Ted and all: I am not stating we ignore University, I think I made that clear in my post. We need a line both places and more. But we need multi-modal transportation and light rail is not the only option out there. I mentioned PRT and Mr. Swope mentioned a tram, that is more appropriate for a many stopped route that University of West Seventh would need. I think you need to pay attention to the fact that I DID address the University Avenue corridor and the West Seventh Corridor as well as Larpenteur and the possibilities are endless. I think having some type of transit that goes down Como Avenue and into Minneapolis and hooks in with a line that goes near the Saint Paul U campus and would be great, not only for students but for State Fair attenders. No more parking fees, just ride transit.
(From my former post) see below Then you might still think about using PRT or a tramway along corridors that would stop more often, like say down West Seventh, University, Como, Larpenteur, with feeder bus systems along these routes. Then in Downtown Minneapolis those that get off there can feed into buses for downtown, or transfer to the Hiawatha line, or transfer to the NorthStar Corridor line. It seems as though one idea that has been mentioned over and over again is using existing rail lines. I also would like to know why we don't contract with Amtrak to provide more service in the state. I know that the Empire builder goes west in the state, however we used to have a real nice service between here and Duluth, and I wonder why the state cannot reopen that route. I would love to live in Duluth and be able to commute. I think a bullet train between here and Duluth and one between here and Chicago woudl be a dream to think about. If we can link people to job centers as well as work to bring businesses that are not locale specific to new areas that need jobs, it would help Minnesota save money in the end and would allow people to live and work where they wish to. I also think that somehow using the Union Depot as a functioning depot again that hooks in with the Red Rock would be a great idea, then would it be feasible to run a line down Shepard Road and beyond through Chaska and the Minnesota River Valley? I know what a BIG DREAMER I am. Pam Ellison Como Park Saint Paul ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2004 10:07 AM Subject: Re: [StPaul] Take a hard look at I-94 corridor for light rail > This talk of running a transit line on 94 assumes that such a transit investment is made to create an express run between the two downtowns. That assumption ignores intra-neighborhood transit and the opportunities that creates for residents and the businesses that serve them. > To see what I mean, one need only look at a few of the things that are happening along Hiawatha. The Cardinal Bar at 38th Street is getting new lunch business from Lake Street and Downtown. The same for Caps, a nice burger joint located near the Minnehaha Park Station. There is new housing going up near the 38th Street station. Just as significantly, some businesses that are separated from the line by a large barrier (Hiawatha Avenue, for instance) are seeing less gain. And remember, this is after the line has been open for a little more than a month. > While there are significant differences between the Hiawatha Right of Way and the University Avenue Right of way, there are enough similarities to make this point: Transit that has proximity to neighborhoods and businesses helps people get to and around those neighborhoods and businesses. Transit that is far away or barrier separated (Say, in a big trench that is not accessible from business districts or residential development) does not help people get around neighborhoods. > If what we really want is an express commuter rail line between the downtowns, yeah, 94 could work. If we want to help people get from the U to Mai Village or from the State Capitol to the Emerald Gardens housing development, or from whatever goes up at Lexington and University to Marriucci Arena, I-94 wont help. > > Ted Davis > Highland Park > > -------------- Original message -------------- > > > I don't understand why it wouldn't be feasible to run and L train right down > > the middle of 94 and use the additional space on either side of the freeway > > additional space to the on/off ramps. I think it could then easily use the > > sane lanes on 394 that no one is ever allowed to use anyway and run it out > > past Wayzata if need be. Beyond Wayzata it could then hook into a heavy > > rail commuter train that would service Delano and beyond all the way up the > > West side of the state. > > > > Am I crazy? If so, let me know and explain. I would state that perhaps a > > more efficient way to use the space in the middle of 94 might be a monorail > > or another form of rail that would take up less space but would be an > > express rail of sorts. For instance, it would start in Woodbury pehaps at > > the Manning exit and run express all the way to the McKnight exit, dropping > > of 3Mers, then continue to Marion to drop of State of Mners. And then > > continue down all the way to Snelling, then to Hennepin in downtown > > Minneapolis, then on to General Mills Blvd. Anyway I think you get the > > drift. In other words this would stop at less locations, but major ones, > > and keep it to be more of an express rather than stopping at every podunk > > place along the way. Then you might still think about using PRT or a > > tramway along corridors that would stop more often, like say down West > > Seventh, University, Como, Larpenteur, with feeder bus systems along these > > routes. > > > > Then in Downtown Minneapolis those that get off there can feed into buses > > for downtown, or transfer to the Hiawatha line, or transfer to the NorthStar > > Corridor line. It seems as though one idea that has been mentioned over and > > over again is using existing rail lines. I also would like to know why we > > don't contract with Amtrak to provide more service in the state. I know > > that the Empire builder goes west in the state, however we used to have a > > real nice service between here and Duluth, and I wonder why the state cannot > > reopen that route. I would love to live in Duluth and be able to commute. I > > think a bullet train between here and Duluth and one between here and > > Chicago woudl be a dream to think about. > > > > If we can link people to job centers as well as work to bring businesses > > that are not locale specific to new areas that need jobs, it would help > > Minnesota save money in the end and would allow people to live and work > > where they wish to. I also think that somehow using the Union Depot as a > > functioning depot again that hooks in with the Red Rock would be a great > > idea, then would it be feasible to run a line down Shepard Road and beyond > > through Chaska and the Minnesota River Valley? > > > > I know what a BIG DREAMER I am. > > > > Pamela Ellison > > Como Park > > Saint Paul > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Russ Stark" > > To: "St. Paul Forum" > > Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2004 4:35 PM > > Subject: FW: [StPaul] Take a hard look at I-94 corridor for light rail > > > > > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: Russ Stark [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2004 4:35 PM > > > To: 'Dan Dobson' > > > Subject: RE: [StPaul] Take a hard look at I-94 corridor for light rail > > > > > > How would the rail line cross the on/off ramps to the freeway. You would > > > have to rebuild all of the ramps, it seems to me. In most places where I > > > have seen rail lines in freeway corridors they have been in the median, > > and > > > I think the questions I raise are the reason for that. I'm not opposed to > > a > > > rail corridor in the 94 trench, but this makes more sense to consider for > > > the commuter rail option that would stop maybe once or twice in the > > Midway. > > > > > > Russ Stark > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > > > Behalf Of Dan Dobson > > > Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2004 3:29 PM > > > To: Anne Carroll; St. Paul Issues Forum > > > Subject: [StPaul] Take a hard look at I-94 corridor for light rail > > > > > > I keep reading about the problems of building lite > > > rail along I-94 versus University Avenue. Someone > > > wrote earlier about having to rebuild all the bridges > > > along I-94 and Anne Carroll now writes about "lack of > > > obvious space". > > > > > > I suggest that everyone drive to Lexington, Snelling, > > > Hamline overpasses or one of the pedestrian crosswalks > > > and get out and look. There is ample room between the > > > freeway and the access roads, Concordia and St. > > > Anthony for a lite rail line. > > > > > > Unlike University Avenue, traffic will not have to > > > stop at every intersection nor will there have to be > > > lengthly condemnation proceedings to obtain the land. > > > The land is already owned by the state. > > > > > > Furthermore, there will be plenty of places to build > > > park and ride lots at Snelling, Lexington, Rice Street > > > Sears lot et al., unlike University Avenue that has > > > very limited room for Park and Ride. > > > > > > I-94 has many more advantages for light rail than > > > University. > > > > > > Dan Dobson > > > Summit Hill > > > > > > > > > --- Anne Carroll wrote: > > > > > > > The issues along Univ especially re: crossings seem > > > > overwhelming, making the > > > > costs probably untenable. The I-94 approach, while > > > > burdened with a large > > > > number of different challenges (not the least of > > > > which is lack of obvious > > > > space), would seem to be worth exploring. I'd be > > > > interested in hearing the > > > > results of the feasibility studies of these and > > > > other SP-Mpls corridor > > > > options and the criteria that emerged as most > > > > critical. > > > > > > > > -- Anne Carroll > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > Anne R. Carroll > > > > Carroll, Franck & Associates > > > > Public Involvement, Strategic Planning, > > > > Communications > > > > 1357 Highland Parkway > > > > St. Paul, MN 55116 USA > > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > 651-690-9162 School Board: 651-690-9156 > > > > > > > > "A politician worries about the next election. A > > > > true states[wo]man worries > > > > about the next generation, and children yet unborn." > > > > - e.e. cummings > > > > > > > > "...leadership is about how you bring out the best > > > > in people. Leadership is > > > > what you give to the community you live in. > > > > Leadership is what you give to > > > > the world. Leadership is how you live an honest > > > > life... You will be more > > > > credible and you will be more powerful if you do not > > > > separate the lives you > > > > live from the words you speak." -- Paul Wellstone > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _____________________________________________ > > > > 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/ > > > > > > > > > > _____________________________________________ > > > 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/ > > > > > > > > > > > > _____________________________________________ > > > 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/ > > > > > > > _____________________________________________ > > 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/ > _____________________________________________ > 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/ > _____________________________________________ 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/
