New transit facilities attract lots of foot traffic, but while the facility is being built the construction clutter drives potential customers away. A new program in Minneapolis attempts to preserve local businesses through the debris.
Freemark writes about "Ready for Rail" a program administered by the Business Resources Collaborative in the Twin Cities:
"After a series of studies conducted by a local business association, the cities building a new transit project have developed a loan program designed to give shop owners the chance to survive what are expected to be four difficult years.
The $1 billion Central Corridor light rail line began construction earlier this year and is expected to open for service between St. Paul and Minneapolis by 2014. Though it will share some stops with the existing Hiawatha Line in downtown Minneapolis, it will run on a new alignment on Washington and University Avenues, mostly in St. Paul. Much of University Avenue is notable for its diversity and vitality of local businesses-so everyone's sensitive about making sure they make it through the reconstruction of the street."
Thanks to Tivoni Devor
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