Almanac: At the Capitol

Lawmakers have more questions for state officials. Another hearing will likely take place next Tuesday or Thursday at the Capitol, although the Senate Transit Subcommittee Chair Scott Dibble says that's not soon enough. Committee chairs didn't expect to get to Met Council Chair Peter Bell and other officials. Bell has been outspoken against an LRT line on the new 35W bridge. The hearing today was standing-room-only that spilled into another room. It was emotional. Former Transportation Chair Republican Rep. Mary Liz Holberg almost cried as she talked about the nation watching as we spend their tax dollars. Others countered that taxpayers are willing to pay for a bridge done right. Rail, buses, taxes, timelines are all still up in the air. It's interesting that MNDOT Commissioner Carol Molnau attended the hearing, but did not testify. Questions still swirl if she will survive this bridge collapse.

It seems a battle is brewing over light rail on the new 35W bridge. I thought we were done fighting over light rail. It was a big ugly fight in the '90s when lawmakers like current MNDOT Commissioner Molnau and Senate Minority Leader Dick Day called Hiawatha a "train to nowhere." Even Pawlenty changed his mind on this form of mass transit and became a backer of two new lines: Northstar commuter rail and the Central corridor. Here's the Met Council's press release:

Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau and Metropolitan Council Chair Peter Bell have recommended to Gov. Tim Pawlenty that no further study be done on incorporating the Central Corridor LRT Project into the new Interstate 35W bridge (attached). A quick assessment of the LRT issue was needed because of the desire to move forward with the I-35W bridge replacement as expeditiously as possible.

A joint meeting of the Met Council and Central Corridor Management Committee regarding this topic has been scheduled for this Wednesday, Aug 15, at 11:30 AM in the Chambers at the Met Council's Robert Street Office. See link for more information:
http://www.metrocouncil.org/transportation/ccorridor/CCcalendar.htm

• Delay reconstruction of the I-35W bridge for up to two years because adding a rail component would trigger new environmental reviews.


• Be more costly than keeping the current alignment over the Washington Avenue even though that bridge will need reinforcement to support LRT because 1.) federal funds and environmental waivers that have been granted for the I-35W project are contingent on the new bridge being substantially similar to the bridge being replaced, and 2.) incremental design and construction costs associated with the rail component would not be eligible for the federal emergency funds that have been authorized for the bridge.


• Add one-half mile to the Central Corridor route, increasing travel time and probably costs.


• Likely decrease ridership because significant West Bank and East Bank boardings would be lost and not offset by new boardings at stations along University Avenue and Fourth Street. When alternative routes were analyzed early this decade, running the LRT line on University and Fourth into Dinkytown was rejected by the Central Corridor Coordinating Committee in March 2001 for the same reason.


• Likely eliminate space for a dedicated transit/HOV lane in each direction on the new I-35W bridge.


• Not solve the Washington Avenue bridge problems, but would trigger considerable delays and costs for both the new I-35W bridge and Central Corridor LRT Project.