In response to the question "Is it too soon to declare the Hiawatha line a success?"
--- John Birrenbach <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: "...If success is broken crossing arms, and traffic nightmares for those trying to cross the Hiawatha, well then it has been a complete success." I've ridden the Hiawatha Line a number of times, including during rush hours, and I haven't seen the traffic problems that have been getting so much publicity. I think the problems, though real, have been greatly exaggerated. There were tieups on Hiawatha long before the LRT started operating. Of course it's too early to call the line a success. In fact, a single line like the Hiawatha really can't be a success. To be successful, we need an interconnected network of such lines. Which brings me to the University Ave. line (Central Corridor Project). We need that line but it should be different than the Hiawatha line. It should run down the center of University, not be on a separate ROW. However, it should go below grade at Snelling Ave. to avoid creating an intolorable bottleneck at the busiest intersection in St. Paul. The Hiawatha line is on a separate grade at Lake St. and we should treat Snelling similarly (though I prefer a below grade approach to minimize visual pollution). It's route should also be changed around the University of Minnesota. Instead of an expensive tunnel under the U and a crossing at the Washington Ave. Bridge, the line should go down 4th Street to serve the U's athletic facilities, Dinkytown and the residential areas North of the campus, then cross the river using the Hennepin Ave. bridge and connect with the Hiawatha line in the Warehouse District. The present plan to have the line cross at the Washington Avenue Bridge and join the Hiawatha Line before reaching downtown Minneapolis effectively cuts the capacity of the Hiawatha Line and will make it difficult to create an East/West line in Minneapolis along the Greenway. Charlie Swope Ward 1 _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _____________________________________________ 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/
