Mixed feelings and experiences here.
I live 2 1/2 - 3 blocks from the road now and like the
convenience of going to the St. Claire entrance to
make a quick entry to 35E on occassional visits to
Burnsville family and back. Right now, I am not
bothered by AM road noise - and while I hear an train
in summer evenings, its never a bother. When wind is
from the north and windows are open, we can hear the
whine of trucks on 94. More cars, more speed likely
will increase this but I am not so concerned yet on
this issue.
In the past couple of years I have picked up the
modestly exercising habit of walking thru the
neighborhood - often northwards to
Liberty-XXX-soon-to-be (no doubt) Consolidated
Behemoth Bank, the lock shop at Snelling and Selby,
Neighborhood Cafe, ___ COffee Shop, etc. Don't tell
anyone but I sometimes cross AM and the tracks at the
Selby bridge over AM and stroll past the auto
recyclers or Concordia fields to post office, Target,
etc. I even got to the Turf Club for a beer one
afternoon in January. Usually this is on weekends,
but I have to say that the weekday experience at the
Snel-lby is now significantly less walkable due to the
amount and speed of traffic.
Would this improve or deteriorate with a direct
connect? (I know, "define improve.") My guess is
that the intersection at Selby and Snelling would be
relieved of traffic, but I fear the overall effect of
catering to my/our driving addictions. My guess is
that it would be a real trick to make driving more
convenient while creating overall conditions that
encourage walking, biking and other city-friendly,
people-friendly and healthy activities.
What kind of things could be done with 10% of the
proposed AM budget to boost those?
Another worry is the sustainability of such
people-friendly limits as there are contained in the
Kelly plan. Have you tried driving 45 MPH on 35E in
St. Paul? It can be done but the temptation and
"peer pressure" is to hit 50-60 mph. And that's me,
and I agree with the restrictions!
You may also recall that one of our Legislators
(Republican) tried last session (I think) to ram
through a full freeway speed change for 35E. That
would have saved, what 30 seconds, on his drive from
Apple Valley or ??? to the capitol? (Well actually,
he was probably mainly concerned about getting out of
the City before the sun goes down, after all St. Paul
is a really scary place....) My point is that
personal and political and business pressures as they
are now aligned may make it very difficult to keep any
people friendly limits.
Finally, if we consider spending priorities, I have
written myself to the view that the City should leave
AM as it is now.
Shalom, Salaam, Peace .... Jay Wilkinson
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