people! This is an example of a forwarded message. Of course we do
encourage all local community and cultural groups to post directly
when possible.
From: Frogtown Neighborhood Association (District 7) <<email obscured>>
Date: Sun, Jul 22, 2012 at 3:00 PM
Subject: Friendly Streets - 2nd Meeting
Friendly Streets
Initiative
Frogown Neighborhood Association (District 7), Hamline Midway
Coalition (HMC), and
the City of St. Paul invite you to two public meetings on plans to
transform Charles
Avenue into a "friendly street" - one that is safe and inviting for
all users, including
local residents and those traveling through the Frogtown and Hamline
Midway neighborhoods.
These plans focus on changes to the crossings at local streets and
major intersections
(Snelling, Hamline, Lexington, Western, Dale, Marion, Rice).
This is the 2nd of two meetings.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
7:00 pm
Central Corridor Resource Center
1080 University Ave. West
(former Lexington Library)
This meeting is hosted by the City of St. Paul
Your input is crucial to deciding the future of Charles Avenue.
For More info contact Tait at 651-789-7480
Background:
Since 2010, the Friendly Streets Initiative, a joint project of HMC and
District
7, has engaged area residents in a discussion about the
transformation of Charles
Avenue. Almost 900 people have participated in Friendly Streets
events and presentations,
including five block parties along Charles during the summer of 2011,
and have expressed
over 2400 opinions about potential street design features.
Several themes emerged from these discussions. First, residents think
that there
are too many cars, often driving too fast, on Charles, and therefore the street
is unsafe, especially for children. Further, residents worry that
traffic levels
may increase when construction on the LRT is completed. To solve
these problems,
residents express overwhelming support for making Charles calmer,
quieter, and safer,
and easier for bicyclists and pedestrians to use. Among the most popular
street
design concepts are traffic circles, median refuges for pedestrians
and bicyclists
at difficult crossings (such as Snelling, Lexington, Dale and Marion), and
speed
bumps. Residents also feel strongly that Charles would benefit from
beautifying
and place-making elements such as landscaping, permeable pavement,
sidewalk mosaics
and neighborhood book exchange kiosks.
These thoughts reflect residents' genuine concern and care for the
place they live.
According to Friendly Streets Initiative leader and local resident
Lars Christiansen,
"What we have learned from residents of Frogtown and Hamline Midway is
that people
are tremendously proud of their neighborhood and their streets. They care
about
preserving what they like about their streets, and they want to see
their streets
and their own blocks improved even more. I've been overwhelmed by the
pride-in-place
that I've heard from people all along Charles in both Frogtown and
Hamline-Midway."
Recognizing this local sentiment, the Friendly Streets Initiative has
drawn support
from Councilmember Melvin Carter (Ward 1) and Councilmember Russ Stark (Ward
4).
At the upcoming public meetings, the City of St. Paul will present
plans to improve
crossings at major intersections (Snelling, Lexington, Dale, Marion,
Rice, Western
and Hamline) and to calm traffic along Charles through traffic
circles, raised intersections,
and other design elements. These changes reflect the opinions of residents who
have engaged in the Friendly Streets Initiative and will make Charles
a more friendly
street for residents and all users. Come to the meetings and show your
support!
Frogtown Neighborhood Association (District 7) | 685 Minnehaha Ave.
West | Saint Paul | MN | 55104