7 replies to this topic

[Minneapolitan]

The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) is offering a $1 billion transporation grant that will be split among as many as five cities.  The goal of the project is to get cities to utilize the “four T’s”: tolling, transit, telecommuting and technology.  Of the 28 applicant cities, 9 finalists have been chosen, including Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Miami, Minneapolis, New York City, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle.

Minneapolis has a plan that would create a bus rapid-transit (BRT) lane along I-35W from 46th Street into downtown Minneapolis within three years.  Without the grant, the Minnesota Department of Transportation wouldn’t likely start work on a BRT lane until sometime between 2023 and 2030.

[95-Souf]

Humm,. sounds interesting. Miami could use a few dollars given we just approved a 1 Billion dollar Port Tunnell from Watson Island, to Port of Miami.    

[Minneapolitan]

The Transportation Secretary Mary Peters named the Twin Cities as one of five recipients earlier this week.

According to the Star Tribune, "Minneapolis and six southern suburbs will get $133.3 million, mostly for installing high-occupancy toll lanes and laying the groundwork for bus rapid-transit service along Interstate 35W between Lakeville and downtown Minneapolis.  The grant will also expedite the reconstruction of Marquette and 2nd Avenues as the primary funnel for bus traffic downtown, while providing real-time transit arrival information."

New York, Miami, San Francisco and Seattle received the other grants.

[Raintree21]

What are the names of the original applicants?

[Minneapolitan]

I'm not sure Raintree21.

Here's the amount each city will be receiving:
Miami, $62.9 million;
Minneapolis area, $133.3 million;
New York City, $354.5 million;
San Francisco, $158.7 million;
Seattle area (King County), $138.7 million;

[blueradon]

It's typical that the big cities get all the money - they need to set up grant programs in these amounts for metro areas that are approximately in the 1-2 million range.  Sort of an unfair advantage to smaller metro's that can't get the funding that big cities always get.

Beyond that, cool for the cities that are getting the money - at least someone is getting something from the government these days.

[Spartan]

Does anyone have more information on the details of each city's project/plans?

[nashvillwill]

I'm guessing that NYC will use this money for the 2nd Ave. subway line that is under construction.