Index of SPPS Budget Discussion http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/spps-posts.html _________________________________________
and what's up with the semis on that stretch. We need to tag these scofflaws. Brian Bates MacGrove.
Dan Dobson wrote:
Index of SPPS Budget Discussion http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/spps-posts.html _________________________________________
Representative Tim Wilkin of Eagan is proposing to
increase the speed limit on I-35E between Shepard Road
and I-94 in Saint Paul to 55 miles an hour.
His bill HF0927, is the House companion bill to that of that Senator Dick Day's, SF0989, that failed to get out of committee last year.
In 1984 after several years of prolonged litigation by
the residents of Summit Hill a settlement was reached
in Federal District Court between the neighborhood
group, R.I.P.35E and MNDOT and signed off by Federal
Judge Paul Magnuson. Rep. Wilkin's now wants to throw
that settlement out the window, because it
inconveniences some of his constituents. Rep. Wilkin's
seems to think that Federal Court decisions can be
thrown out on a whim.
By my calculations, IF THE RESIDENTS FROM THE SUBURBS OBEYED THE SPEED LIMIT ON I-35E, which very few do, (try getting in the left lane and sticking to 45, you risk being run over by some huge SUV trying to go at least 55, but more like 60 or 65) it takes all of 51 seconds longer to drive from I-94 to Shepard Road. (At 45 mph it takes 80.0 secs to go one mile [3600sec/hr /45mph]. At 55 MPH it takes 65.45 secs to go one mile [3600sec/hr /55mph] or a difference of 14.55 seconds per mile [80.00 - 65.45]). If we multiply the 3.5 miles of I-35E which is 45 MPH by 14.55 sec/mile, it takes our suburban neighbors exactly 50.9 seconds longer to drive through Saint Paul IF THEY ADHERE TO THE SPEED LIMIT.
I would suggest that Rep. Wilkin's and his
constituents are really upset because they can't tear
through St. Paul at 70, 75 or 80 miles an hour, the
way they can in Eagan and Apple Valley where the
posted speed limit for I-35E from 494 to 35W is 70
miles an hour.
I would suggest that if Rep. Wilkin is upset by the
lack of uniformity of speed limits, he should first
explore LOWERING the speed limit for I-35 through his
district to a saner 55 or 60.
The press release where he proposes this is at:
http://ww3.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/pressrelease.asp?district=38A&pressid=860&party=2
I have posted it below.
You can contact Rep. Tim Wilkin at (651) 296-3533 or e-mail him at: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Dan Dobson Summit Hill - Saint Paul [EMAIL PROTECTED]
====================================================== NEWS RELEASE LAWMAKERS SEEKING TO STANDARDIZE I-35E SPEEDS
ST. PAUL Eagan lawmakers Tim Wilkin and Lynn Wardlow
are carrying a bill that would require MnDOT to
increase the speed limit on I-35E in St. Paul to 55
mph. Currently the speed limit is set at 45 for a
stretch of the highway south of I-94 in St. Paul,
based on an agreement that followed a suit by area
residents.
Its great that the residents of the area were
politically and legally active in protecting their
neighborhoods at that time, said Wilkin, the bills
chief author. But the reality is that their special
treatment is adversely affecting thousands of south
metro commuters. One of the most common complaints
that I hear from Eagan-area residents is about the
speed trap and the other inconveniences of that
stretch of highway.
Wilkin said that the reduced speed on I-35E from W.
7th Street to I-94 in St. Paul for sound reasons is
unusual, especially since the stretch of road has
sound walls and special surfacing materials that
residents of Eagan and Burnsville do not benefit from.
He adds that many Eagan and Burnsville neighborhoods
are located physically closer to the highway than
Crocus Hill residents.
The Legislature is not bound by the agreement between
those residents and MnDOT, but will consider an
engineering and traffic investigation into whether the
higher speed limit is reasonable and safe. ======================================================
You can track the bills status in the Senate at:
http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us:8181/SEARCH/BASIS/sstat/public/www/DDW?W=FILE_SEARCH+INC+'SF989'+AND+LS_YEAR+=+83+AND+SESSION_NUMBER+=+0
The House bills status can be tracked at:
http://pigseye.revisor.leg.state.mn.us:8181/SEARCH/BASIS/hstat/public/www/DDW?W%3DSESSION_NUMBER+%3D+0+AND+SHORT_DESCRIPTION+PH+WORDS+%27I-35E%27+ORDER+BY+FILE_NUMBER/Ascend%26M%3D2%26K%3DHF092702003%26R%3DY%26U%3D1
Dan Dobson Summit Hill - Saint Paul 651-227-4376 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
__________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Get better spam protection with Yahoo! Mail. http://antispam.yahoo.com/tools _____________________________________________ SPPS Budget Reduction Forum - Feb. 23-27 Co-Sponsored By NEAT: http://www.stpaulneat.org/ _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul
Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
_____________________________________________ SPPS Budget Reduction Forum - Feb. 23-27 Co-Sponsored By NEAT: http://www.stpaulneat.org/ _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul
Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
