I live two blocks north of University Avenue and two blocks east of Snelling. I also work for the Midway Transportation Management Organization, a program of University UNITED, working to promote the use of improved infrastructure for alternatives to driving in the Midway area.
and to first focus on LRT/BRT. Commuter Rail through the Central Corridor could be built along either the BNSF route north of Pierce Butler or the Canadian Pacific Route that parallels Ayd Mill, crosses Snelling near Marshall, and then parallels I-94 for a time. Commuter Rail would likely stop only once or twice in the Midway, but would connect the North Star line (in downtown Minneapolis) to downtown St. Paul and then southeast to Hastings. Commuter rail would be much cheaper per mile to construct, though there would be some serious issues negotiating with the railroads (particularly BNSF) who still use these rail The Central Corridor Coordinating Committee, made up of representatives of St. Paul, Minneapolis, Ramsey and Hennepin Counties, MNDOT, Met Council, etc., spent about two years looking at the full range of possible modes and alignments in the Central Corridor, and about 18 months ago narrowed it down to either LRT or Bus Rapid Transit down the middle of University Avenue. The reasons are many. First, they decided to look at Commuter Rail separately, corridors for freight (multiple times a day). As to I-94 vs. University Avenue, again there are several reasons why University was chosen. First, putting LRT in the I-94 trench would likely require rebuilding many of the bridges over I-94, and maybe even a full re-construction of I-94, which is not slated to happen anytime in the near future. In addition, the I-94 alignment would not provide the same spin-off benefits in terms of economic development that you will see on University Avenue. LRT is a technology meant to connect heavily used corridors and destinations. University Avenue is much better suited to LRT than Hiawatha in this regard. LRT would have a tremendously positive effect on University Avenue in terms of development, streetscape and aesthetics. We would no longer see single-story drive through uses proposed for key locations such as Snelling and University (think CVS) and Lexington and University, but rather a boom in housing, office, and retail markets, particularly around the station areas. There will be certainly be some down-sides to University Avenue LRT - some on-street parking will be lost; autos on University will experience delays waiting for trains to pass, and will not be able to make left turns as frequently. However, unlike Hiawatha along the Hiawatha Avenue stretch of the route, LRT on University Avenue would not be fenced off and therefore a barrier to pedestrians. Rather, it would likely be up on a slight curb easily traversed by pedestrians, and the station area would actually make University Avenue safer for pedestrians to cross, providing an island of safety in the middle of the 120 foot right-of-way that doesn't currently exist. The concern about what the conditions will be like for economic development mid-way between LRT stops, such as at Western, Victoria, and Hamline is a real one that must be thought through. The biggest issue of concern locally, however, is the impact on the small businesses on University Avenue during construction, and the Central Corridor Coordinating Committee, local Chambers of Commerce, and others are looking to other cities for models of construction mitigation that have been effective. Park and ride is a critical issue for the functioning of LRT on University Avenue. Both Minneapolis and St. Paul have had standing policies of not providing park-n-ride for stations within the cities, saying that people would using connecting "feeder" buses to get to LRT. I think this position is problematic, and that park-and-ride lots should be provided, particularly at places like Snelling/Univeristy where a structured parking ramp could be used both for park and ride and the Midway Shopping area, which in turn could be revamped and modernized by eliminating much of the surface parking in favor of structured parking. Another critical inter-modal connection will be bicycle parking at the station areas. People who might not otherwise consider biking to work or walking 5 or blocks to LRT may opt to ride a bike a short distance to LRT, and will need a place to securely park their bikes. As a resident living 2-3 blocks from a potential LRT station area, I would be thrilled to have that kind of access to high quality public transportation so near to my home, and my wife, kids, and I would use it all the time (we already use the bus pretty extensively too). I'm even more excited though, for what it would do to the commercial hub at Snelling/University, which I believe would be transformed over time into a wonderful, diverse, dense, walkable commercial district. Russ Stark _____________________________________________ 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/
