[Winona] Eminent Domain and Huff Street

[john finn]

[Winona Online Democracy]

From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of C. E. Woodford Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 1:36 PM To: winona@mnforum.org Subject: [Winona] Re: Winona Digest, Vol 25, Issue 13   I as well agree that the case(s) must have been settled out of court. I dont know if you guys recall(and maybe this was mentioned earlier in this thread, if so, I appologize for the rehash) but the hwy 52 project in Rochester drew large debate due to the inadequecy of valuations( and the variety) on properties involved with that project.  Regarding Mr. Finns letter on the Huff St tunnel; I think you are going to see quite a bit of opposition to that project as a whole from taxpayers and the the property owners will probably be up in arms as well. Should make for good type for the local newspaper.   C.E. Woodford     I’m starting to re-think my opinion of the proposed Huff Street underpass. Although I don’t think today’s traffic warrants going to the expense the project will entail, a long term increase in railroad utilization (a ‘good thing’ for freight and passengers, I think, but maybe not for coal) could justify it. And depending on how well the project was executed, architecturally speaking, it could enhance our “front door” corridor entrance to WSU and downtown.   However, has this been conceived under the assumption that accommodating and promoting increased automobile usage is always desirable, especially if someone else is paying for most of it? And do the entities paying for it (state and federal DOT) get to set the design guidelines? A consultant’s traffic study done ten years ago recommended making Huff Street a truck route from the river bridge to Highway 61. That was shot down, for the time being, at a public hearing. Would an underpass at Huff and not at the Main Street / Hwy 43 crossing revive that scheme? Perhaps a Louisa Street overpass would factor into a rearranging of traffic patterns between Hwy 61 and the downtown riverfront.   John N. Finn

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