As promised - a little more info on transit in the W 7th corridor (in the context of regional plans).
The Met Council is currently updating its 2030 Transportation Policy Plan. Other staff at my organization have reviewed the document closely and have pointed me to a section (Chapter 4) that identifies the priorities for expanded transit in the Twin Cities for the next 25 years. (Other sections of the plan deal with road and funding issues, among other things.) Riverview Corridor (i.e. the W. 7th corridor) is not in their First or Second Tier of priorities - and as a result is unlikely to come to pass for a generation or two. (It will be hard enough to get the "prioritized" projects completed in the next 25 years given current funding limits.) Thus the only transit changes along W 7th in the current plan would be the result of planned increases and expansion of regular bus service and express bus service (provided funding increases are approved by the legislature & governor). As you can see only 1 of the top 5 priority projects includes St. Paul, and 2 of the 3 second tier projects include St. Paul First Tier Priorities: Northstar Commuter Rail (planning underway) Northwest Busway (construction underway through NW Mpls & suburbs) Cedar Ave Busway (from Mall Of America through Apple Valley & Lakeville) I-35W Bus Rapid Transit (Bloomington all the way into Downtown Mpls) Central Corridor (bus or rail along University Ave between St. Paul & Mpls) Second Tier Priorities: Southwest Corridor ( bus or rail from Mpls to Eden Prarie) Rush Line (Commuter Rail or Bus from St. Paul to Hinkley) Red Rock (Commuter Rail or Bus from Mpls through St. Paul to Hastings) October 22 is the last day to comment on the Met Council's draft plan - see the document at: http://www.metrocouncil.org/planning/transportation/TPP/2004/summary.htm See Transit for Livable Communities' comments on the plan at: http://www.tlcminnesota.org/TranspoAndLandUse/TPP_Comment_Ltr.htm The Riverview Corridor had a website but that website isn't functioning at this time ( try http://www.riverviewcorridor.org/ ) Of course, the entire plan could change with a different governor & administration since the governor effectively dictates regional priorities by appointing the Met Council. Nonetheless, this is the direction current state policy is pointing St. Paul & the region. Kevin Somdahl Sands - Administrator - Transit for Livable Communities Phone: 651-767-0298 - [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, October 22, 2004 12:00 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Stpaul Digest, Vol 10, Issue 27 Send Stpaul mailing list submissions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can reach the person managing the list at [EMAIL PROTECTED] When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Stpaul digest..." ------------------------------------------------- Please - Take the St. Paul Job Shadow Survey Just 15 Questions: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=70658501784 ------------------------------------------------- Today's Topics: 1. RE: Bataglia Implodes on KSTP ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) 2. Re: W7th Bus Way marches on - NOT SO (Chris Boylan) 3. Re: Semi's are prohibited on 35E (Chris Boylan) 4. Re: Semi's are prohibited on 35E ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) 5. Re: Semi's are prohibited on 35E (Dan Dobson) 6. Re: Semi's are prohibited on 35E (Dan Dobson) 7. AN: Wanted: Multimedia Volunteer/Intern (possible stipend) (Tim Erickson) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 13:35:38 -0400 From: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [StPaul] Bataglia Implodes on KSTP To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 In case nobody else has mentioned it, Bataglia is not a Ramsey County Commissioner. Where did you get the idea that she was? Tom Goldstein (Now) Midway-Hamline Original Message: ----------------- From: John Birrenbach [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 09:29:03 -0500 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [StPaul] Bataglia Implodes on KSTP Well I learned real fast who it is that I want in congress representing St Paul. Patrice Bataglia was on KSTP-AM 1500 yesterday and the day before. A bigger group of softballs could not have been tossed at here by "Repbulican Radio".... Well she couldn't seem to answer anything, or say anything other than She Wants to Debate the other Candidate about these issues. Statements made by Bataglia on Tuesday indicated that US Troops have been attacked by Saddam Hussain with Biological Weapons. When further questioned about it, she couldn't explain herself, other than to leave dead air and then say again "I want to debate the other candidate about these issues." I have to ask myself How did she become a Ramsey County Commissioner? and have made the complete conclusion that she doesn't deserve to be a member of congress, (and mabye even removed from the County Commissioners as well next time her election is up). She has no clue and can't even answer some of the EASIEST questions asked of her. KSTP right now is saying they are working on getting BOTH interviews, which are extremely revealing about the candidate, up on their website for people to listen too. I would expect that it shouldn't take them much more than over the weekend to have them up for listening. http://www.am1500.com Not sure where they will put it up at but I would look at the Ron and Marc morning show area of the site. -- Sincerely, John Birrenbach W 7th Neighborhood, St Paul MN === Political & Business Consulting === http://www.birrenbach.com/ ====================================== "Six years on the council has trained me to feign interest for long periods of time" Chris Coleman Jan 21, 2004 +++++++++++++++ _____________________________________________ 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/ -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ . ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 13:39:55 -0500 From: "Chris Boylan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [StPaul] W7th Bus Way marches on - NOT SO To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Accessing West Seventh from neighborhood streets has turned into one big > hassle. Tonight turning left (east) onto West Seveth from Armstrong to go This is the flip side of the benefits of restriping for a center turn lane. You'll find also that cross traffic, whether on foot or in a petrochemical consuming transport device, is much more difficult because the breaks in traffic just shrunk by more 50% due to speed reduction and tighter traffic. Again, went through this on Fairview. Figure out your shortest path to a stop light by way of your neighorhood side streets and adjust. In my view it's a fad and fad's don't need public notice - they just happen. Chris Boylan Mac-Groveland & Downtown ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 14:17:55 -0500 From: "Chris Boylan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [StPaul] Semi's are prohibited on 35E To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Any attempt to raise the speed limit or introduce > large trucks on this portion of 35E would be met > forcefully with legal action, in Federal Court, to > enforce the original agreement. > And that's our traffic problem in a nutshell - not in my backyard. How are we going to deal with this? No offense to our neighbors in Summit-Hill but that traffic has to go somewhere and because government rolled over as part of this settlement that means Snelling, Ayd Mill road (Selby), Lexington and W 7th get this spill over freeway traffic because those cars are NOT going away, they are just going somewhere else. While I personally think trucks on 35E would be bad and raising the speed limit probably pointless at this point [45MPH in rush hour? Don't you wish?], I believe the settlement also prohibited a direct east-bound 94 to south bound 35E connection and therefore something in excessive of 25,000 cars wander through the W. 7th and Lexington areas to connect. Someone correct me if I remember the settlement terms incorrectly or the car count wrong. Doesn't $3.99 gasoline sound like a good idea? Chris Boylan Mac-Groveland & Downtown ------------------------------ Message: 4 Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 17:39:20 -0400 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [StPaul] Semi's are prohibited on 35E To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 In a message dated 10/21/2004 3:17:55 PM Eastern Daylight Time, "Chris Boylan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: >I believe the settlement also prohibited a direct east-bound >94 to south bound 35E connection and therefore something in >excessive of 25,000 cars wander through the W. 7th and >Lexington areas to connect. � >Someone correct me if I remember the settlement terms incorrectly or the car count wrong. � > Well, on that one you are wrong. There was never a desire on MNDOT or the Fed's to create a direct connection between East bound 94 and South bound 35E. There was also no desire on the Fed's or MNDOT's part to create a direct connection between north bound 35E and west bound 94. So, there is no mention of either of them in anyway in the settlement. We have done this before, but one more time just for the fun of it. The issues of the suit were the over building of freeways and the adverse impact of individual land owners when (1) The Federal goals were already accomplished (35 was completed through MPLS - these things were built to move troops from Mexico to Canada - mission accomplished when 35W was completed) (2) Less intrusive and less expensive options existed (Sheppard Road or the re-designation of HWY 52) (3) The state had already concede the lack of need by passing legislation requiring no direct connection between 35E and 94 (that law was later changed). There existed a real chance that we would have won in Federal Court and road work would have been ordered stopped and Federal dollars would not have been available to complete the roadway. But a compromise was reached, 45 MPH and no trucks. Not a bad deal for the state considering if they lost they would have lost all of the Federal dollars in the project. Any of the Ayde Mill issues, direct connection from east bound 94 to south bound 35E or direct connection from north bound 35E to west bound 94 are just in the minds of the commuters and those who live off of Ayde Mill, none of whom were part of the law suit. Chuck Repke Party to the Law Suit RIP 35E ------------------------------ Message: 5 Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 14:59:10 -0700 (PDT) From: Dan Dobson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [StPaul] Semi's are prohibited on 35E To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii With all due respect to Chris, I believe he is mistaken on two points. I haven't looked at the I-35E settlement since earlier this year, (since 60 Speed Wilkin wanted to increase the speed limit), but I do not believe that a direct connection between I-94 eastbound to I-35 southbound and likewise I-35E Northbound into I-94 westbound is banned under the settlement. From what I understand it is not now possible from an engineering point of view. I discussed these options with a D.O.T. engineer at one of the Ayd Mill Road meetings, (please do not ask me who it was, as I don't recall), but he said that to build a ramp from eastbound I-94 to I-35 is too much of a drop. I personally walked it later, and deemed it would be possible, IF THE STATE WERE TO TUNNEL UNDER THE HISTORY CENTER or DEMOLISH THE HISTORY CENTER FOR A RAMP. The second point Chris raises is NIMBY or Not in My Backyard. This is not just me speaking. The 35E settlement was negotiated, in Federal Court, a decade before I moved to Summit Hill. We simply would be assuring that a previous Federal Court settlement is being enforced. What would be the good of Federal settlements, or any settlement, if it could be set aside as soon as the people who negotiated it, died off or public/institutional memory forgot about it. The settlement was negotiated to allow the highway to be built in the first place. The other option was no highway at all. It was a fair and reasonable settlement then and I would argue that suburbanites certainly got the better part of the deal. Just try driving 45 in the left land at any time. Just the other day I drove 50 in the left lane parallel with a school bus and had a woman in a large SUV tailgate me, repeatedly honk her horn and then give me the finger, all because I didn't want to exceed the speed limit by as much as she wanted to exceed it. I used to argue that Norm and Randy could pay for a new Twins Stadium by just rigidly enforcing the speed limit on 35E. But that might p.o. to many suburban voters and you can't do that if . . . Dan Dobson Summit Hill - Saint Paul [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- Chris Boylan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > Any attempt to raise the speed limit or introduce > > large trucks on this portion of 35E would be met > > forcefully with legal action, in Federal Court, to > > enforce the original agreement. > > > > And that's our traffic problem in a nutshell - not > in my backyard. > How are we going to deal with this? > > No offense to our neighbors in Summit-Hill but that > traffic has to go > somewhere and because government rolled over as part > of this settlement > that means Snelling, Ayd Mill road (Selby), > Lexington and W 7th get this > spill over freeway traffic because those cars are > NOT going away, they > are just going somewhere else. > > While I personally think trucks on 35E would be bad > and raising the speed > limit probably pointless at this point [45MPH in > rush hour? Don't you > wish?], I believe the settlement also prohibited a > direct east-bound 94 > to south bound 35E connection and therefore > something in excessive of > 25,000 cars wander through the W. 7th and Lexington > areas to connect. > > Someone correct me if I remember the settlement > terms incorrectly or the > car count wrong. > > Doesn't $3.99 gasoline sound like a good idea? > > Chris Boylan > Mac-Groveland & Downtown > > > _____________________________________________ > 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/ > ------------------------------ Message: 6 Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 15:02:04 -0700 (PDT) From: Dan Dobson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [StPaul] Semi's are prohibited on 35E To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Chuck - I did not know you were one of the plaintiff's. Thank you for all of your efforts. Dan --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > In a message dated 10/21/2004 3:17:55 PM Eastern > Daylight Time, "Chris Boylan" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > > >I believe the settlement also prohibited a direct > east-bound >94 to south bound 35E connection and > therefore something in >excessive of 25,000 cars > wander through the W. 7th and >Lexington areas to > connect. � > > >Someone correct me if I remember the settlement > terms incorrectly or the car count wrong. � > > > > Well, on that one you are wrong. There was never a > desire on MNDOT or the Fed's to create a direct > connection between East bound 94 and South bound > 35E. There was also no desire on the Fed's or > MNDOT's part to create a direct connection between > north bound 35E and west bound 94. So, there is no > mention of either of them in anyway in the > settlement. > > We have done this before, but one more time just for > the fun of it. The issues of the suit were the over > building of freeways and the adverse impact of > individual land owners when (1) The Federal goals > were already accomplished (35 was completed through > MPLS - these things were built to move troops from > Mexico to Canada - mission accomplished when 35W was > completed) (2) Less intrusive and less expensive > options existed (Sheppard Road or the re-designation > of HWY 52) (3) The state had already concede the > lack of need by passing legislation requiring no > direct connection between 35E and 94 (that law was > later changed). > > There existed a real chance that we would have won > in Federal Court and road work would have been > ordered stopped and Federal dollars would not have > been available to complete the roadway. But a > compromise was reached, 45 MPH and no trucks. Not a > bad deal for the state considering if they lost they > would have lost all of the Federal dollars in the > project. > > Any of the Ayde Mill issues, direct connection from > east bound 94 to south bound 35E or direct > connection from north bound 35E to west bound 94 are > just in the minds of the commuters and those who > live off of Ayde Mill, none of whom were part of the > law suit. > > Chuck Repke > Party to the Law Suit > RIP 35E > _____________________________________________ > 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/ > ------------------------------ Message: 7 Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2004 10:36:03 -0500 From: Tim Erickson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [StPaul] AN: Wanted: Multimedia Volunteer/Intern (possible stipend) To: "St. Paul Issues Forum" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" ------------------------------------------------ WANTED: Multimedia Volunteer/Intern(s) Small Stipend Available for Lead Volunteer http://www.e-democracy.org ------------------------------------------------- E-Democracy.Org is the midst of an exciting project to put together our story in a multimedia format using Flash with text, photo, illustration, audio, and video elements. Working title: The E-Democracy Experience The focus of the online presentation will be our dynamic local Issues Forums - Winona, St. Paul, and Minneapolis. We need your help to bring them to life by displaying the real people and places tied to our civic discussions. This will be part of a larger -international- pilot project that will soon be announced. With the E-Democracy Experience, we will be in a better position to promote and expand our forums locally, recruit new volunteers and Forum Managers, and share our experiences with other communities. If you have the skills and time to help us produce a Flash presentation that explains how our forums work and can convey the stories of our participants with a bit of new video and audio, your involvement will be vital. Be part of our multimedia team. We have a quick timeline and will start work in the next ten days. While we need fully volunteer hours from a handful of talented participants on our forums (become involved to make sure the story of your favorite forum is told well), if we find a good match, we have up to $500 available for one or two lead volunteers/interns with the time and some demonstrated multimedia experience. The internship need not be for credit. So, if you have any interest OR experience with Flash animation, digital video, or online multimedia projects AND are interested in helping us with this exciting project in any way, please let us know: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Here is a summary of the most important details: DATES: We need to start ASAP. We have a Dec. 15 "draft" deadline with final production required by the December 31 RESOURCES: We will have a DV video camera, but require volunteers with access to software tools and other editing resources SKILLS NEEDED (some or all): Flash Digital Video Digital Photography Illustration Animation STIPEND: If you are interested in the lead volunteer position please indicate that in you e-mail and share a link or information on your portfolio. Contact: Tim Erickson, E-Democracy.Org 651-643-0722 651-246-5045 [EMAIL PROTECTED] More information on our Issues Forums: Short article: http://www.e-democracy.org/do/commons.html Survey and research: http://www.e-democracy.org/research/ Powerpoint presentation: http://www.e-democracy.org/research/issuesforum/issuesforum.ppt http://E-Democracy.Org is a non-profit, non-partisan citizen-based project, whose mission is to improve participation in democracy through the use of information networks. E-Democracy hosts quality online public spaces for citizen interaction on public issues. -- ================================================= Tim Erickson http://www.politalk.com St. Paul, MN - USA 651-643-0722 [EMAIL PROTECTED] iChat/AIM: stpaultim ================================================= ------------------------------ _____________________________________________ 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/ _____________________________________________ For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract End of Stpaul Digest, Vol 10, Issue 27 ************************************** _____________________________________________ 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/
