Feb 27, 2008 10:59 pm US/Central
Light Rail Traffic Could Mean Change For Roadway
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―
A new light rail line between Minneapolis and St. Paul could mean a big change for a major roadway.
On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Council approved a light rail route that will run across the Washington Avenue Bridge down Washington Avenue to University Avenue, and then on to St. Paul.
The council has not decided whether or not to allow vehicle traffic or just the light rail and buses.
Concerns have been raised that the new rail could kick traffic off Washington Avenue, one of the most congested areas in the Twin Cities.
"Over the years we're seeing a lot more cars, you have a lot more students, you have lot more biking," said Campus Pizza Owner Jim Rosvold.
At first, the University of Minnesota administrators, area businesses and residents wanted the light rail to tunnel under Washington Avenue, but that was too expensive.
Now those who frequent this area could be bracing for a future with no vehicle traffic on Washington Avenue, only buses, light rail and emergency vehicles.
"You've got four lanes out here and then all of a sudden you're directing stuff into residential areas that were never designed for that," said student apartment complex manager Nancy Rose Pribyl.
There is another option to allow a lane of one way traffic each direction which would reduce sidewalk space and possibly more.
"In the business community we have stores that are fairly close to Washington Avenue that might be considered eminent domain and taken out," said Rosvold.
The Metropolitan Council Chair Peter Bell understands the concerns of businesses and residents.
"We're going to be working with them to mitigate those concerns," said Bell.
The University of Minnesota is also studying an option to push reroute the light rail to an old railroad bridge over the river. However, the plan could delay construction for a year and jeopardize millions of dollars in federal funding.
"Transit funding can have more drama than Lindsey Lohan's social life," said Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak.
The $909 million line would begin service in 2014. It would run 11 miles and have 15 stations between the new Minnesota Twins ballpark in downtown Minneapolis and Union Depot in downtown St. Paul.
The line is projected to have 38,000 weekday riders in 2020 and nearly 44,000 by 2030.
The federal government would pay for half the line's total cost, with the state and county governments footing the bill for the other half.
Funding for the project is included in a $1 billion public works plan moving through the state legislature.
Some of the other highlights of the public works bill include more than $300 million for college building projects, including $80 million for hockey arenas in Bemidji, Crookston, Duluth and St. Cloud. The bill includes $100 million for state parks and other natural resources improvements, and $70 million to help build the Central Corridor light rail between the Twin Cities.
Funding for the project is included in a $1 billion public works plan moving through the state legislature. Some of the other highlights of the public works bill include more than $300 million for college building projects, including $80 million for hockey arenas in Bemidji, Crookston, Duluth and St. Cloud. The bill includes $100 million for state parks and other natural resources improvements, and $70 million to help build the Central Corridor light rail between the Twin Cities.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
