Concerns, Questions About Bottineau LRT Come Up at Golden Valley Public Meeting

Some people aren't sure about the environmental impacts.

Others want to see a different route.

A few question whether or not having the light rail go through Golden Valley is beneficial to the city.

There were plenty of questions, concerns and comments made during the Aug. 15 public roundtable meeting about the proposed Bottineau Transitway.

The meeting was hosted by Hennepin County to help facilitate conversation on the proposed light rail stops that Bottineau would have in Golden Valley. The county is looking at either having a stop on Golden Valley Road or Plymouth Avenue. 

Earlier this year, the Metropolitan Council amended the metro region’s Transportation Plan to include the Bottineau LRT. The Bottineau LRT (also known as the continuation of the “Blue Line”), will be an extension of the current Blue Line (Hiawatha LRT) into the northwest suburbs. The line will travel out of downtown Minneapolis, through Golden Valley along the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Corridor, then into Robbinsdale, Crystal, and Brooklyn Park, where it will end north of Hwy 610.

At the Aug. 15 meeting several residents stood up to talk about their concerns during the initial presentation portion, but were asked to include their comments and questions for the small group discussions that immediately followed.

"This meeting is not a one time deal," said Golden Valley Mayor Shep Harris. "We know some people are upset about this and we want to hear from everyone."

One resident, who did not want to give his name, shared many of his concerns with Harris and Hennepin County representatives.  The man said he's been a Golden Valley resident for more than 44 years and could not see the benefits of having a light rail going through the city.

Participants at the meeting were in groups of five to seven people that went through a survey asking about all aspects of having the proposed Bottineau light rail system. The groups were given about an hour to discuss anything from safety to noise to environmental impacts and much more. At the end of the meeting a facilitator from each group stood up and gave highlights of their discussion to the rest of the room.

Much of what each facilitator highlighted was shared among the groups including what kind of ecological impact would a light rail have going along the route that's been proposed. Also, what is the economic development that would happen around the light rail, how would the city zone the areas around the proposed station(s) in the city? Would the station platforms be safe, well-lit, heated, have adequate parking ramps or lots and places for bicycles, etc.? 

Golden Valley resident Pamela Holm Crawford stood up at the end of the meeting and asked for those who were opposed to the proposed Bottineau light rail project  should give her their contact information so they could meet to talk more about it.

Crawford is actually a proponent of light rail having lived in London and used mass transit in her life, but she is opposed to the proposed route for Bottineau.

"Now I don't believe it will serve that many people, we're in a low density area and a wilderness area," Crawford said. "The environmental considerations are enormous and I feel that it would perhaps serve people better if it was going down say 81, using the Penn, which is actually one of the original routes."

She said understand why the current route is being proposed and that the possibility of losing federal funding and time constraints are two big pressures for those involved in keeping the project alive.

"But I don't think a bad idea is a good idea just to get the money," Crawford said. "It needs to serve a high density area where it can benefit the most people. It's not even close enough to Memorial Hospital, which I don't understand."

Resident Sean Fahey is within the 10 minute walking zone of the proposed Golden Valley Road station. Fahey is one of two residents who will be on the city's new Bottineau Light Rail Transit (LRT) Planning Advisory Committee, which has been formed to gather input and address concerns about the two proposed station sites. Fahey said he has many concerns about the entire proposed light rail line and stations.

"I definitely want to go at this as don't build the line, but if you do let's make it as good as it can possibly be for Golden Valley," Fahey said. 

The other resident, Andrea Wiley, said she wanted to be the committee because she's passionate on learning as much about the Bottineau Transitway as possible.

"I don't it to harm the environment, we need to work with nature," Wiley said. "We should have a station that will reach the most people. I want to engage and listen to the community and work with them and make it work for all of us."

Crawford asks why would someone spend so much money on something that won't really serve a community? For her, getting the information out on people's concerns is a big reason why she gathered contacts after the meeting and hopes that people will join her in voicing their concerns about Bottineau.

The written and verbal feedback from meeting will be compiled by Hennepin County officials and used in its further planning process. More public meetings will be made in the near future including another public roundtable forum at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 20, University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center in Minneapolis. That meeting is will look more at the Bottineau LRT Minneapolis and Penn Avenue Community Works Project.

Check out our Patch video interviewing Fahey and Wiley with this post.

You can sign up for more information on the Bottineau Transitway website or you can read past Golden Valley Patch Bottineau stories:

• WATCH: Golden Valley Residents Tour the Light Rail
• Bottineau Pros and Cons What Do Residents Really Think
• Update: Council To Establish New Bottineau LRT Planning Advisory Committee
• Public Feedback Needed For Draft Bottineau Transitway Health Impact Assessment 

For updates and other information about the community, join us on Patch, Like us on Facebook and follow Golden Valley Patch on Twitter.