I remember it like it was only yesterday. I was a member of the Minneapolis City Council and at a Council Meeting in 1975 I held up a map of existing railroad right of way. I pointed out that we could have rail transit from downtown to the airport (with maybe a stop at Lake Street). But, instead of building the "light" rail on existing railroad right of way, they built it across the street, so trains could race through a neighborhood at high speeds.
Now, they are proposing to build a second line on University Avenue. In 1975 I proposed the second line would go from downtown Minneapolis to downtown St. Paul (with one stop at the U of M) on existing railroad right of way, below grade. Those tracks are virtually unused. It doesn't make sense to tear up University and make it as unsafe as Hiawatha now is. How many lives have already been lost to the Hiawatha Line? How many students and neighbors will be killed by a high speed train racing through the University and Prospect Park? Put it below grade. It's not a streetcar. It's a train! Ed Felien Powderhorn 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
