Bottineau Alternatives Analysis Spurs Community Chatter, Frustration

In an article published last week about the Bottineau Transitway and the locally preferred alternative,  Golden Valley Patch readers weren’t shy in expressing their opinions.

Many readers were frustrated with information published in the Bottineau Transitway Alternatives Analysis.  The 27 page document was compiled by the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority and explains why the light rail path through Golden Valley is preferred.

“D-1 would result in significantly less property and neighborhood impacts, improved travel time and greater cost effectiveness, and less disruption of roadway traffic operations,” the Policy Advisory Committee says in the analysis.

Patch user Tom Ring said that he’d rather see more buses come through the city.

Please keep the incredibly cost inefficient light (or heavy for that matter) rail systems as far away from Golden Valley as possible. I'd much rather see more buses. They can be rerouted as needs change and trains can't and are almost as efficient as cars per passenger mile.

Brad Kadue added to Ring's comment, noting that a lack of proposed station stops shows that the train isn't designed to serve local residents.

The absence of stops on the D1 alternative is simultaneously the reason the HCRA prefers it and the reason many GV residents oppose it.

With one stop which is close to nothing, and has no parking, the D1 alternative provides little value to GV residents.

Karen Lehman said that she wasn’t surprised to learn that North Minneapolis residents were upset by alternative alignment plans, but said that’s why community members urged council to review other options.

We knew that N. Minneapolis residents were opposed to D2 for good reason, and we begged Golden Valley to hold out for more options. Let's imagine what MIGHT have happened. Golden Valley says no, North Minneapolis is unhappy, and the Met Council has to do some soul searching. Is there another route? Will the ridership really justify this?

Bob Mattison agreed with Lehman.

D-1 makes no sense from an urban development or transportation point of view, but perfect political sense for those who want to avoid the pain of hard but wise long-term decisions. Now the politicians can indulge in pipe dreams for Penn Avenue and foist the burdens of a light rail line on Golden Valley's open spaces.

Candace Oathout said the light rail could be more divisive than connective.

It is expensive to build, maintain and operate that cannot respond to changing geographic conditions. It is of little to no value to the many small cities it splits and neighborhoods it destroys. Bus Rapid Transit is less expensive to build, maintain and operate and much more able to respond to geographic change. It is much less disruptive on small cities and neighborhoods. Stop the #crazytrains, just say "no" to LRT.

SHARE: Is there a point that wasn't mentioned? Add it to the comments here.

Follow us on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter