Construction Adventures

All of us in Saint Paul are coping with construction adventures for the building of light rail into Saint Paul. This is to open in 2014, so we have yet awhile to cope. The above photo comes from 4th Str.in Saint Paul and was sent to me via an e-mail from the Metropolitan Council. I happened onto the same scene today and was surprised to see the tracks in place.

There is work going on too to renovate the Union Station. Part of this work closed Sibley Street, which is the uphill street I use to go from the river front to downtown Saint Paul and then to work. This street was to be open by September 1, but the April flood with the continued high water all summer delayed this project a bit. Meanwhile I have to take an alternate route that is much more congested and most importantly takes me by the intersection with the Xcel Center all the time. This is where many sporting events take place, the most recent being the national woman's gymnastics meet. It is hard to turn right on this corner in congestion with many "lost" pedestrians at the same time trying to cross the street.

It will be good when it's all done. Many are opposed to light rail, but the first part has ridership beyond the wildest expectations.