I find the rehashing of the issues related to Ayd Mill road
interesting. I also find the comments about Interstates 94 and 35E
interesting.
First of all Ayd mill road was a rail line wasn't it? So its
construction is not separating any neighborhood. The issue is the
connection which will take a out a few home and businesses, as I
understand it. Opposition from neighbors to using Ayd Mill road was
the noise factor. Now, I don't know how loud the traffic is but I
would bet trains were louder. Yet I understand the residents living
close to the road as my sister does may have issues with road
noises. After all the rail lines haven't been there for quite a
while.
Second the Interstate system. If we assume that I-35 was not split
where would it have gone? It may have gone through Minneapolis,
like the current 35W. It may have gone through the midway. But its
unlikely it would have circumvented going through the Twin Cites.
Lets assume for now, that both I-94 and I-35 were designed to go
around the Twin Cities via the 494-694 loop. How would traffic into
both St. Paul and Minneapolis been routed? Through city streets?
That isn't very reasonable, Now is it? Current roads would have
had to been widened or new roads would have had to have been built.
What would have happened to the connection between Minneapolis and
St. Paul? Could the current roadways accommodates the traffic?
No!
Something would have had to have ben built to take care of the
increased traffic load. Whatever was built would do exactly the
same things to the neighborhoods posters claim the highways and
Interstates built the last 40 years have done.
The issue with I-94 between Mpls and St. Paul is its location. It
is not that it was built. If that section of I-94 was built where
it originally had been designed, the Rondo area would still exist.
There would not be any spaghetti junction. The homes that would
have been taken are those along Thomas and Edmund in Frog town.
Why do you think the Stillwater bridge has not been replaced yet?
its because city fathers are afraid they will all that business they
now have. The same issue was raised by a former Council member
during his campaign, at least, about the practice freeway I-35E
through St. Paul.
Now I ask you. How many folks do you think would stop in St. Paul
if they didn't have I-35E to by-pass it? How many people stop in
Stillwater on their way through? I would bet there aren't many who
didn't have those plans in the first place.
Now after all this rambling, I want to know how you would have
solved the transportation problem created by population growth the
past 40 years? Remember you can't use any experience you now have
to solve the problem. But you must use the political reality of
those days back in the '50s. That is the car is here to stay and
other transportation modes are un acceptable.
We still have politicians who want to continue to add lanes to
current freeways to handle the traffic problem. We have politicians
who don't want to go to the rail solution because ti cost too much.
I would bet there are other reasons also. Like, I don't want to
give up my car.
Whew! There I have said my piece.
Mike Fratto
Payne Phalen
Just waiting for a North South rail connection to DT St. Paul
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