A few comments, more to be found next week at www.EffectiveTransit.org I haven't got Berg's article here now, but I thought that the Red Rock line was still supposed to be commuter rail, not lrt. Lrt doesn't make a lot of sense for a line through the countryside.
I don't think that the tunnel boring machine is still around. I don't remember whether they bought it or rented it, but to still have it here with no prospects of using it again (if they bought it) would be another waste of taxpayer bucks. To do a subway would probably require another federal EIS and who knows how many times the money to build. At least three times as much. Who has studied the underground geology to know what lies under the streets? The question of tunnels at the U and in downtown Minneapolis could be discussed, but the more tunnels, the higher the cost. I won't talk now about how they claim that it isn't worth doing a bus tunnel near Washington and University to avoid the bottleneck "because the difference in ridership doesn't justify it." I don't think that they did any simulation of what would happen if they did do a bus tunnel, because it might make their case for the train look more shaky. They have already picked out those portions of downtown Saint Paul streets that they plan to close. I think it is Saint Peter from about 7th to 4th. The increase in backups on University predicted by the backers is huge. Just looking at the 24 intersections that they modeled, the cumulative length of backed up traffic in p.m. rush hour in 2020 is 60% higher with the train than without, and the cumulative time delay is 40% higher. The eastbound backup at Marion is predicted to be 3,921 feet with the train and 1,279 without, as opposed to 305 today. The eastbound backup at Snelling is predicted to be 3,670 with the train and 505 without, as opposed to 425 today. The northbound backup is predicted to be 2,456 with the train and 2,242 without, as opposed to 624 today. Remember that large traffic backups have a negative effect on businesses that depend on customers who drive to the business. Not to mention the cutbacks in bus service on University (from memory, no more #50, #16 runs no more than half as often) for those whose trip doesn't fit the lrt pattern of stops. Visit www.EffectiveTransit.org The Independent Unsubsidized Voice of Citizens for Effective Transit in the Twin Cities (no lrt) * lrt isn't a potato chip, you can stop at just one * Bruce Gaarder Highland Park Saint Paul MN [EMAIL PROTECTED] _____________________________________________ 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/
