Neighborhood opposes Washington Avenue Light Rail

The recent publication of “Keeping the ‘U’ on track fails to recognize significant opposition by Minneapolis neighborhoods that are near the Washington Avenue S E LRT alignment. The author indicates that “The only significant dissenter remains the University itself,” is either naive to the numerous statements that have been made by the neighborhood associations, or considers neighborhood associations ‘insignificant.’ It is advisable for you to have reporters on your staff, who are informed and considerate of the residents of Minneapolis. The health and safety of our residents and business people would be drastically affected by the 18,000 vehicles that would be diverted into the neighborhood, mostly on University Avenue S. E. and 4th Street S. E. In addition, the buildings in the oldest neighborhood of the City would be adversely affected – many of these buildings have been locally or nationally designated historic.

If Washington Avenue is closed through campus, traffic will be diverted to the Franklin Avenue bridge and through our neighborhood—on University and 4th Streets S.E. This will cause jam-ups at 4th and University entering and exiting at the new 35W bridge, according to traffic studies. This will put pressure on building new ramps at E. Hennepin which I know many citizens oppose. Frankly, closing Washington Avenue will create a mess, including putting traffic on E. River Parkway.

I hope you will join us in opposing the closing of Washington Avenue to vehicle traffic.

Thanks,

Doug Carlson

Marcy Holmes Neighborhood Association Board member

District Central Corridor Board member

Central Corridor Community Advisory Committee Board member