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Letters and Opinions
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Highway
55 Speed Limit (Page 3)
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(11/14/02)
I
strongly believe that the Highway 55 Speed
Limit should be at least 50 m.p.h. This
is a major trafficway into downtown Minneapolis
and is not a residential street.
Traffic
congestion
in
the
metropolitan
area
is
getting
worse
and
restricting
speed
on
55
does
not
make
any
sense.
I
have
read
the
October
7,
2002
letter
from
Carol
Kummer
(Chair
of
the
Light
Rail)
to
the
Minnesota
Department
of
Transportation
and
was
appalled.
The
Highway 55 corridor will never be a pedestrian
friendly area. Why would someone want to
walk along a train track and highway? I
love to walk but prefer scenic areas.
Speed
bumps
at
Hwy
55
intersections
would
be
insane.
I
vote
in
every
election
and
try
to
learn
about
the
issues,
but
I
just
found
out
about
the
above
situation.
I
strongly
support
increasing
the
speed
limit
to
at
least
50
m.p.h.
-
Karla
K.
Wagner
Nokomis
Resident
Top
of page
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(11/14/02)
The
letter from Carol Kummer to the MnDOT is
excellent and reflects the sentiments of
many Longfellow neighborhood residents.
[See the letter]
A
few
additional
comments
to
NENA's
argument:
1.
Increased
traffic
speeds
mean
more
noise.
Increased
speed
limits
will
syphon
more
traffic
off
of
the
interstates,
which
means
even
more
noise.
Our
neighborhoods
bear
a
significant
burden
of
noise
from
the
MSP
Airport.
For
livability,
maintaining
property
values,
and
attracting
development,
we
need
less
noise,
not
more.
2.
Increased traffic speeds mean more air pollution.
A growing body of studies points to auto
and truck exhaust as a significant source
of cardiopulmonary ailments, as well as
increased cancer risks. These health problems
are borne by all of us, but especially by
children and the elderly. [Diesel truck
exhaust dwarfs the impact gasoline engine
exhaust. And undoubtedly, it is business
and trucking interests that are lobbying
MnDOT for speed increases on 55].
3.
Instead
of
longer
walk
times
at
the
traffic
signals,
I
would
argue
for
structural
changes
in
the
road
and
curbs
that
make
the
distance
pedestrians
need
to
walk
SHORTER.
Combine
this
with
shorter
red/green
cycle
times
--
in
traditional
urban
areas,
pedestrians
and
bicyclists
never
need
to
wait
long
for
a
light
to
change.
Shorter
cycles
would
also
temper
traffic
speeds
and
dissuade
drivers
from
leaving
the
interstate.
-
Paul
Andre,
Longfellow
Community
Environment
and
Transportation
Committee
member
[Webmaster's
note:
Mr.
Andre
refers
to
"NENA's
argument,"
above.
It
should
be
noted
that
NENA
is
simply
hosting
this
discussion
for
the
benefit
of
all
neighborhood
residents.]
Top
of
page
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(11/14/02)
Dear
neighbors
and
MnDOT,
I
am
absolutely
opposed
to
raising
the
speed
limits
along
Hwy
55.
During
the
open
meetings
and
discussions
held
a
few
years
back
regarding
the
reroute,
our
elected
officials
and
representatives
from
MnDOT
continually
threw
the
phrase
at
us,
"this
will
not
be
a
freeway,
the
speed
limit
will
be
35
mph,
don't
worry."
When
any
of
us
opposing
the
reroute
countered
that
claim,
saying
people
would
go
faster
anyway,
they
countered
with
reassurances
that
the
speed
limit
of
35
mph
would
be
enforced
and
held.
The
road is not even finished yet and these
same elected officials and MnDOT representatives
are already backpedaling on their promises.
I and many of my neighbors DO NOT want a
freeway with speeds in excess of 35mph in
our neighborhood!!!!!
-
Sue
Cairn
Top
of
page
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(11/12/02)
Like
it
or
not,
many
of
us
believe
Hiawatha
can
and
should
sets
its
speed
limits
safely
at
45
MPH
through
most
if
not
all
of
its
course
in
Minneapolis.
I'd
even
support
an
unspoken,
"It's
okay
to
go
55
when
conditions
are
good,
but
you
will
get
stopped
at
56MPH."
With
the
advent
of
light
rail,
this
will
become
a
multi-modal
corridor.
The
nature
of
the
parallel
right-of-ways
presents
additional
hazards
to
any
who
attempt
to
cross
them
or
enter
or
exit
via
the
roadway
or
rail.
Pedestrians,
bicyclists,
and
automobiles
will
all
need
to
pay
attention
to
safety
as
they
cross
or
access
the
highway.
A
uniform
increase
in
the
speed
limit
to
45+,
would
not
significantly
raise
the
level
of
risk
at
any
authorized
intersection.
The
roadway
clearly
can
support
the
faster
speed,
and
frequently
does
so
even
with
the
already
posted
limits.
One
of
the
benefits
of
living
in
our
neighborhood,
is
the
speed
with
which
we
can
get
out
and
about
when
we
want.
Quick
access
to
virtually
any
point
in
the
metro
area
makes
living
in
the
center
of
the
metro
worthwhile
for
many.
A
quick
Hiawatha
lends
value
to
those
of
us
who
live
here.
It's
not
a
little
thing
to
trim
a
few
minutes
here
or
there
in
our
busy
days.
A
quick
jaunt
to
downtown
or
Lake
street
is
not
without
its
merits.
A
quicker
trip
does
increase
traffic
demand
as
it
reduces
drive
time
for
a
broader
traffic
shed.
More
people
will
want
to
drive
on
55
from
further
away
if
the
speed
limit
is
45
than
will
if
it
is
35.
Some
may
see
less
traffic
on
a
slower
street
as
a
benefit.
Others
will
see
it
as
an
unnecessary
obstruction
to
traffic
flow
in
a
metro-wide
system
that
is
beginning
to
show
volume
strains.
Some
slow-street
proponents
may
argue
against
the
outsiders,
the
dreaded
evil
suburbanites,
"Let's
keep
the
speed
limit
low
and
slow
to
discourage
them
from
driving
though
our
neighborhoods."
Fast-street
people
will
argue
the
overview,
the
regional
perspective,
"We
are
the
world,
we
are
the
metro."
We
have
infrastructure
systems
based
on
logic
rather
than
political
whim.
However,
political
whim
as
reflected
by
my
driving
behavior
and
that
of
many
of
my
friends
and
fellow
drivers
supports
a
speed
limit
of
45.
At
least
that's
the
vote
as
recorded
on
many
of
our
speedometers.
35
feels
too
slow.
I
suspect
that
the
clear
choice
of
those
who
actually
use
the
road
on
a
daily
basis
would
be
for
a
45-55
MPH
range.
Some,
who
may
not
use
the
roadway
frequently,
may
not
fully
appreciate
it's
value
to
those
who
do.
Just
as
we
can
appreciate
and
value
speed
in
our
computer
browsers,
we
should
appreciate
the
value
of
speed
in
communications
when
expressed
in
a
different
medium.
Traffic
flow
is,
in
fact,
the
lifeblood
of
our
society.
It
is
a
direct
manifestation
of
our
social
and
cultural
interaction
as
a
society.
Restricting
the
blood
flow
in
an
artery
could
lead
to
a
brain
hemorrhage,
or
other
dire
consequence.
Keeping
the
flow
free
signifies
a
healthier
system.
The
NENA
neighborhood's
fantastic
new
web
site
has
started
an
ongoing
discussion
of
the
Highway
55
speed
issue
in
its
"Backyard"
section.
Great
website,
check
it
out
at
http://www.nokomiseast.org
-
Earl
Netwal
Near
downtown
Nokomis
Village,
somewhere
in
the
urban
forest,
within
walking
range
of
55
Top
of
page
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(11/12/02)
I
definitely
think
the
speed
limit
should
be
raised
from
35
to
45-50
from
out
of
downtown
down
to
31st
street,
at
the
very
least.
I'm
all
for
transit/pedestrian-oriented
development,
so
slowing
the
speed
back
down
to
35
after
31st
street
makes
sense
to
me,
as
people
will
be
looking
at
all
of
the
new
shops
and
people
walking
about
at
the
38th
and
46th
Street
stations.
-Hillary
Olson,
Bancroft
Neighborhood
Top
of
page
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(11/12/02)
I
can't
fathom
the
speed
limit
of
Highway
55
staying
at
35
mph.
What
are
these
people
thinking?
Spending
more
than
10
minutes
of
Hwy
55
during
rush
hour
is
a
cause
for
legitimate
road
rage.
During
rush
hours
most
cars
can't
even
go
faster
than
35
miles
per
hour.
They
must
stop
at
the
new
light
at
the
VA,
54th
St,
50th
St,
46st,
42St.
I
could
go
on
but
I
hope
most
people
understand
my
point.
Another
aggravation
is
that
none
of
the
lights
are
timed.
I've
often
traveled
this
road
late
at
night
and
have
had
to
stop
at
a
north/south
light
when
there
weren't
any
cars
going
east
or
west.
The
light/timing
situation
on
Hiawatha
is
maddening.
I
wonder
if
the
timing
of
the
lights
is
even
a
factor
for
future
planning.
I
can't
imagine
that
this
situation
will
get
any
better
when
they
have
the
light
rail
gates.
I
think
that
once
light
rail
is
operating,
a
majority
of
people
will
still
want
to
use
Hwy
55
as
a
major
highway
in
and
out
of
Minneapolis.
I
don't
think
that
all
the
commuters
should
be
inconvienced
by
a
lower
speed
limit,
just
because
someone
wants
to
ride
his/her
bike
or
walk
across
the
street.
-Kathleen
Larson
Top
of
page
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(11/06/02)
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I'm
a
resident
of
the
Morris
Park
neighborhood.
I
bike
commute
but
own
a
vehicle
to
get
to
other
destinations.
So,
I
have
the
perspective
of
both
the
pedecyclist
and
motorist.
I
must
go
through
Hwy
55
when
I
bike
and
drive
on
it
when
I
take
the
automobile.
I
find
that
the
speed
limit
on
hwy
55
is
too
low.
The
main
reason
I
think
it's
too
low
is
that
the
road
is
designed
for
higher
speed
traffic.
Wide
multiple
lanes
with
signalized
intersections
encourage
drivers
to
speed
up
as
there
aren't
enough
perceived
dangers
at
low
speed.
That
is
why
hardly
anyone
(including
myself)
drives
35
mph
on
Hwy
55.
When
I
bike,
I
find
no
problem
crossing
the
hwy
because
of
the
signalized
intersections.
There
are
walk
lights
at
just
about
all
of
them
and
the
signalized
intersections
are
plentiful.
I
simply
wait
for
the
walk
symbol
and
ride
on
through.
My
bigger
complaint
is
that
the
signalized
intersections
are
not
synchronized.
There
are
times
where
I
will
get
a
red
at
EVERY
SINGLE
intersection.
It
takes
forever
to
get
anywhere.
It
is
for
this
reason
I
usually
take
Minnehaha
Ave.
The
speed
limit
is
25
mph
but
it
is
much
faster
because
the
traffic
signals
seem
synchronized
and
I
rarely
have
to
stop.
My
2
cents.
-
Alec
Gorjestani
Top of page
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(11-01-02)
Please,
please,
bring
the
limit
up
to
where
it
was
designed
-
50
mph.
I
grew
up
near
Minnehaha
Creek,
and
I
remember
the
many
arguments
for
keeping
it
the
same.
But
that
was
a
long
time
ago,
when
there
were
far
fewer
cars
and
Hiawatha
was
a
narrow
and
dangerous
road.
Oncoming
trucks
scared
the
daylights
out
of
me.
But
I
drive
the
new,
wider
highway
every
work
day
from
Eagan
to
Downtown
and
back,
and
the
difference
in
speed
between
the
vast
majority
of
the
traffic
and
those
few
that
hold
to
35
is
dangerous.
Especially
those
"left-lane
vigilantes"
that
think
they
are
doing
the
world
a
favor
by
enforcing
the
limit.
Now
I
read
that
there
is
some
group
that
wants
it
lowered
to
*below*
35
around
the
train
stations.
Give
me
a
break
-
I'd
get
rear-ended!
There
are
too
many
cars
on
the
road
to
play
political
games
with
my
safety.
-
Lorri
Sullivan
Top
of
page
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(10/30/02)
The
35MPH speed limit is nothing new. Hwy 55
was always presented with this speed when
the plans were released for the road.
See the June 1993 issue of Longfellow Nokomis
Messenger, and a year before that in 1992,
when the current plans were first presented.
The 35MPH speed limit was specifically addressed.
Even in the Location and Design Study in
March 1981, there was a 40MPH speed limit
on the road.
Many groups have fought Hwy 55 from the
beginning, to keep it from becoming a freeway
like 35W, as it was proposed to be in the
late 1950's. 35MPH speed limits was an issue
won by local area resident groups.
That's why the speed limit is there, not
because of temporary construction.
- Tom Holtzleiter
Top of page
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(10/30/02)
I
think it's ridiculous for the city to try
to keep an artificially low speed limit.
People are smart enough to recognize the
speed the road is designed for, and they
will mostly drive at that speed, regardless
of what the signs say. That is clearly what
people are already doing.
Trying to enforce a lower limit just creates
contempt for the law--and justifiably so!
- Tim Bonham Top of page
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(10/29/02)
A number of streets in Minneapolis and St.
Paul have a 35 mile-per-hour speed limit.
Portland and Park Avenues are examples. These
are ordinary residential streets; whereas
Hiawatha has limited access and thus can safely
handle greater speeds.
The 35 mph limit on Hiawatha originally was
a compromise to placate opponents who objected
to a higher speed limit. This compromise (along
with others) enabled construction to proceed
after decades of dilly-dallying.
Now that practical experience shows no severe
traffic accident incidence when drivers are
driving 45 and 50 and 55 mph on Hiawatha Avenue
as they do every day, it makes sense to raise
the speed limit to 45 or even 50 mph.
When the Hiawatha LRT is operating, we will
need faster traffic on Hiawatha Avenue to
offset the delays caused by LRT traffic controls.
We are wise to amend our ways as circumstance
change.
- Herb Weyrauch
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