[Winona Online Democracy]
I like John's question; "Should we plan for how the project might change
traffic patterns, or wait and deal with it later?"
Last Fall Councilman Borzykowski sponsored a public forum for city
residents concerned about growing traffic problems as Highway 43 nears the
intersection with Homer Road. I was surprised that everyone blamed the MDOT
for the problem, even after city officials publicly admitted that they had a
poor working relationship with the MDOT and that no preplanning for the
impact that future building growth would have on 43 had been done between
the city and MDOT.
The new building projects in the area were allowed by the city without any
plan as to how the Highway 43 corridor would then deal with the additional
traffic created by this new growth. The problems on 43 today are the result
of the "build now, fix the problems later" mentality. This is also true of
the Highway 14/Knopp Valley intersection. Huff Street doesn't have to be
the next mistake.
Comprehensive planning, which considers potential changes in traffic
patterns, should occur before the project even starts.
Mike K.
----- Original Message -----
From: "john finn" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2006 6:22 AM
Subject: RE: [Winona] Huff Street Underpass
[Winona Online Democracy]
-----Original Message-----
.............
The city is bifurcated by the tracks. We need at least three overpasses
or
underpasses...Huff Street being the most significant for commuters.
Louisa
has the potential to replace Mankato as a feeder for traffic into the
central city if it has an overpass...but I'd still like to see a grade
seperation on Mankato, as well.
.........
Bob Sebo
Winona
_______________________________________________
The three grade separations concept, west and east ends and one in the
middle does seem reasonable. And if someone else (State and Federal) pays
for most of it, well what could be sweeter than something for nothing?
I'll be interested in the Huff underpass details once the engineering
study
is done. I'm guessing that it would have to be large enough for trucks
even
if Huff isn't a main truck route for now. How much adjacent land the
project
needs would depend on whether it's done on the cheap or if it would be an
expansive "grand entrance" to the WSU area. I assume that the railroad
would
want to keep their two track right of way even if they only use one now.
Should we plan for how the projects might change traffic patterns, or wait
and deal with it later? If rail traffic increases, (a good thing, if it's
more passenger service and mixed freight for local destinations) would
Huff
become such a heavily used commuter route that something would have to be
done about pedestrian crossings and left turn traffic? A recent newspaper
editorial complained about the hardship of yielding to jaywalking WSU
students. Closing some of the intersections and installing chain link
fences
along most of a widened Huff Street could fix that and make life easier
for
motorists.
John N. Finn
_______________________________________________
This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy
All messages must be signed by the senders actual name.
No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list.
To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit
http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona
Any problems or suggestions can be directed to
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact
page at
http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
_______________________________________________
This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy
All messages must be signed by the senders actual name.
No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list.
To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit
http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona
Any problems or suggestions can be directed to
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at
http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
