Okay, technically it leads to the new Vikings stadium, but Nick Magrino doubts its benefits justify $6 million of public spending. A proportion of the Metropolitan Council is inclined to agree.
Nick Magrino argues that the $6 million pedestrian bridge connecting a light rail station to the Vikings stadium just isn't worth it. Normal operating procedures (without the bridge) might involve temporary road closures, but would require fans to cross the street. Magrino asks, "is preventing thousands of Vikings fans from touching a Minneapolis street worth the cost of this pedestrian bridge?"
Not only is the project's very necessity in question; it is also one of the more expensive such bridges conceived.
From the article: "Alternatively, 1,000 bus shelters could be purchased, or perhaps 100 heated bus shelters. Or, if we were averse to spending money on buses for fear our constituents would not use them, we could put $6 million towards converting Downtown East Station to a center island station, so that people transferring betwixt the Blue and Green Lines would not need to walk across the tracks."
FULL STORY: This unnecessary pedestrian bridge is going to cost $6 million of public money
Twin Cities Trains Move to Fewer Cars, Higher Frequency
Headways will drop from 15 minutes to 12 minutes.
Blue Line Extension North of Minneapolis in Jeopardy
A planned extension of the Metro Blue Line north from Minneapolis depended on eight miles of BNSF track.
Inside the 2018 Super Bowl's 'Luxified' Venue
When the Eagles and the Patriots face off this weekend, they'll do it at Minneapolis' U.S. Bank Stadium, a billion-dollar venue that "aspires to more than football."
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
