University of Minnesota LRT: Do No Harm

VP of Research, Tim Mulcahy, explains why the University is hoping to work with LRT officials and come to a resolution that both allows the central corridor light rail line to travel through campus and protects the valuable, multi-million dollar research along Washington Avenue.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• University
• of
• Minnesota
• UMN
• Central
• Corridor
• Light
• Rail
• Peter
• Bell
• Do
• no
• harm

[philfreyre]

The University has failed to provide quantifiable noise and vibration standards (to my knowledge) and is on the verge of stalling a project which has been in the planning stages for years without having pursued a solution AS SOON AS it found out that the decision to convert Washington Avenue to a transit mall was made.

There are countless other rail transit systems that run through universities: UC Berkeley has BART and Washington University has light rail. They found solutions!

[sleepybean1]

I am reporting what I put on the mndaily article because it upsets me so much that we are only seeing an opinion of the University rather than a real study. I would also like to see the study from both sides on the issue. It saddens me that my own school is trying to use the public to do their dirty work by creating bad media. Didn't they learn from how badly people reacted to the MPR media attack?

[aidaabebe]

I don't think there is anything wrong with U of M not wanting the light rail to go down Washington Avenue. The U of M is responsible for itself/its students first and it's really shameful that the City of Saint Paul and the Metropolitan Council the university to compromise what it values the most when there are other, perfectly valid alternatives. And I don't see how the university should be responsible for the cost of mitigation when it wasn't even its idea to build the light rail.

[southmplsgrl]

I received a request from the University Alumni Association to write the FTA basically shaming the Central Corridor for not doing everything the University has asked for. I am sure many did write the FTA without fully investigating the issue in support the U. I sincerely hope the FTA reads the many comments on this issue on other media websites. The overall public is not support delaying this light rail when the U has offered no conclusive study that addition mitigation is needed.

[wbg31245]

I live in a neighborhood that has airplane traffic. Do I have a right to demand that noise not exceed current rather than to bow to the needs of the public? Mitigation is indeed necessary. To ask that the public keep things EXACTLY as they are simply isn't reasonable. It is time for the U to spell out the problems and cost for mitigation. Asking for things to stay as they are is simply unreasonable. The U is open to the appearance of trying to stop the project because they don't like the route.

[twinsfan21]

Excellent video that presents a valid side of this important issue -- thank you, U of M!

[meninaideathea]

Nice video, really well made, thanks for keeping students informed!

[rayofminneapolis]

Further more, I suppose I should make a video, illustrating this, if I can. Much respect to the VP of Research.

[rayofminneapolis]

I STILL think they should take the LRT over the new I35w bridge, under dinkytown, past the new Gopher Stadium, through SEMI and non stop to saint paul. It would be the quickest trip, taking riders by the coolest landmarks. The other side of the rail wraps around saint paul to deposit riders at the foot of the Science Museum. One only need study a Google earth for a half hour before this becomes OBVIOUS. Washington ave bridge can't support that weight anyway. They just want to rip up heritage!