May 19, 2008 6:50 pm US/Central
Central Corridor Steams Ahead, 'U' Path Unknown
(WCCO)
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The next stop should be finalizing a path through the University of Minnesota. The Council wants to go down Washington Avenue, replacing the cars with trails, buses and pedestrians. (File)
Metro Transit
After the state legislature voted to approved $70 million in financing for the Central Corridor line, and saving $450 million in federal money, Peter Bell had reason to celebrate.
"I've always said these projects have four or five near death experiences," said the Metropolitan Council Chairman, who oversees the 11 mile, $909 million project to connect Minneapolis and St. Paul by light rail.
"We've been through a couple of them just over the past couple of weeks, but we got it across the finish line, and I'm very excited," he said.
The next stop should be finalizing a path through the University of Minnesota. The Council wants to go down Washington Avenue, replacing the cars with trails, buses and pedestrians.
"No cars on Washington," said University of Minnesota Senior John Morgan. "I've got no problem with that. It's too busy now as it is, so, that would be great."
"Anything that kind of encourages public transit seems like a step in the right direction," said Sophomore Sam Molstad.
"It could shut us down," said Tom Hutsell, co-owner of the Big Ten Restaurant & Bar, which is on the South side of Washington Avenue.
"It could be that bad where we'd lose all our foot traffic. Obviously the cars will be gone, and that's a big part of our business," he said.
Hutsell would prefer the so-called Northern Alignment, which bypasses the West Bank of the University of Minnesota and follows an old railroad bed through Dinkytown.
The plans will be debated on Wednesday, and riders can't wait for an answer.
"I just think in general it's hard getting around in St. Paul," said Danielle Laird, a light rail rider from South Minneapolis. "If I could take some other kind of transportation there it would be good."
The Metropolitan Council needs to submit its final plans to the federal government by September in order to get final approval by February, and break ground by 2010. Even under that timeline, the project won't be completed until 2014.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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