The following is from an e-mail notice sent by LRT Done Right:
Reroute SWLRTDecember 18, 2013
Let Your Voice be Heard!
SWLRT Community Meetings – January 7th & 9th, 2014
The Metropolitan Council will host facilitated public community meetings focused on three studies (see below) that are currently underway- freight rail, water resources and landscaping/ greenscaping in the Kenilworth area of Minneapolis.
We strongly encourage you to attend one or both of the meetings and voice your questions and concerns.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
5:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Kenwood Community Center
2101 Franklin Avenue West, Minneapolis
Thursday, January 9, 2014
5:00 – 7:30 p.m.
St. Louis Park Recreation Center
3700 Monterey Drive, St. Louis Park
The Three Studies
In early December 2013, the Southwest LRT (Green Line Extension) Project began three studies to clarify important issues that impact the proposed light rail line between Eden Prairie and downtown Minneapolis:
1. The location of freight rail service in the Kenilworth Corridor
2. Potential impacts of LRT construction on Cedar Lake and Lake of the Isles
3. Landscaping and greenscaping in the Kenilworth area
Draft results of these studies are expected in early 2014, when there will be more opportunities for public comment. These meetings will provide opportunities to learn about these studies, talk to project staff and discuss the study scopes with invited elected officials.
Meeting agenda:
5:00 – 5:30: Open house (project staff on hand to answer questions)
5:30 – 7:30:
Welcome and review of meeting purpose
Overview of scopes of work for three studies
Facilitator-led discussion
Wrap-Up/Next Steps
It is not easy to stay up-to-date on SWLRT progress or lack of progress. We update the LRT Done Right Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LRTDoneRight everyday with articles and updates. Please follow us on Facebook or for those non-Facebook users,the LRT Done Right website: http://lrtdoneright.org/ lists updates on the right-hand side of the page.
What the shallow tunnels recommendation means for the Kenilworth Greenway
The shallow tunnel will run north from the Lake Street bridge past the red town homes, under Cedar Lake Road to the Cedar-Isles channel. The shallow tunnel will come up prior to the channel and run at grade along with freight rail over the channel and then will drop down again after the channel until past 21 St street.
* The 21st Street station will not exist.
* At the points where LRT and freight are co-located at grade, there will be a six foot high by 2.5 foot thick crash wall.
* At this time, it is assumed SWLRT horn/bell will ring entering and exiting the tunnels (440 rings a day)
* 1,000 trees will be removed and replanting will be impacted by the shallow nature of the tunnels
* The channel bridge will be widened to accommodate two SWLRT rails.
* The trails will be removed during construction 1-3 years and then replaced on top of the tunnels
* Freight will remain running throughout construction and will be shifted closer to homes at some locations.
