I think that if we are going to stick all of this money into a rail type system then we need to look at a subway. Rather than looking at short term solutions (above ground light rail) let's look at long term solutions (below ground subway). Well the subway idea is more money initially, it also impacts surface traffic, structures and vegetation much less. It also is long term thinking because we have very little room on the surface for more vehicular traffic, lanes or tracks. Sure in the short term we could tear down some old homes in "those" neighborhoods, displace some businesses, inconvenience the motor vehicle traffic and then in 20 years be looking at the same land locked problem of connections. A subway solves those problems, well except for cost prohibitions, because new lines wouldn't impact surface communities and new connections could be more direct routed without having to use imminent domain or other tactics to acquire right of way for tracks.
Guess I look at it as a long term solution or a short term band-aid fix that will have many impediments before it's even done with construction, let alone connected all over the metro. Look at Washington DC. They built the Metro below ground under the main city and went above ground in the outlying areas where land was still attainable and lines could be built with minimal impact to surface traffic/communities. Tom Thompson Como Park _____________________________________________ 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/
