Maps and illustrations
Streetcars, Anyone?
It seems that streetcars are making a comeback. This post over at the infrastructuralist shows that 45 cities have plans for extending or creating streetcar line(s). This is great news, but yet will make competition for $130 million funding even more difficult.
Again, PDX, who had the political will and capital to put in a streetcar years ago is planning to expand the service over the river to finally create the streetcar loop.
Just in case you didn't know, Minneapolis has its own plans for a streetcar network that should hopefully supplement the bus, LRT, and BRT (down the road) network we currently have. Plus here is the work done around the planned streetcar along our beloved Greenway.
100 years pass
I was at the downtown Minneapolis library yesterday when a large map caught my eye. It was a 1910 ariel map with all the transit lines included. As a new Minnesotan I was shocked to see that at one time you could get to Stillwater or Hopkins on mass transit (that was not a bus).
It was a great reminder that not so long ago we had the plans and capital in place to move people around our region that was not based on expressways, but rather mass transit. Here is the old map (1910) and the new map (2020). A lot has changed in 100 years, but I find looking at these two maps educational to say the least.
Where does the money go?
A great source for information about our transportation system and its effects on Minnesota and Twin Cities household finances, at the Surface Transportation Policy Project >
And an excellent summary sheet from Transit for Livable Communities on "Transportation and household spending" is attached. Read more >
Location sketch of fatal pedestrian collision at 15th and Park
Theodore Q. Larson, an 81-year old man crossing Park Avenue at 15th Street, died on Tuesday, May 28, in the second of two deadly crashes in two weeks. Mr. Larson had a walk signal as he was crossing the street when a school bus turned left, striking him. Read more >
Location sketch of fatal bicycle collision at 14th and Park
Cyclist Dennis Dumm was struck and killed by a semi truck while bicycling on Park Avenue at 14th Street on Wednesday, May 20. Mr. Dumm was legally crossing through a green light, after stopping at a red light, when a truck turned in front of him and struck him.
This drawing is a location sketch intended to help people understand the intersection and the location of the collision.
This image is provided for general illustration purposes only. It was created from accounts provided by media reports and others. It is not the result of any official or unofficial investigation, and it does not claim to represent a true or accurate depiction of the events described. Not drawn to scale. Read more >
How many people are riding? How many are walking? Where?
From our friends at Transit for Livable Communities - two Google maps showing the results of the 2008 bicycle and pedestrian counts held throughout our metropolitan region. Read more >
Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail
View the attached presentation to see the project history, current topics, and next steps Read more >
Alliance for Sustainability -- Bike Edina Presentation
PowerPoint presentation adapted from Bike Edina Task Force and Community Design Group (consultants) content and images Read more >
New baseball stadium = Mpls downtown park
New Twin's Stadium Target Field finally will give Minneapolis the downtown park residents have wanted for years. The question is why must the trade off always be so unbalanced? Read more >
More rooftop car parks
Since we're talking rooftop car parking, here's a couple of other examples. Read more >
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