Ed Felien writes: "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?"
Like Felien, I'd love to have the Central Corridor (CC) LRT below grade; the geology is right, but apparently it is too expensive to do. Sure wish they had listened to Felien in 1975 or not removed the existing street car line just north of University Avenue post WW II. I guess LRT is not a given for the CC as bus alternatives (BRT) are still under consideration.........I think the bus will be way too dangerous though........I've driven Hiawatha a bit before and since LRT began operations and I'd say the danger for folks is probably about the same, but I'll wait for the reports to see for certain. I know I've waited quite a bit to get on or across Hiawatha from the west side, but I don't get quite as frustrated about it as some folks. All in all, Hiawatha LRT and the avenue seem pretty darn safe to me. I know that the potential for accidents is there; certainly it has been a problem in many cities with LRT. I guess I don't follow the news as closely as Ed Felien because I only remember one fatality connected to Hiawatha LRT involving an impaired driver at a crossing. I have a vague recollection of another incident that may have involved a fatality, but I'm afraid that I've forgotten any details. So we have maybe two fatalities from Hiawatha LRT in a year; two too many, but still low considering the length and route of this line. As far as the numbers of my neighbors and the U of MN students killed in the future "by a high speed train racing through the University and Prospect Park," I suspect there won't be all that many. .......We're more spry than we look or seem to folks here and the students are not quite as stupid as folks make them out to be........it'll take more than CC LRT to get rid of us all here on the East Bank. Bill Kahn thinking about bull fighting gear in prep. for CC LRT, Toro! 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
