I think the main discussion at this point is about an
east-west streetcar line running around downtown and
possibly along Selby or Grand. I'm quite certain a
line out along West 7th is not the focus of the
effort.
There's already a coordinated effort to bring a
similar streetcar from Uptown along the Midtown
Greenway in Minneapolis (just north of Lake), and one
thought is this could connect with that line, possibly
via the 26th Street railroad bridge over the
Mississippi.
This effort is being promoted by different people than
the West 7th busway, under different circumstances.
This is being described from the outset as a "Civic
Dialogue". I think there's a real attempt to get a
neighborhood-level discussion going before going
forward. In Minneapolis, for example, it is a
non-profit called the Midtown Greenway Coalition
advancing the streetcar concept, which is made up
basically of representatives from all the surrounding
neighborhood organizations.
But that about exhausts my knowledge on the project -
anyone who has important questions can to go to one of
the forums.
Bob Spaulding
Downtown Saint Paul Resident
-------------------------------------------------------
Bring the streetcars back!
Saint Paul Launches a Civic Dialogue
Wednesday Nov. 17, 2004 & Thursday, Nov. 18, 2004
Former Portland City Commissioner Charlie Hales will
be speaking at four different events in Saint Paul on
Nov. 17-18, 2004. Hales is a transit planning
principal at HDR Engineering, working with communities
on transit options. As a member of the Portland City
Council from 1992 through 2002, Hales was the driving
force behind
the effort to raise $58 million in bonds to create the
Portland Streetcar, the nation's first modern
streetcar. With the success of the new Hiawatha LRT
line, Saint Paul welcomes the opportunity to
explore streetcars as a way to link downtown arts,
entertainment and business with our city's vibrant
neighborhoods for residents and visitors alike.
On Wednesday, Nov. 17, 3:30 p.m.
---------------------------------
Charlie will address the Saint Paul City Council at
its regular meeting, which will be televised on St.
Paul Cable Channel 18.
Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2004, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
----------------------------------------
Public Event: "Bringing Back the Streetcars"
Minnesota History Center, 3M Auditorium, St. Paul
HDR Transit Planning Principal Charlie Hales is
helping to revive the electric streetcar as a popular,
efficient, and cost-effective transit option in cities
across the U.S. Charlie shares his experiences in this
presentation, as both Twin Cities consider
reviving the streetcar on lines like the Midtown
Greenway and Grand Avenue. From 6 to 7 p.m., visit the
exhibit Going Places: The Mystique of Mobility to
enjoy archival streetcar film footage and read riders'
stories.
Wednesday, Nov. 17, 11:30-1:00 p.m.
------------------------------------
Brown Bag Lunchtime Talk for Activists and Engineers:
"The Nuts and Bolts of Streetcars" Saint Paul City
Hall, Room 40, 15 West Kellogg
Blvd., St. Paul
Transit enthusiasts, transportation planners,
neighborhood activists, public works engineers and
interested members of the public are invited to join
Charlie to talk about how to start planning for St.
Paul streetcar. Bring your own lunch and RSVP to
reserve a chair by calling Jane Prince at
651/266-8641. Pop machines available.
Thursday, Nov. 18, 8-9 a.m.
---------------------------
"Streetcars, LRT and Buses: Regional Transit Leaders
and Charlie Hales" Macalester Campus Center, John B.
Davis Lecture Hall, Grand &
Snelling, St. Paul
Charlie will discuss how streetcars can enhance our
region's multi-modal transit system by linking
downtown and neighborhood residents, workers and
visitors. A responder panel of regional
transit and business leaders will respond. Coffee and
Rolls.
Presented with support from the City of Saint Paul,
the Minnesota History Center, Macalester College,
University UNITED, the CapitolRiver Council, Merriam
Park Community Council, Midway
Transportation Management Organization, Capital City
Partnership, HDR Engineering, Inc., Dayton's
Bluff District 4 Community Council, Macalester
Groveland Community Council.
If you have questions about any of these events, call
the Saint Paul City Council at 651/266-8641.
Russ Stark
Executive Director
Midway Transportation Management Organization (TMO)
1954 University Avenue, Suite 9
St. Paul, MN 55104
651-644-5108
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