I-94 SOUND WALL FUNDING IDEAS OUTLINED
Funds to install I-94 traffic noise sound walls following the addition of two traffic lanes for the 35W bridge collapse detour might be available through several approaches, a capacity crowd of more than 100 people at the November PPERRIA meeting learned. Many of those attending live near the interstate at East River Mews and the East River Road area.

The main ideas involved seeking federal disaster funding connected to the bridge replacement, seeking funding in the next state transportation bill, or including walls if permanent lanes are constructed for use during peak congestion periods.

Sen. Larry Pogemiller said at the meeting following presentations by two MNDOT officials, “I’m more optimistic after I’ve heard this presentation.” Pogemiller commented, “If we get a transportation bill passed, I don’t see why this can’t be included.”

Rep. Phyllis Kahn at the meeting proposed seeking federal funds for sound walls as part of funding for the bridge reconstruction. It would recognize that the neighborhood has suffered as a result of the bridge collapse detour.

Pogemiller and Kahn will meet with MNDOT officials next week. They invited Joe Ring, chair of the PPERRIA Livability Committee, and perhaps another representative, to attend, Ring reported.

Ring said he consulted with the National Council for Preservation Education about PPERRIA’s role. The council advised that PPERRIA file for consulting party status with the U.S. Department of Transportation in relation to the 35W bridge replacement project, which includes detours and emergency measures.

Residents and board members at the meeting voted in favor of a motion presented by Dorothy Davey, livability committee member, to file for consulting party status.

Ring said such status would mean it would be mandatory that PPERRIA receive copies of all correspondence about the bridge project. Ring noted that he had also filed for and received such status for the Central Corridor light rail transit project. Ring said the Ramsey County Rail Authority didn’t like it. Also, since that filing, a Metropolitan Council representative has attended a PPERRIA meeting, he said.

Ring said the livability committee’s position is that state and federal law requires MNDOT to construct a sound wall along East River Mews and East River Terrace “as part of the expansion project for that section of the highway.” The committee also states that MNDOT should complete a study of the “possible negative effects of additional traffic on the proposed Prospect Park Historic District.” Ring said MNDOT responded that the two lanes are temporary and that they are an emergency measure, so the laws do not apply.

“The noise levels from 94 in Prospect Park East River Road have increased each decade with ever increasing traffic flow,” the livability committee report states, Ring said. The report points out that preliminary plans in the early 1960s for the I-94 route “would have removed 30% of the homes, our school, and the very church we are in tonight.” Ring said efforts by PPERRIA changed the proposed highway alignment so that only about 10 percent of the homes were lost.

“But, we have had one lingering problem all these years from the creation of Highway 94 and that is noise,” he said.

MNDOT official Chris Roy said at the meeting that the traffic projects on Highway 280 and I-94 after the bridge collapse have been able to accommodate the traffic. The section of I-94 is carrying 20 to 30 percent additional traffic, but congestion is about the same as a year ago, Roy said. In the period immediately after the bridge collapse, traffic backed up to downtown St. Paul, he said, and noted that there were a lot of rear-end crashes.

Tom O’Keefe, the second MNDOT official at the meeting, said the three options for the I-94 route are to 1. remove the temporary lanes after the new bridge is completed, 2. keep the temporary lanes, or 3. install permanent lanes but open them only during times of greatest congestion.

If the decision is to make the lanes permanent, a full environmental impact study would be required and it would include a noise study, O’Keefe said. If permanent lanes are approved, it would require MNDOT to build noise walls, “So, that would probably be your best outcome,” he said.

O’Keefe, who responded to a question about a timeline, said his best guess is that if the lanes are approved as permanent, and walls are installed, the project could be conducted in spring or summer of 2009. Also, the design for permanent lanes might require segments of the shoulder to be a bit wider, he said.

A resident said she felt it is likely MNDOT would still say sound walls were not cost effective even if the added lanes are made permanent. “I’m not convinced we’d get a sound wall even with permanent lanes,” she said.

Discussion of the highway at the meeting also raised issues about the impact of air pollution and impact on property values, times when highway noise is measured, how and where noise is measured, faster traffic is noisier, use of sound-deadening pavement, and if the neighborhood is designated an historic district would it be eligible for sound wall funds.

Posting signs barring engine braking was also suggested. MNDOT official Roy said it isn’t allowed on interstates. The person’s response, “Can’t we just try the signs,” drew laughter.

A resident at the meeting said traffic noise has been a problem since I-94 opened. “Really, the issue for me is the noise and the sound wall,“ adding, “Some of us would sell our soul to get the sound wall.”

Livability committee chair Ring said MNDOT representatives will be invited to a future PPERRIA meeting to consider other questions. They include whether the hours for a noise study can be extended.

MNDOT official Roy said engineering feasibility studies for installation of sound walls along Highway 280 and I-94 were underway. The studies consider space and utilities. The study along 280 has been completed, but the I-94 study is still in progress, he said.

Rep. Kahn said there seemed to be culpability by the city and the developer of the East River Mews residential complex, located at I-94 and Franklin Ave., to have put in sound walls when the complex was built. “Someone should have done something when it was developed,” she said.

Board member Florence Littman said, “The developer said earth berms and trees would take care of it. The city never mentioned that it [sound barriers] was required. We were totally in the dark.”

At the end of the discussion, there was applause for the two MNDOT officials when PPERRIA President Dick Poppele thanked them.

NRP REPRESENTATIVE ELECTED
President Poppele announced that Jeff Strand, Shingle Creek area resident who represents Prospect Park, was elected to the 17-member NRP (Neighborhood Revitalization Program) policy board. Strand’s platform was to assure funding for NRP after 2009, Poppele said.

Poppele said the city council is trying to come to grips with community engagement plans. The council adopted seven core principles, he said. “I’m a little skeptical about where all this is heading,” he commented.

NRP HOUSING FUNDS RELEASED
President Poppele said because the city council has agreed to cover 70% of the expected NRP II funding, it was possible to unfreeze funds for PPERRIA’s proposed housing program.

The membership voted in favor of releasing $85,000 in NRP II funds to be used for a new Home Improvement Program.

U LAND USE PLAN MEETINGS TO BE SET
Zoning committee chair Florence Littman reported that the committee and the Southeast Como livability committee met with Jan Morlock, director of university community relations, to discuss the university’s work to update its 1996 campus master land use plan. Littman said topics included the university establishing campus borders. Without agreed borders it is difficult for neighborhoods to plan, she said.

Littman said the university plans to schedule community meetings about updating the master plan.

NEIGHBORHOODS JOIN TO CHANGE ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM
Zoning chair Littman reported that the Prospect Park, Southeast Como, and Marcy-Holmes neighborhoods have joined to attempt to change and raise standards in the city’s new administrative review system for housing developments of 1 to 4 units. The neighborhoods are also trying to get allies in the effort, she said.

Littman said the new system sets “a pretty low standard” for review of residential projects. In the SE Como neighborhood, it has resulted in “pretty horrible construction” where students are crammed in, she said. The review and points system means neighborhoods don’t get a chance to comment on a project proposal, Littman said.

IMPRESSIONS OF UNIVERSITY AVENUE DEVELOPMENT
In response to a question asking how she feels about University Avenue development, in particular as an entrance to the city, zoning chair Littman said, “It makes me want to scream.” The person who asked the question said the street “depresses me.”

However, there are a few nice buildings, Littman said. They include the Affinity Plus credit union, the former Kemps Building, and the U Garden Chinese restaurant. Also, although University Village student housing “looks like it was built in China in the 50s, it looks a little better now.” The exterior has been redone. “It was falling apart,” she commented.

U WITHDRAWS PARKING SITE PURCHASE OFFER
PPERRIA director Julie Wallace reported that the university has withdrawn its offer to purchase land behind the Hubbard KSTP broadcasting building. The university had expected to develop a 500-car parking lot at the site, and later redevelop the site for research. Wallace said the land is on the market for $3.5 million. A university student housing complex is nearing completion on the St. Paul side behind KSTP.

Wallace said the University/4th Street resident task force will keep in close touch with Hubbard about proposals for the site. The task force had expressed concern about traffic volume from the proposed parking lot, and said it would seriously affect the University and Bedford Street intersection.

ROUTE FOR GRAND ROUNDS PARKWAY IN PROSPECT PARK?
Clay Lambert, Prospect Park representative on the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s citizen advisory committee, gave a report. The committee is expected to recommend a route in Southeast for the city’s Grand Round parkway “missing link.” Lambert commented, “There’s no good place. That’s why it’s been a missing link for 100 years.”

Lambert said SE Como residents are adamant that the route won’t go through their neighborhood. President Poppele said Como residents are concerned the route would become a freeway from the campus stadium and that it would mean removing houses.

Ward 2 City Council Member Cam Gordon said he continues to oppose any route proposed for the city’s Grand Rounds “missing link” that would remove housing in Southeast Como.

Gordon asked Prospect Park residents to think about a route for the missing link in Prospect Park, possibly 27th Street. A resident said a Park Board meeting on the route is expected to be held at Luxton Park, possibly Feb. 12 or 13.

MINNEAPOLIS NEWS MISSING FROM STARTRIBUNE SECTION
Frustration was expressed about the new StarTribune newspaper section distributed in Prospect Park. Residents said it covers the northwestern suburbs and it lacks Minneapolis news contained in other sections.

Resident Paul Zerby said anyone dissatisfied should contact Steve Alexander, 612 673-4346, at the newspaper. “We should tell them we want the paper with the most Minneapolis news,” Zerby said. Resident Julie Wallace said reporter Steve Brandt wrote an article about the library consolidation that wasn’t in the section distributed to the neighborhood.

LUXTON PARK DIRECTOR INTRODUCED
New Luxton Park director Choua Thao was introduced by Jim Widder. Widder said previous director Eric Cherland has been transferred to Bottineau Park as the director.

YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION PUBLIC HEARING SET
Ward 2 Council Member Cam Gordon announced there would be a public hearing on a plan from the Youth Violence Prevention Steering Committee. The meeting will be held Dec. 10, 1 p.m. in Council Chambers, City Hall. “This has been one of my top priorities throughout the year and it is exciting to be a part of this effort to help reduce the tenacious and tragic problems of youth violence in Minneapolis,” Gordon said in the announcement.

FUNDING NEEDED TO KEEP EAST SIDE SERVICES AT LUXTON
Council member Gordon said he is working to secure funding to keep social services provide d by Eastside Neighborhood Services at Luxton Park.

ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW CHANGES PROPOSED
Council Member Gordon reported he is working to propose changes in the city’s administrative review process for housing proposals under 4 units. Changes to be proposed include limiting development of “some of the most objectionable houses from being built.”

NEXT MEETING: Monday, January 28, 2008. (No December meeting.)

MEETINGS:
4th Monday of the month, 7 p.m., unless otherwise announced. Refreshments, conversation 6:30-7 p.m. Prospect Park United Methodist Church, 22 Orlin Ave. SE

CONTACT: 612-331-2970
66 SE Malcolm Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55414
email: pperria@tcfreenet.org
website: www.pperr.org

last revised: November 28, 2007

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