Updates all around!

This neglected blog needs an update, so here goes:

Good things keep happening! We had a great event back on Sept 19th. Thanks to all that attended the 42nd and Cedar cleanup AND the Linestriping BBQ. Special thanks to Lamont Cleveland for providing such fantastic BBQ (pulled pork and jerk chicken, 2 kinds!!).

We've been chugging away with our reporting at SeeClickFix. I'd like to remind folks that IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE RELATED TO THE ROAD, YOU CAN REPORT IT DIRECTLY TO MINNEAPOLIS THROUGH THIS WEBSITE. You can also find a portal to the CAU profile at our website: http://www.cedaraveunited.org/seeclickfix.html

Cedar Ave Pace car program is looming on the horizon. I will be giving updates on this at the meeting. I'd also like feedback and ideas as to how we can get this to spread into the surrounding neighborhoods. The notion of bumper stickers/static stickers has been brought up. THese could be available to private vehicles and possibly commercial vehicles.... we have made contact with one company that is willing to be a GIANT 18 WHEEL pace car for us; Freightmasters of Eagan. If you feel like sending them a thank-you e-mail, I'm sure they would love to hear it. Having a goliath pace car will be fantastic since it's tough to argue with something that size!

We've been kicking around the idea of creating road signs in the style of the old Burma Shave for a while. In our upcoming meeting we will be discussing this. We will need the following

• materials; wood, tools, paint, stencils etc
  
• rhymes (although we have MANY to work with currently)
• yard, we can't do this without participating yards, preferably next to each other
• crafty/artistic volunteers to help create the signs

We will also pick out some dates to work on this in the following month. Let's get these together before the snow flies! Even if we have to take them down in the winter, we will have them ready in the spring!! Won't they look great in those new Blvd gardens that we can all start next year??

So that's it for now. remember that there is an upcoming meeting on Wednesday, Oct 7th at 6:30. We'll be where we always are, at the Sibley Park Rec Center... here's a map: http://www.cedaraveunited.org/meetings.html

Thanks all, SEE YOU SOON!

Success!! x 1

Hello All,

At the last meeting I introduced a concept that has been going around the country, neighborhood pace cars. While I like the idea, it would be difficult to implement on Cedar because of the nature of our road. We are considered residential, but we have a number of businesses that rely on delivery services and shipments. So we have to think of ways to slow traffic without sacrificing our business' lifelines. We also have a million billion folks out there that would just as soon run a 'pace car' off the road rather then follow them (doesn't stop me though :)

Also, the pace car program only works if enough people sign up. So I though 'we need more pace cars'. Then I had another idea, 'we need BIGGER pace cars'.

Our businesses will ALWAYS need deliveries, and the shipping companies rely on our businesses for THEIR business... SO, I wrote a letter to one of the most noticed speeders and heaviest vehicles on Cedar Ave; Freightmasters. I have had many mornings in my garden spent shaking my fist at an 18 wheeler barreling down the road, spraying rocks and gravel... or waking up in the middle of the night to a jake brake shaking my walls, only to peer out the window and see the familiar red lettering on the white truck. I said that we are trying to improve our environment, we have had complaints about them. I explained that we could use thier help slowing traffic and that we could work together and everyone could win. I had my doubts. I didn't know if I would hear back... but I did, and right away.

This is what I got back:

Hi Will,

Thank you for introducing us to your community action group. It certainly sounds like a worthwhile effort.

We’ll get the word out to all of our driver employees to be particularly mindful of traffic laws when they need to move through your neighborhoods, and we’ll try to avoid unnecessary movements through that area.

Sincerely,

Tim Beltz

Tim, THANK YOU SO MUCH! I look forward to the big white trucks helping us calm our area. We know you are integral to the fabric of our area. By slowing down a bit you will lower your impact, and help us tame traffic in the process. And honestly, who's going to try to run a SEMI off the road! Bravo wonderful giant pace truck! Bravo! The next time you drive through our neighborhood (slowly) we will be waving and smiling... not that other thing we do.

I have started writing to other companies to see if they will also participate. We'll see how it goes, but I condsider this a tenetive success. Thanks Tim!

In the mean time, please consider becoming a pace car. As this idea progresses we may decide to make spiffy 'Cedar Ave United PACE CAR' bumper stickers! Any thoughts? Any specific companies that I should write too?

Thanks all!

Will

PARTY!! etc...

Dear Cedar Ave United members, friends, supporters and neighbors,

This upcoming Saturday, the 19th of September we will be holding our first public event, well, two of them actually… And you’re ALL invited:

12:00 Noon: 42^nd and Cedar Pickup and brush up. We will be pairing with Standish Ericsson Neighborhood Association and the City of Minneapolis Great Streets program to help clean up this neglected intersection. We will be clearing away litter, pulling weeds and just spiffing it up in general. This is a public event, everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend! SENA will be providing pick up materials and garbage disposal. Come out and show your support for our local businesses. Let’s do our best to Make it clean and keep it green!

Cedar Ave United t-shirts will be available for purchase, or you can show your support and solidarity by wearing something green!

4:00 pm: After the clean-up we will be migrating 3 blocks to the south to 4500 Cedar Ave where we will raise a toast to our newly painted parking lanes. We will be holding a pot luck picnic in my front yard! Our resident pit master will be treating us to his famous BBQ cooked over an open fire! Again, all are welcome. Just bring a dish to share, a donation for the BBQ supplies and your own beverage if you want more than water or soda.

This will be an informal affair and we hope that City and County officials will feel free to attend and enjoy the afternoon with us!

Both events are open to all! A quick RSVP to this e-mail address would be appreciated in order to plan for the BBQ.

So stop by, say hi, meet a few of your neighbors and enjoy the day, and our newly improved roadway!

Looks like it’s going to be a WONDERFUL day, hope to see you all there!

Will

4500 Cedar Ave.

cedartraffic@gmail.com

Mondays

I have managed to use this blog as a relatively neutral posting location... aside from the fact that there's not much neutral about the cause. But today I have a personal post that ties in with the main cause. So here goes

Dear Angry Dude in the Subaru,

I know I got in your way this morning, but I'm not sorry. I saw you speeding (like REALLY speeding) and just thought of all the kids, pets, wildlife, cyclists... and PEOPLE that live on this block. The thought of a dented bumper really didn't bother me when compared to the thought of someone smashed trying to get across the road, or get into their car. I've got insurance on my car, but you can't fix dead.

I pulled out in front of you, it's true. Granted, you had half a block to slow down. I'm not sorry that I got in your way, had you been traveling 30mph you wouldn't even have noticed me. It's really scary that you almost hit that parked car when you stepped on the gas and pulled out to pass me, but in that parked cars defense, it was in the parking lane. (that's what those solid white stripes are)

I saw you take a photo of my plates, and I saw you make a quick phone call. It would be a shame if you called 911, you'd be wasting their time. I don't think that the city would side with you on this one, even if you were late to work. I didn't even bother to get your plates. Usually I call in folks with road rage but these days I'm sick to death of drivers like you, and honestly your antics weren't that memorable compared to some.

You have helped me grow. You made me think of trying a new campaign for Cedar Ave United, or rather, an adaptation of a popular campaign: 'Be a Pace Car, not a Race Car'. You got me thinking that if everyone who lived near Cedar made a pledge to go 30 or less that maybe folks like you wouldn't use Cedar as a highway anymore. There's thousands of us, and we're all responsible for what happens on our streets.

So grow up, and slow down. Accept that it's going to take 10 minutes to get to the highway no matter who you are behind. You'll feel better and live longer.

-Will




I hope he reads this. I don't know what else to do about these folks. The city doesn't seem to take traffic issues seriously. Enforcement is so expensive and making it effective would mean 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We can paint as many lines as we want, but it's only going to work on a few people, the ones with a conscience (that's all of you good folks, or you likely wouldn't be interested in this blog :)

We need some pace cars. We need a lot of them. We need some brave folks who don't mind being screamed at or on the receiving end of misplaced rage. I've been setting my cruise control at 30 for the last 2 years. It's easy and you don't have to worry about speeding. Besides, if you go 30, you WILL hit every green light. It's really surprising!

If we get enough of our friends and neighbors to subscribe to this hot new fad, maybe we can calm things culturally. A Culture of Calming. (Hey, that's fun to say) If we can slow things to the speed limit maybe folks won't use Cedar as a shortcut, maybe folks will end up looking around and paying more attention (maybe). Maybe they'll see all the folks that live on Cedar and rely on the street to get safely from place to place (by foot, car, bike, bus etc)

I would like to talk about this a little at our next meeting, WHICH IS THIS WEDNESDAY, SEPT 6TH. See the website for directions www.cedaraveunited.org

Hope to see you all there. Drive safely and remember, Pace Car not Race Car

Announcement from Aug 17th meeting, and other stuff

Hello Cedar Ave United,

I want to thank everyone that attended our most recent meeting (last Monday) and remind everyone that we will revert to our FIRST WEDNESDAY schedule starting on the 2ND OF SEPTEMBER.

For those of you that missed the meeting with County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, the minutes will be out soon and posted on the website (http://www.cedaraveunited.org/meetings.html)

We have created a few committees: Executive Committee, for people interested in the operations and organizing of CAU; Yard Sign committee, for folks who would like to create and distribute CAU poetic yard signs (see blog posting: http://cedaravenueunited.blogspot.com/2009/08/use-burma-shave.html ); and a Line Striping Party Committee, to plan our first big getting-things-done celebration. if any of these interest you please e-mail me. We can always use another set of helping hands.

We are also in need of folks interested in cleaning up the intersection of 42nd and Cedar. This event will be held in conjunction with SENA (Standish Ericsson Neighborhood Associate) and Mpls Great Streets Program. If you are interested in participating or organizing please e-mail me ASAP. Projects will involve: garbage pick-up, weeding, painting and more! We're going to make this place SPARKLE! We are hoping to get a date picked out in the next few days, so be sure to e-mail soon. I will e-mail again about the event as it develops.

CEDAR AVE UNITED T-SHIRTS ARE HERE!!! They look great! Thanks to Michelle at www.Dragonflypromo.com for having these made. Nice bright 'road sign' green with CAU logo on the front, web address on the back. They are $12. quantities are limited so e-mail me today if you are interested.

Remember to keep an eye on the website and blog for updates and events. And remember that if you have issues related to traffic, safety and environment on Cedar you can report them using the See Click Fix tool at http://www.cedaraveunited.org/seeclickfix.html . Your report will go to the city of Minneapolis 311, and you will get an e-mail response almost immediately!

Good work everyone, lets keep it rolling!

Will

4500 Cedar

Tonight's the night

Tonight is our meeting with Commissioner Peter McLaughlin.
I've been putting together some questions in the little time between the 2 jobs I work. I'm all about diplomacy, but we need to start asking the tough questions... so here goes. I will try to get these in at some point tonight. What we need to hear from commissioner McLaughlin is that Hen County is ready to commit to the safety issues on Cedar Ave. We really would be an easy area to SHOWCASE THE HENNEPIN COUNTY COMPLETE STREETS POLICY. A high traffic area, with thriving businesses etc etc. we will always be a busy area, making it better will be the most effective advertising the county could do, while simultaneously improving the living environment for tens of thousands of people living in South Minneapolis.

So here are the questions I've worked up. We'll see what gets covered tonight.

Cedar Ave Future; a growing problem:


Cedar Avenue Transitway

The Cedar Avenue Corridor connects Lakeville to Bloomington. Forecasts indicate the traffic at CR-42 and Cedar Ave. will almost double from 70,000 vehicles per day to 130,000 vehicles by 2030. (According to Dakota County: http://www.co.dakota.mn.us/EnvironmentRoads/Transit/PublicTransportation/CedarAve.htm)

This figure is used in the language for the Cedar Ave Transit Corridor project. Much of this traffic will stay on 77 and 62, but many will choose Cedar Ave within Minneapolis, adding to the already poor conditions.

Parts of Cedar Avenue carry over 20,000 cars. That's only 1/3 less than Hiawatha, a 4 lane, 45mph express roadway. Hiawatha accommodates the excessive noise with sound barriers and WIDE spacing between cars and homes. Cedar is not able to do that.

Why has Hennepin Co not made any plans to deal with this staggering prediction?

The Population of Minneapolis is lower now than it was 20 years ago. (even in 1950! according to Wikipedia census records) Cedar ave is, by definition, an 'A' Minor arterial designed to service the immediate neighborhoods and short trips. NOT serve as a major throughway/hiway. With less people, why is it busier than EVER. Assuming that the designation was made (back in the 1960's) with housing and environment in mind, why has it been allowed to spiral out of control?

Our homes are not zoned any differently on Cedar than any other residential roads.

*Currently the vibration is compromising the integrity of the plaster (cracking and shaking loose) in MY home. I can't imagine I'm the only one! A recent addition made to the home was done with an NRP loan, the damage being done by the shaking will negate any value added to the property... improving house stock is the main reason that these loans are given, stabilizing the environment might be a better solution. Bottom line; these environmental issues will continue to erode the tax base in the corridor, making a lot of people VERY angry when the property taxes increase about 12% in the next two years.

Reasons for an infrastructure improvement:

Noise levels on Cedar Ave greatly exceed state (65 db(A)) and national standards. A recent preliminary noise reading measured off peak traffic noise at 73 db(A). This measurement shows that perceived noise for homes, businesses and parks along Cedar is nearly TWICE the state limit, and subsequently TWICE the maximum airport noise allowance based on class action lawsuits.

The major factors in traffic noise are speed and vehicle composition. According to Jim Grube at Hen. Co., and based on a very recent test, the traffic routinely exceeds 35 mph. Based on recent observations by residents and the Minneapolis speed wagon, it is not unusual to see vehicles in excess of 50 mph.

A dollar amount can be applied to the loss in property values along the corridor based on miles per hour over 30 and/or db(A) over 65.

But:

more vehicles = high noise levels

fast traffic = high noise levels

reduced vehicles = higher traffic speeds
so again:
fast traffic = high noise levels


It’s a catch 22; the only way to fix this, realistically and cost effectively, is with physical improvements.


How do we reduce all these factors to bring Cedar back within compliant noise levels?

It will only take a small reduction in traffic speed to bring the noise within acceptable levels. Strangely enough, 30 mph is the speed below which traffic noise would likely be below 65 db(A). It's ALSO the fastest speed at which a pedestrian would expect to survive if hit (still injured, just 60% or so less likely to die)

-Effective enforcement must be 24-7; Minneapolis is not willing/able to do this.

-We need an infrastructure that will reduce speeds.

-We need elements that will allow residents to cross the road to access parks, businesses and transit.

-CAN WE PIGGY-BACK PHYSICAL CHANGES WITH UPCOMING AND ONGOING UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS?

-curb bumpouts, protected parking, raised crosswalks etc.


That's what I've got so far. I certainly hope that we can approach some of these topics this evening.

Use Burma Shave!

a few of us met last week to discuss how the Minneapolis Great Streets program and structure could be adapted to our mission here at Cedar Ave United. One thing discussed in Great Streets efforts (or so I'm told) is marketing area businesses by making signage... Since most of our area on Cedar is residential (most, but by NO means all!) this leads us to the yard sign.

Minnie, one of our members, dabbles in poetry. She says she writes 'little ditties'. They're really great! She suggested that we take a Burma Shave approach. I didn't quite know what she meant by that. but I soon found out.

Burma Shave is known for it's unique advertising approach comprised of series of signs. Some of you are probably familiar with this, but it was a little before my time:) The 5 or 6 signs would fit together to make a rhyme. Motorists would drive past these signs and 'get the message'. The campaign was wildly successful. She loaned me the book. I read the whole thing. It's pretty good!

Stuff like:

In this vale
of Toil and Sin
your head grows bald
but Not your chin
use Burma Shave

so here is a witty ditty from Minnie. I think we should use it:

Please slow down
no need to rush
If you crash
you might be mush!!

the lights ahead
that you can see
change every two minutes
believe you me

let the pedestrians
cross the street
so they don't end up
under a sheet

we value our children
each and every one
going to funerals
is Never fun

Elko speedway
this is not
respect our homes
we love you a lot


I love em! I think we could break them into stanzas and put them up and down the road. We could move them around to various locations, and of course follow each up with a 'Cedar Ave United' sign.

We'd need plywood, furring strips, green paint, white paint, brushes, stencils and artists. I'm all for it, any other takers?? We'll mention it at the meeting this next monday.

ALSO: this is particularly appropriate seeing as how the Burma Shave headquarters was located near the intersection of Cedar and Lake ON Cedar Ave!! Maybe that's why I love this idea so much! Thanks Minnie!