Alumni Association Home > Past Issues > 2008 > July-August 2008

While the University of Minnesota could function without light-rail transit, the broader community would benefit from LRT through campus. And so the U’s Board of Regents voted 11–1 in June to support the Central Corridor LRT line at-grade on Washington Avenue. The regents did so for the good of the state, but it was an extremely difficult vote.

The U and the Alumni Association wanted LRT to tunnel under Washington. When this didn’t prove feasible, our eyes turned to the Northern Alignment through Dinkytown. A study funded by the University, however, showed that this route didn’t meet federal funding guidelines.

LRT down Washington has the green light for now, but more tough votes lie ahead for the regents. Washington Avenue would be transformed into a transit mall with trains, buses, and bikes. University President Bob Bruininks said that when LRT comes through campus, he wants the University left improved in its wake.

Regent John Frobenius said he was not convinced the safety of thousands of patients coming from across the state to the University Medical Center has been taken into account. That has to be considered in the next steps, he said, and noted that the resolution passed by the regents has checkpoints, “and we have to have the guts to stop the train if this doesn’t work.”

Regent David Metzen’s main concern was where the 25,000 automobiles that use Washington daily will go and who will pay to reroute traffic to other roads around campus. Everyone agrees this project has far more mitigation costs than money to pay for them. Regent Venora Hung, who cast the dissenting vote, believed LRT could seriously impact the U’s resources.

“Mitigation measures” are improvements needed to alleviate traffic and other environmental impacts. These improvements are necessary for the line to function, but who will pay has not been determined. “Betterments” are improvements that are not critical but are important for traffic flow or desirable for aesthetic purposes. It’s crucial that the memoranda of understanding among the University, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Hennepin and Ramsey counties address the mitigation costs. Simply put, this academic institution can’t be burdened with mitigation costs.

Regents chair Patricia Simmons noted that the resolution approved by the regents provides two important assurances. Should LRT at-grade on Washington ultimately prove infeasible, the U urges all project partners to remain open to considering other route options. And the memoranda of understanding and all other agreements necessary to complete the LRT line through campus shall be subject to the approval of the regents. Without it, the project doesn’t go forward.

The Board of Regents has LRT at the top of its agenda, as does the Alumni Association. We’ll continue to provide the alumni viewpoint as we track this nearly $1 billion project that will impact our campus for generations.