Fancy trains aren't magic. To get LRT, we'll need to spend 2 1/2 times more than BRT (assuming dedicated right-of-ways for both). And that gets a 20% bump in ridership. We got a decent deal on the first one because the Feds were happy to share a lot of money. But they're not so quick to do that anymore. Everyone and their grandmother wants to build a couple lines and are beggin' the feds for money for it. They don't have infinite pockets and are likely to cough up less and less or even none at all (just ask Seattle about that). Chances are if Minneapolis is going to get a LRT line running along 35W (btw- how about up Cedar to build up that corridor?), we'll have to come up with a billion dollars of our own money, county money and state of Minnesota money. I don't think that is likely. So it's going to be a long wait in line waiting for the feds to cough up half of that.
Allen Graetz Lowry Hill -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of A.J.Colianni Sent: Friday, March 18, 2005 10:43 PM To: Sean Wherley Cc: Mpls Forum Subject: Re: [Mpls] True impact of Crosstown "victory" Why not extend an exclusive BRT lane all the way downtown? As soon as those BRT buses hit 46th street, they are going to be in the same congestion as everyone else. Besides.. are the people between 62 and downtown not trying to drive in as well? Or is it only people in Apple Valley that need rapid transit? But if they had the vision to extend BRT the whole way, perhaps they would have seen an even better solution staring them in the face: An LRT expansion. Vision. We need it. I don't care if LRT is more expensive now. I don't care if it's not "next in line" for LRT expansion. It's the right solution! A stopgap solution is just that: a $240 million dollar waste of money. In the long run, LRT will be cheaper for everyone involved... and it is actually an alternative to driving more and more cars through, as you said, the busiest interchange in the state. REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
