Thank you for both posting this message to the Minneapolis Issues list and for taking a bold, forward-thinking initiative. I am extremely impressed to see such a break from traditional thinking on a large-scale by a politician (if I may call you that) and an elected representative. Unfortunately, rare is it that truly innovative and complete solutions are brought forth by government officials.
I wish you success with this endeavor, and I am one-hundred percent in favor of such a solution.
Sincerely yours, Chris Johnson Ward 13 / Fulton Minneapolis
Dean Zimmermann wrote:
Gary:
You raise some very good questions. Because the questions are basically rhetorical, I will not address them one by one, but, in the spirit of your questions, let me respond with some thoughts about the 35W Excess Ramps at Lake Street.
There is a lot of pressure to build the Excess ramps from Lake Street Businesses, Wells Fargo, Allina, Citizens groups, etc. They claim that the Excess ramps will provide improved access to their businesses. Alliana, for example, even suggests that they will not locate their new headquarters in the Sears building unless the Excess ramps are built.
Even thought, for example, Alliana says that they want these Freeway ramps, I contend that what. Allina really wants is not access ramps, & the expansion of the Freeway. What Alina/Abbott-NW wants is to be able to get its employees, patients, vendors, visitors, etc to and from their campus safely, enjoyably, efficiently, inexpensively and if possible without polluting the natural environment. If the Excess Ramps do that, great. But, do the excess ramps really do that? And would the same amount of money invested in some other strategy accomplish that goal, just as well or, perhaps even better?
It is one thing for groups to oppose the building of the 35W Excess Ramps. They claim, that to build the ramps is to aid and abet the ever expanding growth of the freeway and our continued enslavement to the automobile--there is probably some truth in that. But, unless a plan is put forward that addresses the real issue of moving people efficently there will continue to be irresistible demand for easy, but only partial solutions--such as building the Excess Ramps. In fact these partial solutions may solve part of the problem, but only exacerbate other parts of the problem. Any serious plan must do a better job of getting people in and out of and around the Lake Street area.
An ideal transportation plan and infrastructure would possess a number of characteristics, such as: 1. produces zero emissions in operations; 2. does not leave behind parking problems; 3. cuts the BTUs/per passenger mile by at least 60% compared to transportation options in use today; 4. does not require a yearly subsidy from taxpayers; 5. will cover all operational, maintenance & administrative costs through fare revenue. 6.will increase walking and biking among the general public 7. will serve as an efficient feeder to the LRT. 8. Takes up virtually no footprint. 9) lessens congestion on the streets. 10. will reduce the cost of transportation for a very large percentage of the people coming to and leaving the Lake Street area - or any area where the system is built. 11. reduces road rage 12. makes it easier for many more people to use various kinds of existing transit infrastructure more frequently than it is for them to continue their habit of, now, mainly going everywhere by car. 13. reduces the need to build more parking ramps, 14. operates 24/7
I suspect that there is no such thing as an ideal transit system, but I and 5 of my colleagues, with the support of the mayor, have introduced a motion to the City Council to have our City, over a 6 month period, look closely at the technology of the Taxi2000 Corporation. A transit system build with this home grown technology will address the 14 points above. As a part of this process, I am now putting the final touches on a map of where such a system.might be built. This map will be offered to the City and to the community as starting point of discussion.
For more information about the technology check out the Taxi2000 web site: www.skywebexpress.com When you go into this web site, I recommend you check out the section labeled "system".
I hope to have the map available on the web in about two weeks. But for now, let me just describe the map a bit. It has 68 stations in an area from Uptown to the UofM and from the Minnehaha Mall to the Main Downtown Post office. 4 of the Stations will be at LRT stations. There will be stations at such major destination spots as Hennepin County Hospital, the Metrodome, Uptown, MCTC, MIA, Mill City Museum, Wells Fargo, Target Center, Sears, Alliana, Eat Street, LynLake, Fairview Riverside Hospital, etc. Every Public Housing high-rise in the web area will have a station. 6 of the stations will tie in directly to the downtown skyway. About 5 stations will be in or at major downtown commuter bus terminals. There is at least one station in 21 different neighborhoods. In addition to the LRT, the SkyWeb will intersect with at least 15 MTC Bus lines. No two Skyweb stations are more than 10 minutes apart.
It is my intention to present this plan to each and every neighborhood organization and every business association in the map area, as well as to other interested groups.
Gary, I hope this answers some of your concerns. I understand there is a story in the latest Southwest Journal about PRT, but I have not seen it yet.
Dean Zimmermann
Mpls City Council - Ward 6
612-673-2206
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