CITY081707
On the homepage
Vikings
Out There
Artcetera
Television
Home | Politically Connected | Local Politics
City Council nears 'statement of principles' on new bridge
Minneapolis City Council moving to send message of unity, cooperation. Council plans to adopt principles Friday.
Print this story
E-mail this story
Save to del.icio.us
Share on Facebook
Share on Digg
Follow local news on TwitterMore from Local Politics
Eager to send a message of unity and cooperation, the Minneapolis City Council moved today toward adopting a statement of principles for rebuilding the Interstate 35W bridge across the Mississippi River.
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak said the city wants to move "quickly to make sure we speak with one voice."
The council appears likely to easily endorse at its meeting Friday morning the broad set of principles that encourages the replacement bridge be designed and built to meet current and future transportation needs. The second principle said the bridge should be designed to improve vehicle capacity and provide transit capacity.
The bridge design should also incorporate, and certainly not preclude options for future transit improvements, including light rail and bus rapid transit. The bridge should also be built to meet all current environmental standards.
The city's role in rebuilding could be pivotal because, under state law, Minneapolis will be asked to provide what is called municipal consent for the bridge layout as submitted by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The city could confer consent quickly, move slowly or withhold consent, which could dramatically slow the project that the state is aggressively trying to complete by the end of 2008.
Rybak's chief of staff Tina Smith worked with the council to develop the principles. She said they are designed to provide the state from the outset with "clarity about what we want going in."
The potential sticking point for the city could be the issue of transit. Asked how hard he will push for transit -- which the state already has said might be difficult for both design and funding reasons -- Rybak said, "We're taking this one step at a time. We've made our position clear," he said, adding, "I believed they're listening and taking a hard look at rail transit. I believe we're headed toward a good solution."
At a council gathering today, the talk was about relieving congestion at both ends of the proposed 10-line bridge with five lanes moving in each direction. The council wants some relief. "We don't have a plan yet for what is happening north of the bridge and south of the bridge," Council Member Elizabeth Glidden said.
Council Member Diane Hofstede, whose northeast ward includes neighborhoods near the bridge, said she remains concerned about aesthetics for the gateway bridge as well as a memorial to those who died and were injured. She also said she to push for pedestrian and bike options on the new span.
But Council Transportation and Public Works Chairwoman Sandy Colvin Roy said: "We can talk about putting almost anything on to this document, but the goal here was to put something down Hennepin County could adopt."
She said if the council wants to talk about what the bridge should look like, then it needs to be prepared to ask for more money, which could compete for funding with other projects such as the Lafayette Bridge.
And she said, "The idea of incorporating foot and bike traffic in a freeway bridge would be, I'm trying to think of a word that's not incendiary, unusual."
Council Member Scott Benson repeated -- as he did with MnDOT -- that he wants to know what the financial incentives built into the proposal for the contractor will be on the span expected to cost at least $250 million.
But Council Member Betsy Hodges called the principles "excellent" even without revisions. "Overall these principles look really good to me. I just want to put that out there," she said.
Rochelle Olson • 612-673-1747
Rochelle Olson • raolson@startribune.com
Recent Local Politics stories
Minnetonka's 'social host' law gets specific on parents - August 16, 2007
Minnetonka's 'social host' law gets specific on parents - Anti-drinking ordinance approved Monday clarifies expectations and gives steps to take. More
Current state office holders
Governor: Tim Pawlenty
One of only a few prominent Republicans to win a competitive re-election contest in the Democratic sweep of 2006, Tim Pawlenty is widely seen as politically shrewd and naturally likable.
- Lt. Governor: Carol Molnau
- Secretary of State: Mark Ritchie
- Attorney General: Lori Swanson
- State Auditor: Rebecca Otto
Minnesota's political giants: Learn more about the men and women who have shaped Minnesota's political history.
  Open positions!A new career awaits. Look through thousands of listings to find your new job. Start now! Get A ProfessionalFind home maintenance, car repair, legal advice, cleaning, and more in the Yellow Pages. Go now! |
Win tickets to see The Hidden Cameras with Gentlemen Reg at 7th Street Entry.Vita.mn presents The Hidden Cameras with Gentlemen Reg at 7th Street Entry on Dec. 2. |
Comment on this story | Be the first to comment | Hide reader comments