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http://www.startribune.com/opinion/editorials/83682617.htm1?page=l&c=y Page 2 of 2 � <br /> � <br /> .{ -�-�"-��,��� <br /> � T �A Point your <br /> St�rTr�b�a �e���� '•+;, �. ma�ilebrovJsert4 ` <br /> hftp�://startribune,com <br /> it stren�then incentives to locate jobs near- <br /> Yet the Met Council continues to encourage transit. It's not that he disputes Brookings' <br /> 70 percent of new arowth on fresh around at "decentralizing" assessment. He doesn't. But <br /> the suburban edge and only 30 percent in he says that political reality prevents the <br /> developed areas with infrastructure already council from emphasizing infill. The <br /> in place. Those numbers should be reversed. expanding suburbs at the metro ed�e want to <br /> Our growth pattern is more akin to the failed continue expanding, and flley are tl�e tail that <br /> cities of the Rust Belt than the attractive wags the dog. Metro governance is a delicate <br /> places that the Twin Cities likes to consider thin�, as Bell pointed out on Monday. It <br /> its peers. The cei�tral districts of Denver, teeters between what's best for the metro as <br /> Seattle and Portland, for example, have been a whole and the perceived self-interest of <br /> attracting a metrowide share of individual suburbs -- and self-interest has <br /> redevelopment well above the share of been on a roll. Decentralization, <br /> Minneapolis and St. PauL (See chart). unfortunately, has become who we are. <br /> The dispersal of jobs away from downtowns Our best hope, perhaps, is that the market is <br /> is especially worrisome because it forces shifting toward a more benign �rowth on the <br /> auto dependence and longer commutes. metro's outer limits. Large households, lar�e <br /> When jobs were still eapanding and transit lots and lengthy commutes are on the � <br /> emerging(2002-2008), the western suburbs decline; compact communities, transit <br /> added 24 times more office space than ridership and walkabie neighborhoods are o <br /> transit-friendly downtown Minneapolis. The n the rise, even on the suburban ed,e. A <br /> Hiawatha line may have attracted housing tight state budget will limit the expansive <br /> (7,700 units by Bell's count), but not jobs. road projects that encourage sprawl. And <br /> The acres of empty land abutting the rail line development, when it resumes, may be rated <br /> in downtown Minneapolis are symbolic of the -- at least nominally -- on carbon impact. <br /> council's failure to generate efficient land <br /> use. One way or another,the Twin Cities metro <br /> needs to strengthen its coi-e if it wants to <br /> Bell resists any plea that the cou��cil -- like re;ain its competitive edge. It needs more <br /> some tra��sit agencies elsewhere-- get into Pilates and less middle-age spread. <br /> the land development business, or even that <br /> Advertisement <br /> �,. ;. _ _ __ _.. <br /> z����„�,� + ���,�_ ""- � _ �. <br /> ���,r� <br /> ��� ��''� �� . �ENIV1�'� JaA l�' �IG <br /> `ci r.r�l.��.�� . <br /> °ti��^�: , � � ; � THE N10S7 PE11�NY SLL)TS� <br /> .�� 4.� �;�� � �yS�;� �AKE- <br /> �'+ r <br /> t <br /> .. .. GASiMO•KOY�4 <br /> o�u�.aaw�eaao,osn�.opcew�.wuo�u.so..:o�.wr� mystictake.CC33fT1 <br /> — —� <br /> Print Powered By �-€# �,-n�r�-�ics <br /> http://www.startribune.com/templates/fdcp?12656�3116690 2/8/2010 <br />