Here is a list of questions about the design of the 35W Access (so-called) project, which I gave to Tom Johnson last summer when I met with him individually. I've also raised similiar questions in a number of meetings about the project, and have recieved no answers from the proponents of the project.
With little money to spend, alternatives like PRT, BRT, carsharing (NEC''s "hOurcar"), seem like much more economically and environmentally sustainable investments. I urge list members and city and state leaders to read over this list and to insist that dollars spent for metropolitan area transportation design be spent on the most sustainable options. ***** Sustainable Design Questions for Transportation Project Evaluation 1. How does this project improve or damage local air, soil, and water quality? 2. How does this project improve or harm local public health? 3. How does this project increase or decrease bike, pedestrian, and transit share in the total transportation mix? 4. How does this project decrease car over-use in Minneapolis? 5. How does this project affect land use? Does it encourage urban sprawl, or does it encourage wise land use? 6. Are there more effective strategies for developing sustainable urban transportation? 7. Are the premises of this project irreconcilably at odds with sustainable urban development? 8. Would the resources dedicated to this project be better spent on "smart growth" and development of comprehensive metro-wide transit connecting walk-able, bike-able neighborhoods? 9. Can this - or other transportation projects - be linked to a metro region "congestion tax" aimed at discouraging car over-use and at encouraging alternative modes of transportation in the metro area? ***** Of course, I must also mention that I've been riding cargo trikes every day -- all through the winter -- for my work. I can haul up to somewhere around 600 to 800 pounds, but rarely need to haul more than a couple of hundred pounds. I make many personal and family errands this way, too. The past four winters have not been real tough ones for biking and triking, so I feel I've had it easy lately. I believe that if we could increase bike-share from about 3% to even 7-10%, we would do more to help our local environment and economy, without spending a public dime, than any other single transportation change we could make. I am currently mentoring a young bikeworker, referring work to him that I am unable to take on. I've discussed bikeworking with a number of people, and at our last Sustainable Neighborhoods Conference (held at Augsburg College) one of the profs asked me to address a class about this. We can positively transform our city for the better by being and supporting small "micro-eco-entrepreneurs"! -- pedaling for peace and ecojustice -- Gary Hoover Kingfield 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. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ 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
