If we shrink the street from five lanes to two, won't we have congestion?
Hopefully we will be so lucky! For a city, congestion is a sign of success, not failure. To quote Yogi Berra, "Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded." For a city, congestion is a great problem to have.
As things sit today, there is no congestion on South 6th Street. Rush hour is, at most, five minutes, and it is primarily people rushing to get through town. The rest of the time the added capacity just encourages cars to drive faster, increasing both the danger and the desolation.
Cities can address congestion problems in a number of ways, the best of which create more investment in the city. If we're worried about congestion, let's get some first and then look at our options for making good use of it.
Is Mn/DOT going to make us pay more for a street that includes parking?
It is possible Mn/DOT will try, but that would be really sad. Consider two options.
Hopefully we will be so lucky! For a city, congestion is a sign of success, not failure. To quote Yogi Berra, "Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded." For a city, congestion is a great problem to have.
As things sit today, there is no congestion on South 6th Street. Rush hour is, at most, five minutes, and it is primarily people rushing to get through town. The rest of the time the added capacity just encourages cars to drive faster, increasing both the danger and the desolation.
Cities can address congestion problems in a number of ways, the best of which create more investment in the city. If we're worried about congestion, let's get some first and then look at our options for making good use of it.
Is Mn/DOT going to make us pay more for a street that includes parking?
It is possible Mn/DOT will try, but that would be really sad. Consider two options.
Option 1: A $9 million project that harms the tax base, is unsafe for pedestrians and bikers and also requires the taking of property.
Option 2: A $6.5 million project that improves the tax base, improves safety for everyone and can be done within the existing right-of-way. |
Mn/DOT has a multi-billion dollar shortfall and is currently seeking huge tax increases from the legislature to fund transportation projects. If they are going to insist that their rules require them to spend more to build a bad project, then South 6th Street has the potential to be a pivotal case study in a statewide debate.
Why do we need bike lanes?
We don't need bike lanes; we need people. There are thousands of people that live within walking distance of Brainerd's downtown. When they drive, they take up a parking spot. When they bike or walk -- which many would if it were useful, safe, comfortable and interesting to do so -- everybody wins. This is a cheap and easy way to bring thousands of people downtown, improving both the value of the downtown and the value of all the properties now with better connections to it.
If you can now enjoy a nice walk to Coco Moon where before you could only drive, is your property more valuable as a result? Of course it is.
And when we eliminate biking and walking investments and force everyone in Brainerd to drive for their basic needs, it's just as easy -- sometimes easier -- to hop on College Drive and end up at Baxter's Walmart. If Brainerd can reduce the amount of sales tax revenue that leaks out of the community, it can improve its financial situation tremendously.
Why do we need bike lanes?
We don't need bike lanes; we need people. There are thousands of people that live within walking distance of Brainerd's downtown. When they drive, they take up a parking spot. When they bike or walk -- which many would if it were useful, safe, comfortable and interesting to do so -- everybody wins. This is a cheap and easy way to bring thousands of people downtown, improving both the value of the downtown and the value of all the properties now with better connections to it.
If you can now enjoy a nice walk to Coco Moon where before you could only drive, is your property more valuable as a result? Of course it is.
And when we eliminate biking and walking investments and force everyone in Brainerd to drive for their basic needs, it's just as easy -- sometimes easier -- to hop on College Drive and end up at Baxter's Walmart. If Brainerd can reduce the amount of sales tax revenue that leaks out of the community, it can improve its financial situation tremendously.