For the record, I want to put in writing for readers of this forum that Abbott Northwestern Hospital fully supports the 35W access project for many reasons. Having worked with the community for over three years to study and plan it, we are convinced that the project will improve access to Minneapolis neighborhoods, businesses and major institutions/employers including Abbott Northwestern. We also believe, as do many area residents, that improved access will lead to economic development, jobs for local residents, the availability of improved housing and help manage future growth in south Minneapolis.
We support the robust community process that led to the current plan for freeway onramps, offramps, new bus stations, safe pedestrian crossings, and newer, safer and artful bridge designs that are opportunities for neighborhood identities and gateways. And, yes, we support the 28th Street flyover because it will guide traffic bound everyday for major institutions and move it away from already congested residential streets and Lake Street. Yes, there are 16 housing units and six businesses that will be displaced by the project, but the budget includes an allocation to relocate homeowners, renters, business owners or tenants. We understand several of these homeowners/tenants and businesses support of the access project. As a major employer committed to this community, we will assist in helping displaced tenants/homeowners in finding suitable or better housing. Our record on investment in affordable housing in the area is strong and dates back long before the access project was born. As I mentioned at the STRIDE meeting last week, the hospital's reality is that we are increasingly becoming a destination hospital for residents of the metro area, statewide and in the Midwest. In 2002, Abbott Northwestern saw nearly 40,000 inpatient admissions and more than 300,000 outpatient registrations. Through excellence in medical care, we've been growing steadily every year, and we are growing the number of hospital employees earning a living wage who call Minneapolis home. This isn't meant to be a brag, but rather to say we're committed to succeeding in this community, and we're learning everyday about how we can be a better partner with the community, whether the issue is health disparities, crime, employment, housing or transportation. Finally, we recognize the importance of investing not only in improved vehicular access to the 35W and Lake Street area, but also in other forms of transit. As a member of the Phillips Partnership, Abbott Northwestern helped Metro Transit receive federal funds that will eventually double the current amount of bus service on I35W. The access project has also adopted Metro Transit's Sector 5 plan to provide a major bus station at 35W and Lake Street. As a member of the Midtown Community Works Partnership, Abbott Northwestern, along with Wells Fargo and others, has been a leading investor in the promotion of the Midtown Greenway as a transit corridor, to include light rail, bicycle and walking paths. It's clear to us that the Midtown Greenway should serve as an inviting people mover that will attract residents, visitors and employees into south Minneapolis from points other than the freeway. We continue to look at investments that encourage our employees to ride the bus or ride a bike. We take nearly $200,000 in annual revenue from our parking ramps and use it to subsidize the cost of MetroPass cards for our employees. We were successful in doubling our bus ridership in recent years, and that helped earn us a new express bus route. Could we do better in this area? You bet. Will we do better? You bet. South Minneapolis has a vested interest in looking at all options for improving access in this community. The access project is on the right track. Thank you for your time. Eric Eoloff Public Affairs Abbott Northwestern Hospital This message contains information that may be confidential and privileged. Unless you are the addressee (or authorized for the addressee), you may not use, copy or disclose to anyone the message or information contained in this message. If you have received this message in error, please advise the sender by reply e-mail and delete the message. _______________________________________ 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
