Hey, I lived there, explained Met Council Chairman Peter Bell
Met Council President Peter Bell indicated he perfectly understands the feelings of the St. Paul Rondo community along University Avenue, where the Central Corridor light rail line is planned to run, and concerns about the impact the system can have on local business and residents.
“(Interstate) 94 took my house out,” said Bell to the Senate Transportation Committee, referring to the massive impact the construction of I-94 had on Rondo decades ago.
The interstate gutted Rondo.
Bell’s recollections were sparked by Sen. Mee Moua, DFL-St. Paul, who warned Bell and the transportation committee that they shouldn’t be dismissive of the worries of the community along University.
These people came in when University was the “pits,” said Moua, staked their fortunes on improving the neighborhood and did it, she explained.
The coming of light rail may be an economic boom to the area, but Moua questioned how many of the local residents and businesses would actually benefit.
But Bell insisted community concerns are taken seriously.
Indeed, the Met Council will be announcing more steps in the near future that it is taking to protect the University Avenue neighborhood, he explained.
But Bell also explained the Met Council cannot carry out all the recommendations that it has received from the neighborhood.
Bell was optimistic about the future of the light rail system.
President Obama has slate the Central Corridor line $45 million in his transportation budget, said Bell. Of 35 new start and small start transit projects across the United States, Central Corridor was rated No. 1, he said.
