Comments on: Southwest Transitway Open House – Why I’m Still For 3C

By: Net Density » Federally funding for transit projects now to consider “livability”, analysis no longer dominated by cost-effectiveness

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 03:32:38 +0000

[...] in Minneapolis are/were willing to spend more for 3C is, in my mind, an open question, but it does seem clear that a “less useful corridor” was chosen to meet cost-effectiveness [...]

By: Net Density » Creating Real Transit Improvements in Uptown: Part 1

Net Density » Creating Real Transit Improvements in Uptown: Part 1 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:54:18 +0000

[...] routing decision for the Southwest LRT is basically done. I’ve previously bemoaned what seemed like the inevitable choice of Route 3A by the County because I (and others) had [...]

By: Net Density » Southwest LRT fliers hit the streets

Net Density » Southwest LRT fliers hit the streets — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:27:03 +0000

[...] our support for the the 3C route at the upcoming public hearing. It’s a bit text-heavy, but I agree with the talking points in [...]

By: Anders

Anders — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 05:17:10 +0000

I’m very late to this post, but want to say thanks for your last point in particular. I’ve been very disappointed with the way this process has been going, mostly because I don’t see there being any feasible transit improvements in Uptown/Midtown in the next half-century without dedicated ROW. Does anyone really think a Greenway streetcar will be a game-changer for mode share? That’s the most cited alternative to LRT, and it essentially would be a route 53 bus that doesn’t stop next to businesses. It’s frustrating because Southwest LRT is the only clear opportunity to give people in Minneapolis a car-besting trip to Downtown (9 mins or less) or to the suburban job centers (esp. Eden Prairie). We’ll be mired in congestion in 30 years wishing we had done something differently back in 2009. And when I say “we,” yes, I mean Minneapolitans.

By: Brendon

Brendon — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:11:46 +0000

I have never heard any information about changes to bus service if any of the 3C alignments were to be chosen. In fact, I was told that one of the reasons that ridership on 3C was low (exactly the same as 3A) was because bus transit could not be reduced if LRT were built and the model assumed few people would switch from the bus to the train (it appears you would be a good example of just this type of rider). However, to my knowledge, no information has yet been released on how many people the model assumes will switch. So, to your first point, it appears given current information, your access would not change. If you want to keep riding the bus, you would be able to.

As for the jobs issue, the 3C and the 3C sub-alt would provide access to more jobs than 3A. When you miss Uptown, there are far fewer jobs near the stations. I’m not sure why people assume that an Eden Prairie job is more important to access than a Minneapolis job.

Finally, would you mind disclosing whether you work for Hennepin County? I received two comments within minutes of each other from the same IP address that belongs to Hennepin County. Perhaps you’re commenting from the library, but if you are a County employee, perhaps you have a unique perspective on the project.

By: Sam

Sam — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:35:15 +0000

For all of you out there who think that those of us who live in the Nicollet Ave. area are dying for LRT don’t be so sure. It will greatly disrupt out neighborhoods during construction and we will not get great benefits out of it once it is built. I for one am a bus rider living in the area of 24th and Blaisdell. I have great bus service today to downtown Minneapolis, Uptown, and to the jobs in St. Louis Park and Minnetonka. The access is through great bus service, which I want to keep. I will not use the train because it will take me longer to get to places because I have to walk farther to the station than to the bus stop on Nicollet ave. and I would also have to wait longer for a train to arrive. How is that improving my transit service.
From the discussions I had with staff at the open houses it seemed reasonable to assume that if people in areas with little to no transit service are given better service they will use it. I was also compelled by information on how dramatically LRT would improve the work trips for people living in North Minneapolis. The deal here is that I can get most any place I want today using the buses which run often and are located close to my home and to the places I want to go to. We need to ensure that all part of Minneapolis can be served this well by transit – whether it is bus or a train. I think that providing people in North Minneapolis with opportunities to use transit to get to the jobs in the southwestern suburbs is something this region should be doing. Shame on all of us if we deprive them of the opportunites the rest of us enjoy!