Letter to the Metropolitan Council Chairman Peter Bell regarding ...

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Fatalities, west side of the region, 2003-2007 (latest full data available) Mn/DOT and the Department of Public Safety have made enormous strides in improving the safety of the regional transportation system, but much remains to be done. Moving a relatively safe intersection to the top of the funding queue takes money away from places with greater safety needs, and belies the commitment that Mn/DOT and the Metropolitan Council have made to make safety their first priority. Continued on next page 2
The interchange would take money away from higher priority projects Mobility—including easing congestion—is Mn/DOT’s second priority. Mn/DOT data show that this intersection is not the most congested in the region. As reported in Mn/DOT’s Feb 2010 Congestion Report, this interchange experiences serious congestion in one direction during the morning peak period and minimal congestion in the evening. Many other locations throughout the region experience congestion much broader in time and scope. AM peak congestion - 2009 PM peak congestion -2009 Nor will investment here produce meaningful or long-term improvement. Investing $172 million into one small section of Hwy. 169 to attack congestion in one direction during one peak will move the morning traffic jam a couple of miles. Vehicles coming northbound would simply arrive more quickly at the congestion on eastbound I-494. The region needs a plan to provide alternatives to congested travel. The interchange would take money away from needed repair projects A third Mn/DOT priority is to bring our roads and bridges into a state of good repair. Spending $172 million to fully reconstruct intersections and an interchange that are not in poor condition while there are many metro area road and bridge segments in poor condition is inconsistent with that priority. Mn/DOT’s new Statewide Transportation Plan acknowledges that Mn/DOT does not currently meet and will not be able to meet its targets for pavement quality, resulting in a doubling of the percentage of arterial roads in poor condition by 2012 (see p. 7.2-5). Delayed maintenance of roads and bridges results in higher overall costs for repair and replacement, while well-maintained roads improve fuel efficiency, reduce vehicle depreciation, and increase driver safety. Moving this project to the top of the funding queue takes money away from communities with repair needs, and belies the commitment that Mn/DOT and the Metropolitan Council have made to a state of good repair. We can spend less money and get a better result Fortunately, it is possible to attack both the current crash rate and the rush hour congestion with approaches that are both cheaper and proven by Mn/DOT. 3
Page 1: April 6, 2010 Transit for Livable C
Page 5: Every poll shows that citizens want

Letter to the Metropolitan Council Chairman Peter Bell regarding ...

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