This is public information about the meeting on Monday re: Lake St. Repaving
-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [Mpls] Lake Street Public Meeting Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2004 09:44:42 -0500 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To:
I wanted to provide a little context for the meeting on Monday. The meeting is being called by the County. As you know, we took the PAC approved plan to the Council. FYI, that plan was not called the hybrid. It has 2 lanes of traffic in each direction and turn lanes at Portland, Park, Chicago and Cedar. And the area around Midtown Exchange had an uncertain number of turn lanes based on incomplete info from the City on what they felt was required. We showed turns at Elliot, 10th and 11th as the most extreme based on the Traffic Demand Management Plan done for Midtown Exchange, but the County is not invested in those. We were trying to be responsive to the City.
During the Council review process, the Mayor's office and Council Members Niziolek, Lilligren and Zimmermann put forward another plan. It was called the hybrid. In that plan, East bound would have had one lane of traffic, west bound would have had 2 lanes, with one of them being used for parking in off peak hours. That was presented to us on July 1. We could not review that in time for the Council Meeting on July 2 and so the item was delayed for one council cycle to allow review and evaluation.
During the evaluation of that plan, it became clear that it was unworkable. Then last Friday, the City offered another new plan. This one is called "Plan E." Plan E has two lanes in both directions with turn lanes. Both curb side lanes would be used for parking during the off peak.
At this point, we were forced to request another delay. We cannot evaluate the consequences of such a major change on the timeline that existed. We are very concerned about the delay, but had no choice.
We scheduled the public meeting to get input. The City is advocating the plan, arguing that it allows flexibility over the life of Lake Street. Parking can be added or removed over time based on the traffic and usage.
We are concerned that the "peak" on Lake Street is so long, that traffic would have to be banned from 9am to 6 or 7 pm. It becomes a trade off of permanent parking in the Portland-Columbus block vs. some parking along the whole stretch, but only in limited hours. We also have concerns about enforcement, snow removal, etc. If the lanes aren't clear when they need to be, functioning of the whole street will be impacted.
Thus the public meeting. It really is about trade offs. And that creates
winners and losers. Despite our commitment to the planning process and the
PAC, we are in a position where the plan is in some flux and we need to
know what people think of the ideas. And the Council needs to know. If
people think they are on the wrong track, the meeting is the time to let
them know!
Lisa Vecoli
Aide to Peter McLaughlin ________________________________
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