Minneapolis Transit
As a student and a current resident of Minneapolis that does not own a vehicle, I rely on other methods of transportation to get from point A to B. The social-design issue that I have always been interested in – public transit in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area – is now facing deadlines for the proposed new light rail line (the central corridor plan).
A seemingly complicated issue of CEI (Cost-Effectiveness Index) has been playing a key role in whether or not the addition will actually happen. From Pioneer Press: “…adding stations along University Avenue at Western Avenue, Victoria Street and Hamline Avenue - something neighbors want - would add riders from those neighborhoods, lowering the CEI. But, the computers said, slowing the train down to make those stops would dissuade an equal number of other riders, making it a wash. Meanwhile, the added costs would raise the CEI.�
Considering I find it very hard to get from to and from different destinations utilizing the buses (limited stops, too many transfers, etc.) and additional link from here – the Universty of Minnesota – to St. Paul would be extremely beneficial. Also aiding in the conservation of our environment is the emission-free advantage the light rail has to offer: “The newest member of the Metro Transit family is also the cleanest. The Hiawatha light-rail line runs on electricity, with no emissions from the train. In 2006, more than 155,000 of the miles logged by light-rail trains were powered by renewable wind, hydropower, and biomass energy�(Save more than the price of gas).
The issue of traveling with ease about the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and doing it without a huge impact environmentally (or without a car) is something of huge importance to not only those living here, but to those who commute. Additionally, the Metropolitan Council has a transportation plan for 2030 that is “…intended to double transit ridership by 2030, slow the growth in traffic congestion and improve mobility for everyone�(Regional Transportation).
Additionally important is the role and the joining of the proposed central corridor with the University of Minnesota:
Transportation at the U of M
• Twin Cities campus attracts 80,000 people on a typical day
• 68 percent of students, staff, and faculty use transportation alternatives to get to campus each day
• 20,300 University students and 2,000 faculty and staff use discounted bus passes
• The free inter-campus bus service generates 3.8 million trips annually.
• The U is the largest user of E85 (ethanol) in the United States.
• Outpatient health clinics located on campus generate over 500,000 visits each year
Taken from http://www.lightrail.umn.edu/.