Debate Over Rail on New Bridge, Is a Waste of Time
In a Strib Editorial, they accidently confirm something I mention on the NARN’s Final Word yesterday.
Strib:
What is clear, however, is that routing the Central Corridor light-rail line across a new bridge doesn’t work. Changing its route would eliminate a critical West Bank station at the University of Minnesota, attract fewer riders and add time and distance to the line. That, in turn, would lower the project’s federal rating and risk its funding.
If a future rail line were projected for the Interstate Hwy. 35W corridor, a stronger bridge would make sense. But no such line is projected.
Until this bridge fell there was absolutely NO talk about light rail going on 35W. So why is that the main reason some are dragging their feet and delaying progress on the rebuilding?
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I was talking to my state representative (who is also on the House Transportation Committee)about this subject last week and he said the same thing. He doesn’t understand what the heck MPLS City Council is trying to prove by pushing this!
LL
[...] Debate Over Rail on New Bridge, Is a Waste of Time [...]
Slip of the lip…
In an editorial published yesterday, the Star Tribune let slip a truth about the City of Minneapolis’ push for putting the Central Corridore line on the new I35W Bridge (HT AAA)
“What is clear, however, is that routing the Central Corridor……
putting light rail over the new 35W bridge wouldn’t be used for the central corridor (maybe some idiots are asking for it, but they’re clueless)
it would be used to run LRT out to the northern suburbs
also, nobody is saying BUILD LRT into the bridge now, they’re saying build it to support the capacity in the next 50-60 years if we so choose, it wouldn’t add much to the design at all (it already will need to be built strong enough for LRT anyway)
also, the argument that just because there was never any talk of running LRT over the 35W bridge prior to it collapsing doesn’t mean it isn’t possibly viable, it’s just nobody expected us to have to build a new 35W bridge for another 15 years…
again, i’m not saying it SHOULD be built, but it should at least be taken into account and considered. Molnau initially just wrote it off without even having people look into it seriously.
I don’t get the reason for the arguments over rebuilding the bridge either. Look at http://steamvalveblog.typepad.com/
ML – the thing is the City of Minneapolis is DEMANDING that the new bridge be able to handle the CENTRAL CORRIDOR – they said so in last week’s joint Transportation Committee Meeting. I know a couple people who were there that heard it. The Star Tribune – IN THEIR OWN WORDS – admit it is being considered and admits that it is a foolish idea.
I agree that we should build it a la the Bloomington Ferry Bridge (ready to add LRT if needed) but moving the Central Corridor is an idea that needs to die out fast!
LL
i didn’t read the Strib article, just saw a news report on it (not sure which, CCO or ABC), the city officially didn’t specifically dictate where exactly the LRT option over it would end up, just that the option should be on the table and considered at least, i don’t think that is asking too much nor do i find that to be a political thing.
thing is, i have DOZENS of conservative friends who live in the metro and are ALL for LRT, so Andy and others that read here who are totally against it are not the only right wing opinion on the matter, even if it’s portrayed as such.
Just cause you didn’t hear them, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
And sometimes people who say they are conservative fall prey to liberal tendancies. A lot of them are just plain of fighting you liberals, and give an inch in hopes of you not taking a mile. Others end up supporting liberal issues because they stand to benefit…. like LRT is being proposed for their routes….
But the conservative opinion is clear, public funding for skeleton minorities of the population is a pretty goll darn liberal position.
Not saying your friends are liberals, but people can support issues on both sides of the isle, they just can’t claim something is conservative because they are center right.
Oh and don’t worry, all the liberal and media pressure has gotten to Pawlenty and the admin, they are going to sink $30 million of state money to make RT and the other social engineers happy.
Congrats! more money siphoned out of transportation coffers to benefit a few….
“Not saying your friends are liberals, but people can support issues on both sides of the isle, they just can’t claim something is conservative because they are center right.”
no, they think for themselves and don’t tow the party line, which is how everyone should think politically, no matter whether or not you’re right, left, center or not.
What is the party line on this issue?
Oh yeah, the opposite of the conservative values that I use to make such decisions on what i support or oppose.
Does the program or project benefit enough people to make it worth while for the Gov. to take it over or fund it…..
Light rail, especially a hypothetical line not yet studied, let alone one that would fit with in the existing area proposed….. NO!
As based on your accusation that people like me can’t think for themselves, I assume you think Pawlenty is just swell since he is open to socialized transportation.
Pawlenty doesn’t tow the party line, he sways with the wind, meaning he too doesn’t think for himself very much, just what’s popular and his attempt at being a moderate.
politicians are all fucking slime, about 90% of them, Republican or Democrat, why more people don’t realize this and still feel they need to belong to one party of the other is way beyond me…
strength in numbers i guess?
Clean up the language or you are done here.
sheesh, wasn’t even directed at you or anyone specific…
whatever