There is a meeting on March 8, 2011, 6:30 PM at Turtle Bread, 46th and Chicago, with the MnDOT Landscape Architect to discuss greening at and near the station. Please feel free to attend.
Current info: http://www.metrotransit.org/i-35w-46th-street-transit-plan.aspx
Presentation to KFNA Board 6/10:Â I35W-46thPresentationKingfieldCompressedVersion
Project website:Â www.metrotransit.org/35W-BRT/.
Questions specifically related to establishing a critical parking area can be found at the City of Minneapolis website, http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/parking/critical/ or by calling (612) 673-2411.
Bus Rapid Transit Meeting, June 1, 2009
Metro Transit and MnDot representatives presented drawings of the station and discussed how it will function and who will use it. [Presentation can be viewed at www.metrotransit.org/35W-BRT/]
- 46th Street station will be active in 2011
- Like LRT, high frequency buses help people make connections
- Connecting east /west buses will drop people off on both sides of the 46th street bridge
- People go down stairs of elevators form both sides of bridge to highway-level station to catch buses
- Interior station on highway will hold about 100 people
- Platform outside will hold about 180 people
- Air will be filtered for air quality, no bathrooms or other services provided
- Buses will cross over in HOV lane to pick up passengers on the side the door is on
- No funding for other stations is currently available-hope is to get funding and do interim modifications in 2015
- Depending on how other routes in the neighborhoods surrounding 46th Street are changed (2 options presented) between 330 and 550 people will board at the 46th Street BRT station each work day
- Service hours are expected to be 5 AM to midnight
- Station will be locked in off hours
- There will be bike racks and lockers-locations and numbers being discussed
- There will be no park and ride lot
Discussion was held concerning the potential “park and hide” issue (people who drive to a station and park in a neighborhood). Metro transit admitted this will occur. They talked about the experiences at the 36th and 46th LRT stations and the Critics Parking Areas (CPA) that were established. They walked through the process of obtaining a CPA, different ways of structuring the CPA, the costs, and also reasons why neighbors may not opt for this strategy to deter park and hides.  http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/parking/critical/ In their opinion, two blocks is about as far as people will walk to a station so this will be the parking-trouble radius of the 46th street station.
Other concerns were raised at the meeting including:
How will bikers and walkers safely access the bridge? What will be the sidewalk and crosswalk widths and amenities to make sure their passage to the station is safe? Will bike storage be accessible and how will it remain graffiti free? Which agency is responsible for each element of the project and the entry ways to the project? How will the station be cleared of people before it is locked for the evening? How long will buses idle on the bridge, and will they still idle in the neighborhood?
In post meeting discussion, Elizabeth Glidden stated a meeting should be set up with Metro Transit, MnDOT, the neighborhoods, and Anna Flintoff, Pedestrian Coordinator at the City. Upon further thought the Bike Specialist for the city, Sean Murphy and public works regarding sidewalks and street crossings should be present also. It is felt this meeting should happen sooner, rather than closer to implementation
Summary provided by Linnes-Robinson, 6/5/09.
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