The Northside Transportation Network held a meeting Thursday evening to discuss the next steps in planning both the Bottineau LRT line and forming a broader transit system for north Minneapolis. Taking a larger view on transit options is a huge step forward. Council Member Samuels previously said that choosing between the two light rail options was like having someone ask "Do you want to get passed by or run over?" The D1 route through the park or D2 down Penn force a choice between whether our community is divided or simply ignored. Neither choice is workable for successful transit-oriented development.
A city staffer was present to explain the Council's position, that they support D1 and expect to take another vote in May of this year. Don Samuels added a motion that we examine the streetcar option as part of the transit development and LRT alignment. Minneapolis really only has the capacity to make four LRT lines - the central corridor, Hiawatha, the southwest corridor, and Bottineau. After that, we're done with LRT because there just isn't the space for it along other developable corridors.
But one advantage that streetcars have, as shown in the second photo, is that...
