Jordan Independent - Forum topic - Comments

After attending Bob Burns'

Mathias Baden — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:24:58 -0500

After attending Bob Burns' presentation about the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council and the Jordan Art Festival at the Ridges of Sand Creek golf course last week, I have an expanded knowledge of how a town can be positively affected by the arts. Burns, a musician, visited Jordan in support of the art festival but also hoping to raise awareness that money is available for arts groups that want to conduct a project. MRAC wants to support small-town arts movements. We should be taking full advantage of the opportunity.

Any ideas?

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

Snag. That's the one that is

Mathias Baden — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:17:20 -0500

Snag. That's the one that is bothering me today. Whether you're using it as a verb or describing something stuck in your throat or hair, yuck!

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

There will be a commuter

Jason Allen — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:20:48 -0500

There will be a commuter rail running right thru Jordan in the next 15 years, Mankato to Minneapolis is next on the list.

Maybe, but we don't have an

Kyle Thill — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:06:06 -0500

Maybe, but we don't have an explosive upscale community or a large shopping mall on the other side of us.

Wouldn't Highway 169 be a

Mathias Baden — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:06:54 -0500

Wouldn't Highway 169 be a great place for a rail line?

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

Xavier is a tough team that

goldengopher — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:12:50 -0500

Xavier is a tough team that went to the sweet 16 last year. The Gophers will have their hands full, but I expect them to make it interesting, and yes win against the Musketeers!

This is the 2nd year in a row the Gophers have made it to the NCAA tourney. This hasn't happened in a long time. Go Gophers!

It sounds to me like MnDOTs

Thom Boncher — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 08:22:21 -0600

It sounds to me like MnDOTs immediate plan is to run all gravel trucks south on Valley View to CR9, at which point some trucks might turn right (west) on CR9 to cross the Minnesota River. Most trucks would turn left (east) toward 169. At the light at 169, the trucks would split depending on destinations. Some would go north or south on 169. Some would cross 169 and go east on 282 to the light at 21. There, some trucks would turn onto 21 toward New Prague, while others would stay on 282 toward Prior Lake.

As I understand it, the intersection at 173rd and 169 would not see any change in its' current condition - unless Jordan refuses to allow gravel trucks to use Valley View. In that case, MnDOT would not allow any traffic (except emergency vehicles) to cross the median in either direction at 173rd street. Trucks intending to go north on 169 would be forced to first head south to the light at 282, turn east on 282, and then turn north on 21 (past St. John's), to where 21 joins 169.

Long term, MnDOT's plan for 169 is to have no traffic signals anywhere. Meaning, they propose to someday make a wonky intersection in Jordan, just like the one in Belle Plaine. Picture that with 100 gravel trucks a day.

Remember, MnDOT measures its success in terms of vehicle flow rates - not in terms of improving people's property, or helping cities grow. Their ultimate goal seems to be to get vehicles non-stop from Chisholm to Elmore - or at least from Cove to Mankato.

What I've written here is based on my understanding of what I've read and heard from various plans, reports, meetings and discussions. Anyone who sees errors or omissions should feel free to point them out.

So do they want to close

lb — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:35:37 -0600

So do they want to close that intersection to any cross traffic? Will cars still be allowed to make left turns off of 169 there? How about cars from the east side trying to go south on 169? Just trying to get a good understanding of what they are planning there since there is a local business on that corner, and many houses up the hill to the east.

What about Hentges building

John Higgins — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:26:28 -0600

What about Hentges building a tunnel under 169 from 173rd then putting in an excelerating lane of 200 yards going North along 169? This plan, if approved would save (assuming 100 trucks per day) $2500 a day, $10,500 per week and over a cours of three to four years $1,000,000. So over the life of the pit (15 years) this "tunnel/bridge" could save Hentges $4,000,000 not to mention other costs to the city of Jordan and the costs of less trucks on the road because they would be closer to their destination, not to mention less drivers = less benefits etc.

It's a difficult situation,

Mathias Baden — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:35:30 -0600

It's a difficult situation, because some residents do not want trucks in town. City officials have long talked about a County Road 10 bypass of downtown, but that option is years in the future.

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

Scott County officials and

Mathias Baden — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:33:41 -0600

Scott County officials and City Engineer Carol Caron have said that those are grandfathered in. Just because potentially dangerous situations have occurred north of the intersection of 173rd Street and Highway 169, doesn't mean that more potentially dangerous situations should be created along the road, according to the city engineer. Officials did not specifically note any businesses that were hazards -- they only said they were north of Jordan.

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

All, except emergency

Mathias Baden — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:28:40 -0600

All, except emergency vehicles.

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

I am thrilled to read that

Daisy — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:22:21 -0600

I am thrilled to read that at least a handful of us are concerned enough about this community issue to be asking questions, even though we may not be directly affected by the gravel trucks. We are all going to be affected one way or another because Jordan is going to be affected. If the people that are directly affected don't care however,than possibly the rest of us need a life!! Anybody snorting!!

MnDOT has other options

Thom Boncher — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:16:50 -0600

MnDOT has other options regarding 173rd. There's no law preventing them from putting a traffic signal at that spot. They could also put in acceleration lanes. I imagine others out there can suggest some other options as well. But MnDOT isn't willing to spend the money needed to exercise any of those options. Instead, they intend to force the safety problem into Jordan, and then they expect us to pay for the privilege of being abused.

O.k. correct me if I am

nowtap — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:45:56 -0600

O.k. correct me if I am wrong MNDOT does not want trucks turning left because of safty hazard. Then why do the let trucks from Anchor blocks take left turns, also Hermans Landscape? Do these trucks not have the same hazard. Just a question.