Our club member Sara Edwards introduced Alex Burns, who works with an advocacy group know as Our Streets MPLS.

 

Their website is www.ourstreetsmpls.org (http://www.ourstreetsmpls.org) and Alex's email is alex@ourstreetsmpls.org (mailto:alex@ourstreetsmpls.org) Alex has a fine background as an environmental and social justice advocate, and had previously worked for the Nat'l Park Service, and as a staffer at the Minnesota Legislature. His group is involved in advocating for improvements in the very complex urban transportation and social environment that we have in the Twin Cites, especially the inner city and inner ring suburb areas. He talked particularly about "Rethinking I-94."

 

Our Streets MPLS is proposing a "Twin Cities Boulevard" that would replace the I-94 corridor between Mpls and St. Paul. I-94 construction was completed in the year 1964, with the idea that it had a 60-70 year life span. The construction cut through various traditional neighborhoods, and there have been controversies involving redlining, traffic congestion, pollution, heat domes, etc. The Boulevard would involve more pedestrian and two-wheel traffic, in addition to modern light rail and bus systems, and would give local neighborhoods more access.

 

These ideas have to be balanced with the massive need to transport huge amounts of passenger and freight traffic, in a metro area that has continued to grow steadily.

 

However, more working from home since the pandemic is helping situations somewhat. Alex's talk highlighted all these various complicated issues, and his organization continues to make its opinions known to MNDOT and the Minnesota state legislature.