(Southwest LRT corridor for those who don't know would be from the southwest suburbs (Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Hopkins, St. Louis Park) to downtown via the gravel bike trails if you go west on the Midtown Greenway.)
IMO, it seems that Hennepin County had a desired route into downtown Minneapolis well before the study began. As a result, this whole study hasn't really taken viable options into consideration, and has tried very hard to make places like Uptown, Lyn-Lake, and even Nicollet-Lake as unnecessary to connect to the LRT alignment. The first "urban" option they looked at was a joke. Everyone knew it'd be cut. Why waste the money on a poor-route analysis when they could have looked at a route that had more of a chance --- rule it out due to money, not poor design. Other routes they're looking at seem to be the result of a federal requirement to re-look previous studies, meaning we in Uptown, Lyn-Lake, Nicollet-Lake, can rest assure that as much as Hennepin County wants to run the line between Lake of the Isles and Cedar Lake, they at least have to consider us. Big question to me is why is there no one from the Uptown Association or an area Neighborhood on the Southwest PAC? Uptown is a major transit, entertainment, shopping, and business hub as well as having a large amount of people living there. Reps from the Downtown Council and Midtown Community Works are on the PAC, so why can't someone representing concerns from an area that is a large stakeholder be involved? It seems clear as day to me that the County would take a bigger look at a SW alignment through this area since it's possible to get the best of both worlds - lots of commuters from the burbs and lots of urban riders. Key is underground in parts. So just spend the time and consider it and then say no. Don't spend the money/time to look at crappy options that pretty much anyone could tell you wouldn't work. -Thatcher Imboden Disappointed in Hennepin County, CARAG 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
