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PLANNING COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING HELD FEBRUARY 20, 1991 <br />to west and west to east. Speed may not be our responsibility. <br />Whether it takes ten or twenty minutes to get through Orono, if <br />you can it safely, then that is the point. <br />If we accept our responsibility as citizens of the State and <br />feel that we must let people get through safely, aid yet we <br />maintain our integrity position, which is that there would be no <br />additional corridor in Crono, then logi <br />be worked out with e.xisting Highway 1.1." <br />ally sometnin neons <br />Sally Hauser, said, "I chose to <br />a rural community. My husband work‘ <br />not want to live there. It is my 0^. <br />wish to live far west a-id work in <br />e in Orono because it is <br />\rden H.lls, but we did <br />.1, that those people who <br />Minneapolis can m.;ke tliat <br />choice. If they wish to get to work quickly, tney can live near <br />35W :n the city. Ttie people living Orono chose to do so because <br />of the environmental characteristics. I have a oroposal that <br />I've not yet heard discussed by anyone. An mention nreviously, <br />there are two groups of people wishing to get to ■ different <br />places. One group wants to get to the D-akotas and o .ners live in <br />the immediate western suburbs. The solution for traffic going to <br />and from the Dakotas, you bring 494 north to Highway 5 >. For <br />those living in the western suburbs, a gentle upgrade of the <br />existing Highway Id, using reversible lanes, would solve the <br />traffic congestion. If there are four lanes, three lanes could <br />head east in the morning and three lanes heading west in the <br />evening. ” <br />Bob B.'.ester f eld slated that he previously resided ii <br />Willmar. He said, "V-/estern Minnesota is very well serv>ed by <br />several major routes, 9<, 169 through Mankato, Highv/ay 1^, and <br />Highway 7. Highway 7 lends itself much better for upgrading and <br />•widening. I agree that we are dealing with two different traffic <br />groups. There Is speculation that economies of western cities <br />would improve if more roads serve that area, but that is jjst <br />speculation. I think we need to address t'ne major issue for <br />local traffic which is getting through Long Lake and Maple Plain. <br />I personally would rather take an additional five minutes to get <br />through Long Lake than have the entire road torn up." <br />Cohen stated that he would like to know h'lw .many of the <br />persons present prefer to have nothing done at all. <br />One resident asked why it would not be possible to have one <br />lane of traffic heading east and west elevated over the railroad <br />tracks. He said, "There would be no properties or businesses <br />lost, yet it would alleviate some of the congestion." <br />Another gentlemen seated that it seems the consensus of the <br />residents is that something needs to be done, but that there only <br />be an upgrade and utilization of existing east/west roads. <br />- 3 -