[Mpls] 5 lanes

[WizardMarks]

Mike Jensvold wrote:

> "Lake is a mess and it
> has cost me and my taxicab customers plenty when I'm forced to drive that
> route at the wrong time"  
>
> If more lanes are added, it will help destroy what remains of the 
> pedestrian nature of Lake street.  You may find that you have fewer 
> customers and fewer destinations to take them to. ... On-street 
> parking is important because it creates a physical and psychological 
> barrier for the pedestrian from traffic.  It also reduces the need for 
> surface parking lots. 

WM: Here is the crux of the problem we have been struggling with for the 
last 19 months. We have 68 feet of space. Neighborhoods want 20 feet for 
wider sidewalks. Merchants want on-street parking @ 8 ft./parking lane 
or 16 ft. for both sides. That's 36 ft. We need 4 lanes for vehicular 
traffic @ 11 ft./lane or 44 ft. All that equals 80 ft. in total.
In order for Lake St. to meet everyone's needs, we would have to urban 
remove one side of Lake St.'s buildings. Which side would you choose, 
assuming that were even possible? How would you explain it to the 
displaced businesses?
Three lanes of vehicular traffic is not acceptable. We already have long 
waits in traffic with 4 lanes, it would only get worse.  

> WizardMarks, Central
> ________________________________
>
> Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn 
> E-Democracy
> Post messages to: mailto:mpls at mnforum.org
> Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
>