difficult issue for everyone and I don't think any of us take it lightly, I do know that as a PAC we will insist that they be well compensated and supported in finding new housing. 6A vs 6B I support the 6B exit design plan for a very simple reason, it allows drivers to make a destination choice based on where they need to go. The 6B alternative allows those who want to go to Nicollet directly to do so. Throwing all the exit traffic to Lake Street just so it can cut back to Nicollet makes Lake Street more congested and less pedestrian friendly. There is a concern that 6B cuts off Stevens Ave at 29th street, this is true but if I were a resident of Stevens I would rather have the 6B alternative eliminate cut through traffic from 28th street to Lake Street than have the extra auto traffic that 6A gives me. We are already giving Wells/Allina employees a speedier route to work I don't see any reason why they need to use Stevens Ave to get back on the highway after work. I also feel for the Eat Street businesses who have their Neighborhood voting against something that can only make their businesses thrive more. The Access project can only help commercial development, which brings more patrons to Eat Street. One of the real unfortunate parts of this project is that businesses who are located in non-supportive neighborhoods can't fully advocate their positions on the project for fear of reprisal. 38th Street This is the part of the project I have spent the most time on, as a member of the Kingfield/Lyndale mitigation committee I have spent a lot of time working with fellow residents to talk about the potential impacts of the ramps moving to 38th Street. While the Kingfield neighborhood board doesn't support the Access Project I know by working together we have made it a better Project if it happens. That being said I support the ramps being moved to 38th for a few reasons. It more fairly distributes exit traffic at 8 block intervals on 35W between Lake Street and 46th, by spacing it more evenly we have a much more equitable distribution of the burdens of that entrance/exit traffic. This is an issue of simple regional fairness and in my mind is the least controversial part of the Project once Lake Street is open to full access. Currently there are 4 blocks between the 31st and 35th Street ramps, no one can tell me with a straight face that that situation should continue if Lake Street is given full access. You cannot continue to concentrate that amount of traffic between those few blocks. That close spacing has been a boot on our throats for 40 years and moving the ramps to 38th is the equitable thing to do. (I get a little fired up over that one) 38th Street is more suited to exit traffic because of the commercial and institutional nodes on the street. A big emphasis of this project is putting traffic where it belongs, the 38th Street corridor businesses will benefit because of the exit. Moving the exit will impact far fewer residences by moving it to one street rather than keeping it on two. The ellipse-about ramp that is being created as part of this is one of the truly innovative parts of the project. So much of infrastructure project work is by definition mundane, it's so nice to see a feature like this that we can be excited about. The redesigned 35th-36th street community connector bridges with wider sidewalks and bike lanes along with a 34th street pedestrian/bike bridge is a great benefit to our neighborhoods. Without the Access project 35W will continue to be the canyon between East and West neighborhoods. Spacing the entrance/exit traffic will ultimately help all our neighborhoods by reducing traffic concentration. I also believe that the dire predictions for blight on 38th street are overblown, I think the new 38th street will very likely resemble the current 46th street interchange which is certainly not the worst thing in the world. Going Forward The I35W Access Project will continue to be debated as we move forward, I will be voting in favor of the project and anticipate continued lively debates, charges, and protests if the Project moves to approval. That is a very healthy thing for this community and I will be listening to all the arguments. I have not heard any persuasive enough to make me think that we should continue with the status quo and vote no build. There are no alternative proposals that are even close to viable and I frankly think we have waited too long to do something about this. I also have very real fears of having something shoved down our throats in the current political climate. Governor-elect Pawlenty will be replacing the commissioner of MNDoT, something tells me the new commish won't be the most progressive person in the world. I think we have a fair deal on the table that we could be very sorry we passed up if MNDoT decides to run the show. It is a very real possibility. (thank you Rick Kahn!) A thriving commercial sector is a key linchpin to a successful city, the new access points at Lake and 35W make that corridor more commercially viable in the years to come. It sends a message that Minneapolis is business friendly which goes a long way in the current business climate. I look forward to the continued debate as the process continues. Scott Persons Lyndale Neighborhood Access Project PAC Member _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
