I attended a meeting some time ago regarding the Southwest LRT proposal. I do recall asking how the proposed route would affect the existing bicycle "freeway" along the Kenilworth Trail and West. These route currently has massive usage by commuters and recreational cyclists.The route is well used, but a bike trail can only move a fraction of the people that rail transit can.
I was told that they planned to have mixed use along the existing bike trails until it reached Kenilworth at which point there wasn't room for both. The solution given was to then move the Light Rail along the Lyndale Avenue route.The "pinch point" on the Kenilworth trail is only a couple hundred yards long. The rest of the right of way has plenty of space- this was a railroad yard, after all. There is one track there already, and that track could handle a lot of trains before reinstalling the second track would be necessary. If that point is reached there are several good options for relocating the bike trail.
Perhaps the answer was tailored to my question and there are other reasons for not using the Kenilworth route (as shown in the article below), but I did want to pass this along.I suspect some spin is going on here- some agency is trying to build an argument that the Southwest Rail Transit Corridor shouldn't be built because the neighborhoods don't want it. Actually, it doesn't even need to be built- the tracks are already there and they still run all the way to Montana. This track sees only a couple freights a day, so their is plenty of capacity for commuter rail.
Also, I agree with Matt. Why would either neighborhood be opposed to rail? I don't get it.I concur- there was a bit of whining from Kenwood when the tracks were put back in service. Since then all we've heard is the occasional railroad whistle.
Note that I'm a proponent of mass transit, including rail, but I do oppose the loss of a heavily used bike trail like Kenilworth.No need to worry, this ain't like expanding 35W- it's possible to fit a bike trail, alley, sidewalk, and double track mainline in the right of way of a city street.
Also, the enabling federal legislation that allowed "rail to trails" conversions requires that the trail be given up if the rails are to be relaid. In the cases where this has occurred, the trail has always been relocated, usually along the side of the right of way.
In conclusion, the Southwest Rail Transit Corridor already has railroad tracks and a trail. A couple stations still exist, and portable stations could quickly be set up at other stops. There is plenty of surplus passenger rail equipment for sale or lease around the country.
When would folks like service to start?
happy trails from Hawthorne,
Dyna Sluyter
Jim McGuire Como----Original Message Follows---- From: "David Brauer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Mpls list" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [Mpls] Lyndale Ave. Light Rail Date: Thu, 9 Jan 2003 07:01:53 -0600 The story Matt references is at: http://www.swjournal.com/display/inn_opinion/opinion04.txt Thanks for reading, Matt! David Brauer Kingfield Editor, Southwest Journal and Skyway News-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf OfMattMason The Southwest Journal Online had an article talking about a rivlary between Lyndale Ave.-area residents and Kenwood residents concerning the route of a possible (with Pawlenty?) Southwest Corridor light rail line. The contention is that neither neighborhood actually wants the line. This really confuses me.
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