Project supporters claim that the new ramps would spur development on Lake Street. It is a dubious claim since the revitalization of Lake Street in the last ten years has occurred in spite of limited freeway access at Lake Street, mostly because of the vision and commitment of immigrant business owners. And if freeway ramps are needed for economic development along Lake Street, how does one explain the vibrancy found on Grand Avenue in St. Paul and Uptown in Minneapolis where both areas lack immediate freeway access?
This economic development argument seems very bogus considering that areas that are near freeway access - 35th and 36 and Nicollet, Franklin and 5th, Broadway Av in Near North are depressed areas - while there are very vital areas - Uptown and Northeast Minneapolis which have what some would consider poor freeway access.
In fact - Target in North Minneapolis recently closed. It doesn't seem that freeway access has really helped it.
Allina, Wells Fargo, and Children's Hospital are large regional facilities which claim that their employees and patients get lost in the maze of streets leading from existing freeway ramps to their institutions. These establishments prefer that their employees and patients minimize the time spent traversing the adjoining neighborhoods of Phillips, Whittier, and Powderhorn on their way to work. In effect, the Access Project becomes a glorified driveway to the parking ramps of the companies near the freeway.
This problem could be addressed much more cost effectively with signage. It seems that adding these ramps will also add more traffic jams from merging and lane changing in an already congested area. On 94 it always seems to be congested in the area beween 55 and the Lowri tunnel. The reason for the congestion is because of the lane changing for people trying to hit particular exits. When you don't know a freeway, you are much more likely to miss your exit - and have to take the next exit.
A while back, I went to a Women's Political Caucus fundraiser at the Metropolitan Ballroom - which was right off of 394. I had a horrible time figuring how to get there. I would have much preferred something more straight forward like the Minneapolis grid structure.
As a result, $5 million of taxpayers' money has been spent to date on a phalanx of elaborate drawings and schemes that will level approximately seven businesses and 14 housing units. Meanwhile, funding for the $152 million project is unclear, a major impediment for the project.
Why good money after bad needs to be spent on the conflict of interest ridden Smith Parker, I don't know.
It is crucial that the city council vet the Access Project more thoroughly before lending its support and money to a project that is in financial limbo. An improved transit-oriented vision would help people get around in ways that do not depend on paving more land, leveling more houses, or harboring more cars in traffic.
Hopefully the City Council will see reason on this issue. Minneapolis shouldn't be in the business of copying Richfield in the way they try to attract corporate headquarters. The Best Buy Richfield boondoggle comes to mind.
Eva
Eva Young
Near North
Minneapolis
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Blog is up:
http://lloydletta.blogspot.com
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