Grid 8 Neighborhood Issues (with Park and Ride Proposal)

While collecting twenty signatures for renomination as Union Park, Grid 8 representative, I ran across a delegate to the Democratic national convention, a professor, and many other politically engaged people. A reasonably large percentage recognized me from meetings pertaining to light rail or Health East. The level of engagement was just as high in the urban part of the neighborhood as in the single family homes. People found the blue Union Park District Council flyers to be helpful. One older home owner would not talk to me, but everyone else would.

The top issue this year was light rail, and the most positive comment about the the rail was "I have mixed feelings about it." Several streets are already "permit only, " which causes residents to support a park and ride for bus riders, even before the rail is built.

My priority for 2009 is to start the planning process for a permanent 1000 slot park and ride at the bus barn site and under Midway Center (Snelling Avenue and Saint Anthony Blvd./Snelling Avenue and University Avenue).



Some representative comments from the grid partition process:
William on Fry-- supports a park and ride so that fewer people will park on his street, currently "permit only" 12-4 p.m.
Jeff on Roy Street-- opposes light rail
Rebecca on Shields-- feels apartment residents are treated as "transients" by Union Park District Council
Mario on Roy Street-- "a lot of stuff" happens in the alley next to Snelling and Saint Anthony; concern over security issues
Tom on Roy-- impressed by Rock-Tenn progress (anaerobic digestion)

8/24/2008 Update: Today, I knocked on doors in my neighborhood and collected signatures for a petition. I spoke with twenty neighbors and received twenty signatures. Based on our conversations, there is no doubt about the neighborhood support. One thousand signatures in support of the following statement are in the public record (pages 147- 247). The resolution is as follows:

We support a 1000 slot park and ride at the bus barn site and under Midway Center (Snelling Avenue and Saint Anthony Blvd./Snelling Avenue and University Avenue) to serve State Fair goers, the I94 bus route, the 84 bus route, the 21/53 bus route, the 16/50 bus route, the 144 bus route, the future Central Corridor rail, a future Snelling Avenue rail line, and small businesses and local residents who lose parking with construction of the rail. This park and ride should serve parkers and those transferring between buses with safe pedestrian and bicycle access under the very busy streets of Snelling Avenue and University Avenue, as Snelling Avenue in this neighborhood has the highest traffic accident rate in the state. Ideally, the park and ride will exit under Snelling Avenue, directly to I-94 ramps to avoid further traffic congestion on Snelling Avenue. The park and ride does not preclude development of the bus barn site and the neighboring lot, because the park and ride can be relocated below ground.

8/27/2008 Update:
Q: I am curious to know who you think should pay for this facility?

A: We all agree that Snelling Avenue, between University Avenue and Concordia Avenue, functions poorly for cars, transit users, pedestrians and bikes. Figuring out exactly how to fix it is the hard part.

The area used for the State Fair park and ride could be used as a year round park and ride, serving the bus routes now, and without major capitol expense. The cost to Metro Transit would be minimal-- install gates and a fence, paint lines, unlock the area, occasionally spray the dirt with water. I believe that Metro Transit offered to do this when the I-35 bridge collapsed, but do not remember the exact details.

I assume this park and ride will function similarly to other park and rides operated by Metro Transit.

I do not take a stand on fees, but it is common practice to charge at peak times, if the park and ride is being used to near capacity. I do not think it is realistic to charge fees until construction of a new facility is completed.

There are serious safety issues with Snelling Avenue and Midway Center. I would envision that highway funds pay for the road construction aspect of this-- such as if additional ramps to I-94 are built, or if new bus lanes are constructed as part of the project.

Given the odd economics of Metro Transit, I do not assume that making the Central Corridor light rail accessible to thousands more people will pay for capital expenditures. However, making the rail accessible to thousands more people justifies the expense as part of the Central Corridor light rail project.

A plan that resolves safety and gridlock issues, and makes the area function for cars, transit users, pedestrians and bikes makes the bus barn site and Midway Center more valuable for further development, so it is conceivable that construction of an underground park and ride increases the value of the Metro Transit property enough to pay for itself. People talk about the rail line spurring economic development. This is an opportunity to test whether economic development can be spurred.

9/6/06: Opposition at the 9/6 Union Park District Council Meeting was interesting. Somehow, having a park and ride is in opposition to Merriam Park plans supporting Public Transit. (I can think of no stronger way of supporting Public Transit than to make it available to those who are not within walking distance of a line. ) The suggestion that more discussion was needed makes sense, though I believe the City Council is finalizing plans for the Snelling Station area now, rather than later.