The 35W Excess Project is about halfway into its Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW). They will begin this month to determine whether alternatives other than the HOV lanes proposed by the Excess Project would be better for the environment. They must consider a dedicated transit lane on 35W in place of HOV (or, our new Lexus) lanes.
In the early nineties MnDOT attempted to expand 35W through South Minneapolis. A 1995 Environmental Impact Statement doomed that project by recommending a Light Rail line, and no additional lanes for 35W.
This EAW should take into account what Peter McGlaughlin said ten years ago about light rail on 35W. Read it at:
If there are any environmental lawyers out there reading this - how can a citizen pressure the state to seriously consider alternatives as part of an EAW? Or are EAWs too toothless to even sway the outcome? We heard earlier on this list how the Excess Project, together with the Crosstown/35W project are guilty of "segmentation", wherein an agency divides a project up in order to circumvent the Environmental Impact Statement.
On another note, the Excess EAW claims to have passed the "public process" piece based on public meetings last November. Let's not forget that citizens roundly opposed the project at those meetings. To claim on an EAW that a project like this passes muster is illegal, and the county needs to be taken to task:
Time is running out - we need help!
Jeff Carlson, Whittier
Jeff Carlson
2430 Clinton Ave. S. D43
Mpls, MN 55404
(612) 813-0116
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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