Only 2.5 parking spaces per block: Central Corridor's impact on University Avenue

From U-Plan website - Click here for more information and for area maps.

January 26, 2009

Businesses along the Central Corridor's University Avenue route overwhelmingly say that their voices have not been heard and that light rail will not help them, according to preliminary study results from the University Avenue Business Association (UABA) survey on construction mitigation. "Parking, parking, parking" wrote one business owner in response to the request to list top three issues for the next two years. "How my customers will park. Whether my sales will drop. Access to my business and parking lot." wrote another.

The preliminary results were announced at a January 15 construction meeting, attended by University Avenue business owners, who heard from Senators Patricia Torres Ray and Ellen Anderson, Representatives Erin Murphy and Alice Hausman, St. Paul council members Russ Stark and Melvin Carter, Minneapolis council member Cam Gordon, and Ramsey County commissioners Toni Carter and Peter McLaughlin.

Next UABA meeting: January 29
Preserving Parking on University Avenue
Thursday, January 29th, 2009
7:30AM – 9:30AM, Coffee and light breakfast served
Central Corridor Resource Center: 1080 University Avenue, SE corner of University and Lexington Pkwy

Betty Charles, owner of the Shear Pleasure salon, has been in business on University Avenue for 30 years in business. After the meeting, she said her salon needs on-street parking--not a lot, but it needs to be there for her customers.

The Central Corridor plan calls for an 83 percent reduction in on-street parking on University Avenue between 29th Street and Rice, leaving an average of only 2.5 parking spaces per block, according to analyses and maps prepared by U-Plan.

At the meeting, UABA staff and officers repeatedly warned that the meeting was "not a referendum on light rail," which was seen as inevitably coming. Rather, the meeting was billed as an opportunity to hear from assembled public officials, all of whom expressed deep concern and empathy for the struggles of small businesses and a commitment to mitigating the negative impact that construction of the Central Corridor will have. What was missing was any concrete proposal or plan. A Met Council document sets out "parking management strategies" that focus heavily on limiting side-street parking to two hours and strengthening parking enforcement.

State Representative Alice Hausman echoed the frustration that business owners expressed in the UABA survey:

What you are experiencing is ... entities that plan these projects often do not do well.

When I look at the survey results, you feel remote from the Metropolitan Council. I think that, too, on all the problems we face, the biggest problem is getting the attention of anyone who can do anything about it.

There is a sense in which governance has been a stumbling bloc - an appointed Met Council that seems remote. There will be discussion this year [in the legislature] about governance models that are more grounded in local officials that have to make it work.

Mary Turck

Mary Turck is the editor of the TC Daily Planet.

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Comments

A Station is Critical Too

Submitted by David Rasmussen (not verified) on Mon, 2009-01-26 21:46.

I live near Snelling Ave and University Ave and have reviewed the Snelling Station Area plan. Some key elements are not completely addressed. How will people transfer amongst buses and rail? Where will taxis wait? Where will cars drop people off? Will there be an enclosed station? Is the "station" merely a waiting area in the middle of a busy street? How about a park and ride? How about handicapped access/parking? How about pedestrian access across Snelling Ave and across University Ave? My neighborhood strongly supports a petition in the public record at http://www.metrocouncil.org/transportation/ccorridor/SDEIS/FinalAppendix.pdf (pages 147-247) There are many details that must be ironed out before the plan is complete and addresses the concerns of neighbors and businesses.

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The Central Corridor will

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 2009-01-26 22:24.

The Central Corridor will increase business owners' property values and improve sales, it will not hurt them. Similar rail lines across the country have stimulated development, why wouldn't the Central Corridor?

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Central Corridor

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2009-01-28 06:50.

The concerns cited above do need to be addressed, and are perfectly legitimate. But putting in light rail is supposed to eliminate car parking. That's the point, people. More business folk, living in fear and trembling inside their status quo mind set boxes. Address the REAL concerns, please. Not the fear mongering from the change fighters.

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Well, I thought that the

Submitted by Monica (not verified) on Sun, 2009-02-22 19:38.

Well, I thought that the Light Rail purpose was as an alternative to driving and really the way to encourage use of the Light Rail is not to make driving difficult or impossible, but to simply encourage use...that could be through park and rides, mixed development, increased and efficient bus transfers to the rail. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Most cities where I've been, the rail is not mixed with traffic, be it BART or subways, Metros, which are made to transport people across distances. However, in Melbourne, one of their rail systems is much like the Hiawatha line once it is in downtown Minneapolis...slow and like a street car. I guess if people here want a 50 year old system back in their town, great for them.

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