David Strand asks: "What impact does this have in Minneapolis? What is the proposed path of the light rail in South East, around campus and into downtown?
"Does it hook up with the existing rail line before coming downtown?" Bill Kahn racks his poor memory: Impacts could be good or bad depending on your perspective. I recall several Metro bus riders testifying at the scoping hearings several years back, mostly St. Paul folks, that the service would be reduced for them with fewer train stops compared to existing bus service from the 16 and 50 routes. I believe the plan is to continue a reduced bus service along this route. I can see both pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic impacts, but loss of housing seems like a stretch; this allignment down the center of the street will not remove a whole lot of real estate (ala Rondo) although the parking space issue is real here. University Ave. is much narrower in Mpls than St. Paul. The line is to continue up University Avenue to Washington Ave. SE and across the river there. It has been six years or so since I heard anything more about an allignment North of University (during environmental review), starting at Berryman just east of the KSTP television studios, but Hubbard Broadcasting has plans for the site (vacant) to the North so although it makes sense to go that direction and along the existing transit way in light of the proposed Gopher Stadium plans, it might be problematic. I believe the last and most recent neighborhood meetings this fall (missed'm) were focused on a station further west at 29th St. and University, so the more northern allignment is out, I guess, or less likely. I believe the line is to hook up with Hiawatha light rail around the Metrodome after crossing the river at Washington or close by (some discussion of using the railroad bridge upstream, but Wash. is the allignment, I think); I guess that's downtown, essentially, and it won't go any further, I think (for Mr. Roesenberg) but folks can take the Hiawatha line down 5th Street the rest of the way. It was to have gone underground on the East Bank, but I think the U is lobbying against this. The geology is such that an underground line makes sense along much of the entire proposed route, but it has been ruled out due to the expense. I can't speak to the affordable housing impacts David Strand asks about along the Hiawatha Line, but I've certainly seen some development happening on my rides. Given that residential developers are usually required to provide some percentage of affordable housing in some shape or form in our town, there have gotta be some positive impacts somewhere. Recovering from a burglery in Prospect Park, Bill Kahn 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:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
