Great article in the Star Tribune regarding the potential future of Twin Cities transit - keep in mind that a recent study said we'd need 70% more freeways over the next 15 years or so to keep congestion reasonable. Is this a time when local politicians should be offering alternative solutions to freeways? Clearly, there would be no end in sight in terms of enlarging freeways.
http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/4144187.html Below are some excerpts: BYLINE: David Peterson CREDITLINE: Star Tribune HEADLINE: Ex-leader warns Met Council of 'cold Atlanta' The Twin Cities area is in danger of becoming a "cold Atlanta" if we don't make the right choices soon among roads, buses and rail, the leader of the last Republican-appointed Metropolitan Council warned the members of the newly appointed Republican group Wednesday. In a sign of internal struggle, the latest draft of the document crosses out the words "buses, light rail and commuter rail" as options that can reduce the need for freeway lanes and substitutes the phrase "fast, convenient transit services." But Curt Johnson, the council chairman supplanted by Mondale and appointed by the state's last Republican governor, Arne Carlson, pleaded with the council Wednesday to push for an interlocking network of fixed transitways such as rail and busways to supplement the "anemic transit choices" that metro-area residents have today. The question is whether to become a Denver or a Seattle, with thriving transit corridors, he said, or an Atlanta, in which lane after new freeway lane is added without dissolving gridlock. "I hope we don't wake up in 10 years and find that what we've built for ourselves is a cold Atlanta," Johnson said. The new council's draft plan treats the area's congestion problem less as a result of the way the area has developed and more as a lack of adequate lane miles and transit. But Johnson said congestion can't be fixed by spending more money. "It is merely a symptom of land uses," with homes, jobs and shops too far apart. David Piehl Central __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search http://shopping.yahoo.com REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
