The Newsstand

Central Corridor project delayed due to noise concerns

Updated: Tue, 1/20/2009 &mdash 9:48pm by Briana Bierschbach

Construction on the Central Corridor light-rail project has been pushed back from spring 2010 to late summer next year, according to MPR.

 

Minnesota Public Radio has raised similar concerns as the University of Minnesota, regarding the impact of light rail noise and vibrations. The Central Corridor light rail would run next to MPR's broadcast headquarters on Cedar Street in St. Paul.

 

MPR is seeking a mitigation plan from the Metropolitan Council by March of this year, but these plans are pushing back construction from spring 2010 to late summer.

 

The University of Minnesota expressed similar vibration concerns for its research facilities that dot the proposed line. Vice President of the University Kathleen O'Brien told MPR that the University's current plan is to have faculty  review mitigation plans, and deterimine the impact it will have on their research.

 

"Cancer, heart disease, Alzheimers, biofuels, solar energy, nanotechnology -- all of the major issues facing our society -- renewable energy, health care, the prevention of illness and the safety of our community. This is the university's job, the research mission of the university, and we're trying to insure that we can continue doing our job for the state,"  O'Brien told MPR. 

 

1 Comment

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For those worried about

Submitted by Clark Morris (not verified) on Wed, 01/21/2009 - 1:09pm.

For those worried about vibrations from light rail, I suggest a visit to the Much Music TV studio in Toronto, Ontario, Canada where streetcars pass in front of the ground floor studio every TWO minutes in each direction during rush hours. Other TV and radio stations in the CHUM family share the building on Queen Street. In Brussels, Belgium at least one line passes as close to a church as any on Cedar Street. The church is probably far older than any on Cedar Street and the Light Rail or streetcar line probably is over 60 years old. Streetcar lines passed in front of churches in most US cities including Pittsburgh and probably both of the twin cities. If the buildings can handle the vibrations from buses and tractor trailer trucks, certainly they can handle the better controlled vibrations of the Light Rail. This is not a new technology that has never been implemented. This like the automobile is the evolution of a technology that has evolved since the 1890's.