Progress on the Interstate 35W St. Anthony Falls Bridge project continues, despite days of below-zero temperatures, reports Kevin Gutknecht, public affairs coordinator.

Crews last week completed drilling the final shafts for the main bridge foundations. Drilling of shafts will continue on the north side for a few more weeks as the foundation for the Second Street bridges are completed.

Significant work on the project is also occurring above ground, Gutknecht said. Piers are taking shape on both sides of the river for the two parallel bridges (one northbound and one southbound) that will cross the river.  

Some of the work in the week ahead includes pouring concrete footings, building forms and placing rebar and excavating on the bluff on the north side of the river in preparation for building the forms for concrete. Crews are also continuing casting yard work in three of four heated sheds. They plan to pour concrete for four pre-cast concrete segments, which will be used to form the main spans of the river. By the end of the month, crews plan to cast up to five segments each week.

The project team hosts Sidewalk Superintendent Talks on Saturdays at 11 a.m. to keep the public informed of the project's progress. Project representatives lead tour groups across the 10th Avenue Bridge overlooking the construction site, provide an overview of the project and answer questions. Signs describing the design-build process also have been mounted to the railing along the 10th Avenue Bridge.

Information also is available through touch-screen kiosks located in the lobby at Mill City Museum and the main mall of the Minneapolis airport. The kiosks provide a variety of information about the bridge, including a photo gallery, a link to the project’s webcam, an explanation of the schedule and animations showing the finished bridge from the vantage point of a helicopter, a boat and a car.

Information is also available on the project Web site at www.mndot.gov or by calling the I-35W Bridge Hotline at 612/236-6901.  

Maintaining “the historic level of funding for transportation” proposed in the capital investments bill was one of several priorities Gov. Tim Pawlenty outlined in the 2008 State of the State address he delivered Feb. 13 from St. Cloud.

“We all agree our future depends upon a modern and efficient transportation system,” Pawlenty said. “We’ve made strides in this area, including investing more in roads over the last five years than ever before and developing the Northstar rail that we hope will eventually reach Saint Cloud.”

He noted that the bonding proposal he announced in mid-January includes four times more funding for local roads and bridges than ever before. The proposal calls for $416 million for transportation, including $225 million for local bridges, $70 million to advance the Central Corridor light rail project, $55 million for Minnesota’s share of the Urban Partnership Agreement and $30 million for local roads.  

“Strong differences of opinion exist regarding transportation funding. But we all agree on one thing—we cannot continue the stalemate that has existed for three decades,” Pawlenty said. “I remain hopeful we can overcome the politics and rhetoric of this debate and pass a bipartisan transportation bill this session.”

For the complete text of the governor’s speech, click on 2008 State of the State Address.

By Craig Wilkins

The use of park-and-ride lots in the Twin Cities metropolitan area showed a sharp increase during 2007.

Overall, use rate reached more than 10 percent higher than during the previous year, said Jennifer Conover, the Metro District’s Team Transit project manager.

Conover said the increase was fueled in part by new facilities, added capacity at existing lots and increased demand. Some of the higher demand, she said, stems from commuters who altered their travel after the collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis.

Some facilities on commuter routes directly affected by the collapse recorded increases of nearly 15 per cent, Conover said.

The average annual increase in use is about four percent.

Increased use of the park-and-ride lots also reflects a sharp upswing in the use of public transit last year.

In 2007, overall bus ridership increased by 5.1 percent to 67.9 million rides, said Jill Hentges, a community outreach worker with Metro Transit.

Hentges serves with Conover on Team Transit.

In addition, she said the number of riders using the Hiawatha light rail transit line increased by 1.5 percent during 2007, bringing total ridership to 9.1 million.

Park-and-ride facilities range from shared parking lots at churches and shopping centers to multi-story garages that include bike lockers, passenger shelters and electronic messages about bus arrival and departure times.

Capacity was increased by about 11 percent last year, Conover said, with construction of several new lots and expansion of some existing facilities.

There are now 74 park and ride lots with a total capacity of 14,026 spaces.

Citing a study done by Metro Transit, Conover said trends indicate steady growth in demand for park-and-ride facilities.

“The study shows the transit system’s park and ride lots continue to attract a significant number of commuters from beyond Metro Transit’s taxing district and increasing numbers of long-distance commuters as well,” she said.

Garbed in a variety of swim wear, safety vests and assorted hats, 12 intrepid employees from District 6 plunged into a very chilly Foster Arends Lake in Rochester to raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics athletes.

The Feb. 9 event was part of the Polar Bear Plunge, a statewide campaign to support the Special Olympics.

Employees dipping into the icy lake netted more than $4,100 in donations. Jeff Rieder, a transportation specialist, organized the district’s participation in the event.

“We had a blast,” Rieder said. “We raised money for a great charity, got a little positive PR for Mn/DOT and had a great time in the process.”

Judy Ellison, formerly the transit planning director, was appointed as the acting director of the Office of Transit.

Her appointment began Feb. 11. Ellison will serve until a permanent director is chosen.

She succeeds Donna Allan, who retired Feb. 8.

Ellison joined Mn/DOT in 1989. Ellison has held several positions in Transit; she was promoted to planning director in 1997.

Previously, Ellison served as the director of the Moorhead Area Transit System and on the staff of the Regional Transit Board.

A Moorhead native, Ellison holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Moorhead State University.

She can be reached at 651/366-4168.

Linda Hinrichs was appointed to succeed Maggie Cappacosa as the training director with the Office of Human Resources and Administration.

Cappacosa retired in 2007.

Before accepting her new position, Hinrichs served as the office’s employee development supervisor and manager of the Mn/DOT Training and Conference Center in Arden Hills.

Hinrichs joined the department in 1988 working primarily in employee development and training.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in management from the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph.

Hinrichs will remain at her office at the training center. She can be reached at 651/366-5244 and by e-mail.