From pat.harris@ci.stpaul.mn.us Sun Jul 1 14:20 CDT 2001 Return-Path: Received: from mhub6.tc.umn.edu by garnet.tc.umn.edu with ESMTP for hause011@garnet.tc.umn.edu; Sun, 1 Jul 2001 14:20:59 -0500 Received: from mail.ci.stpaul.mn.us by mhub6.tc.umn.edu with ESMTP for hause011@tc.umn.edu; Sun, 1 Jul 2001 14:20:59 -0500 Message-Id: Date: Sun, 01 Jul 2001 14:20:37 -0500 From: "Pat Harris" To: Steven Hauser Subject: Re: Striping Ayd Mill Road Steven - Thanks so much for the note. I agree that funding for something like this could be of great benefit in a number of different ways. As you may know, I passed the resolution on the Ayd Mill Road issue last year. Under my resolution, bike paths, walking paths, benches, drinking fountains, lane removals, certain ramp removals, and the addition of an extremely large amount of green space were all part of the resolution. While the issue was controversial, in the end we will see drastic reductions in neighborhood auto ( we will even re-stripe Lexington with a bike lane) traffic, and a drastic increase in walking and biking areas. To me, that sounds pretty appealing. Due to funding issues, and continued opposition, this project is moving rather slowly. I am confident, however, that we will see action on the issue soon. Regarding your ideas, the sooner we can at least get the concept of biking and walking in the Ayd Mill area moving, the better our neighborhood will be in the end. That being, let me take a closer look at some this and get back to you when I hear both about projects in the pipeline already regarding this issue, and about how we could implement some of your thoughts on the issue. Thanks again, and lets stay in touch..... Pat Harris >>> Steven Hauser 06/19/01 07:38PM >>> Council Member Harris, My address is in your Ward: Steven Hauser 2075 Village Lane #4 St Paul, MN 55116 I would urge you to support striping Ayd Mill Road for bicycle and pedestrian use as quickly as possible. For $16,000-$32,000 we could have access to 20+ acres of greenspace in our ward. Proposal is below: Stripe, Walk and Bike Ayd Mill Project (Share the Street) Objective: To share Ayd Mill Corridor as a regular public street by the citizens of St Paul and gain the use of 20+ acres of greenspace with MINIMAL COST. Method: > Share the street by striping one lane of Ayd Mill Road in both directions for bicycle and pedestrian traffic. > Set the max speed limit of the two car lanes of Ayd Mill Road to 35 miles per hour. > Remove the signs at the entrances to Ayd Mill Road that read: Pedestrians Bicycles Motorized Bicycles Non-motorized vehicles PROHIBITED > To keep COSTS to a MINIMUM we specifically do not want any landscaping, additional parking or other development at this time. Rationale: At the St Paul City Council sponsored Pedestrian Safety and Traffic Calming Summit on May 16-19 the city brought in expert David Engwicht whose advice was that the perceived use of public space shaped the neighborhood and environment. St Paul prohibits the public from using Ayd Mill Corridor for pedestrian and bicycle use and the perception of the Ayd Mill Corridor is a "Stunted Freeway". Applying Mr. Engwicht's advice we will change this perception to "public street and bikeway" similar to River Road, Fairview Avenue, Montreal Avenue and Summit Avenue by allowing many other uses of the Ayd Mill Corridor. St Paul City Council last year approved a 35 MPH two lane configuration for Ayd Mill Road. Traffic count on Ayd Mill Road is lower than other striped streets. The Metro Council has now downgraded Ayd Mill Road from a "freeway" type road to a "secondary collector" (regular street) in its transportation plan. Our estimate of the cost of striping is $1-$2/foot for 8,000 feet for each lane of Ayd Mill or $16,000-$32,000. The gain of 20 acres of public recreation land in neighborhoods lacking any significant greenspace is a very real benefit not seen in most striping projects. Results of striping can be easily measured. --------------------------------------------------------- Steven Hauser email: hause011@tc.umn.edu URL: http://www.sofbot.com/ ---------------------------------------------------------