Minneapolis neighborhoods, including the filthy, congested with drive-by
polluters, South St. Anthony Park neighborhood where I live. There are plenty
of residents, businesses, and institutions located in the neighborhoods
immediately surrounding the existing rail corridor.
A major portion of the existing rail corridor has already been poorly-developed
as a bus shuttle service between misplaced University parking facilities. An
electricity-powered passenger rail line replacing the existing busway between
the Fairgrounds and University stadium complex would be less costly to operate
and maintain, cleaner, and would better serve the Hamline-Midway, Como, and St.
Anthony Park neighborhoods in St. Paul and the University area neighborhoods in
Minneapolis.
The acres of asphalt on each end of the current busway, filled with thousands
of dirty, dangerous and extremely expensive motor vehicles commuting to and
from school and work, would provide excellent locations for transit hubs. The
hubs would enhance existing development and stimulate further development
around the Twin Cities campuses and the surrounding Minneapolis and St. Paul
neighborhoods.