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40-655: The Cedar Lake LRT Regional Trail is the main paved path running from the west end of the Midtown Greenway in Minneapolis through St. Louis Park to Hopkins, Minnesota . It has a length of 5.38 miles (8.66 km), and is paved with asphalt. This trail is named very similarly to the Cedar Lake Trail in Minneapolis and the North Cedar Lake Regional Trail continuation of that trail (formerly known as

80-848: A 1990 Prince film. The bridge was a bottleneck in the growing city of Eden Prairie and was demolished in 1991. The route of the Southwest LRT light rail line is being built to follow the entire Cedar Lake LRT Regional Trail and a portion of the Minnesota River Bluffs LRT Regional Trail before turning southward near Shady Oak Road in Minnetonka. The Lake Minnetonka LRT Regional Trail runs for 15.92 miles (25.62 km) from 8th Avenue in Hopkins through Minnetonka , Excelsior , and Chanhassen to 81st Street in Victoria . The trail uses

120-569: A crushed limestone surface. It is connected to the Minnesota River Bluffs LRT trail via "The Artery" along 8th Avenue South in Hopkins, which opened in 2018. The trail is on the right-of-way for a rail line originally built by the Minneapolis and St. Louis in the 1890s and abandoned by the Chicago and North Western in 1980, one which branched off the old M.&St.L. main at Hopkins and went out to South Dakota. There are about 471,000 people on

160-517: A detour is posted. Reconstruction of the damaged trail section was scheduled for summer 2020. The trail has about 250,000 people in attendance annually. The trail features bluffs of the Minnesota River and the lakes and forests of the area. The pedestrian bridge on the trail that spans Valley View Road replaced a 19-foot (5.8 m) railway bridge. Dubbed the Graffiti Bridge, it was featured in

200-546: A mile into St. Louis Park and then separates from Minnetonka Boulevard (which continues westward all the way through St. Louis Park) and runs diagonally southwestward. In the Uptown commercial district, the road is one-way and paired with Lagoon Avenue one block to the north to improve traffic flow. The street runs eastward past Interstate 35W and State Highway 55 (Hiawatha Avenue) to the Mississippi River where it crosses

240-487: A pedestrian and bicycle path .Alternatives looked at enhanced bus service on Lake Street, a rail transitway within the Midtown Greenway, and a dual alternative that features both enhanced bus service and a rail alternative. The dual option of both improved bus service and a rail alternative was selected in 2014. The $ 20 million I-35W & Lake Street station was constructed on Lake Street at Interstate 35W to serve

280-486: A trench, and passes under 37 bridges, with 20 (as of 2019) of them being built in 1916 or earlier. It has an at-grade junction with 28th Street, and then crosses Hiawatha Avenue on the Martin Olav Sabo Bridge . The trail continues east, and crosses Minnehaha Avenue at-grade. It continues east and crosses local streets. It crosses over 31st Avenue, and 36th Avenue, and passes north of Brackett Park. It then leaves

320-598: A wide variety of shopping, dining, events and rental. At 15th Avenue South, In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre repurposed its Historic Avalon Theatre. East of Hiawatha Avenue, Lake Street stretches through the Longfellow and Cooper neighborhoods. This section represents the last remnants of Scandinavian investment for which Longfellow is well known. Recent investment in eastern Minneapolis includes new development at

360-571: Is developing plans to reconnect the street grid with Lake Street. Construction is expected to start in 2025. Efforts to redevelop more multi-use and density have been successful. Public investment and private redevelopment has occurred throughout the Lake Street corridor with a new public library near Minnehaha Avenue and the new mixed-use anchor building at Chicago Avenue, the Midtown Exchange . Streetcars began running on Lake Street in 1905. With

400-621: Is still active east of Hiawatha as part of the Minnesota Commercial Railway . The rail line was originally built between 1879 and 1881; however, as traffic increased, the city of Minneapolis mandated a trench be built between Hiawatha and Irving avenues in 1910. The trench, bridges and retaining walls were evaluated in 1989 as part of the Reinforced-Concrete Highway Bridges in Minnesota MPS , and then listed on

440-680: The Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway system and the more rustic Winchell Trail for hiking. Beneath the Lake Street-Marshall Bridge is the Minneapolis Rowing Club Boathouse. While originally developed around the Selby-Lake streetcar, Lake Street became a heavily automobile oriented corridor, especially after the removal of streetcars in the 1950s. Lake Street and University Avenue were two of

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480-563: The Lake Street-Marshall Bridge into St. Paul and becomes Marshall Avenue. Lake Street has historically and, in the late 20th century, become the official boundary of several Minneapolis neighborhoods. From west to east these include: Cedar-Isles-Dean , East Isles , East Calhoun , Lowry Hill East , South Uptown , Whittier , Lyndale , Central , Phillips West , Midtown , Powderhorn Park , East Phillips , Corcoran and Longfellow . Informal commercial districts begin at

520-547: The Metro Orange Line , a bus rapid transit line that connects downtown Minneapolis south along I-35W to Burnsville. In the future, the Metro B Line will travel on Lake Street between West Lake Station connecting with Southwest LRT to downtown Saint Paul at Saint Paul Union Depot . The B Line will largely replace Metro Transit's Route 21 which travels along Lake Street. Route 21 has the second highest ridership for bus routes in

560-558: The Mississippi River . The Freewheel Bike Center, consisting of a bike store and repair shop, as well as shower and locker facilities, opened in May 2008 at the Midtown Exchange near where the Greenway intersects Chicago Avenue, but closed. In 2023, Venture Bikes opened a bike store with similar amenities in the same location. Bike traffic on the Greenway has increased 261% between 2003 and 2011. A fifth phase, which would carry cyclists across

600-437: The Mississippi River . In May 2020, the Lake Street corridor suffered extensive damage during local unrest following the murder of George Floyd . In August of the same year, city officials designated East Lake Street as one of seven cultural districts to promote racial equity, preserve cultural identity, and promote economic growth. West of the city limits, Lake Street is coextensive with Minnetonka Boulevard running nearly

640-656: The National Register of Historic Places as the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad Grade Separation. In 1993, the railroad property was purchased by the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority. Phase One of the Greenway opened in August 2000, starting at the intersection of 31st Street and Chowen Avenue, just inside Minneapolis city limits. Running between Lake of the Isles and Bde Maka Ska ,

680-499: The Blue Line. Beginning in August 2012, police have increased patrols, added 24 new high definition cameras, and even added classical music in an effort to deter troublemakers. Metro Transit conducted a study to determine the potential for a future transitway along Lake Street and the Midtown Greenway corridor. The Midtown Greenway is about a block to the north of Lake Street and is a former freight rail bed that has been converted into

720-706: The Greenway enters the 29th Street trench near Hennepin Avenue. Phase Two opened in November 2004, running from 5th Avenue to Hiawatha Avenue. The rest of the Greenway to the Mississippi River opened as Phase Three in September 2006. In fall of 2007, the new Martin Olav Sabo Bridge was opened by Hennepin County and the city as Phase Four, eliminating a dangerous at-grade crossing at seven-lane Hiawatha Avenue. A 5.5 mile section of

760-546: The Hutchinson Spur Trail) which also extends through St. Louis Park to Hopkins in a roughly parallel route farther north. The North Cedar Lake Regional Trail meets the Cedar Lake LRT Regional Trail just east of the intersection of US 169 and Excelsior Boulevard in Hopkins. The trail runs along the right-of-way of the former Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway's main line to Iowa and Illinois. The rail line

800-526: The Lake Calhoun area which marks the end of West Lake Street, followed by Uptown, and then by Lyn-Lake . These areas generally have high property values and fairly high density. In the early 20th century this was one of the busiest areas outside of downtown as the streetcars headed west to Lake Minnetonka . Today they are among the most popular entertainment and nightlife areas in South Minneapolis , and

840-607: The Mississippi River, has an undetermined completion date. Planners hoped to use the Short Line Bridge to St. Paul , though the Canadian Pacific Railway (successor to Milwaukee Road) has not been receptive to the proposal. In addition, engineers have expressed concerns over the safety of the bridge. Currently plans to use the extra Greenway right-of-way for a streetcar line is also under consideration and has

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880-545: The Third Precinct Police building. In the next four years $ 100 million, collected mostly from private donations, was spent on restoring buildings or building new buildings in the area. The arson-damaged Coliseum Building and Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and underwent a $ 28 million renovation. The Kmart at Nicollet Avenue was torn down in November 2023 and the city of Minneapolis

920-461: The construction of the original Lake Street/Marshall Avenue bridge in 1906, streetcars extended from downtown Saint Paul to almost Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis primarily along Selby Avenue and Lake Street. Streetcar service ended in 1953 when the line was replaced by buses. Lake Street developed into a busy commercial corridor because of the Selby-Lake streetcar line. At the peak, streetcars came every 3 minutes and ridership per mile along Lake Street

960-410: The corner of West River Parkway and East Lake Street, anchoring the Lake Street-Marshall Bridge. This area is populated with middle-class homes and businesses, with property values rising as the street approaches the Mississippi River . The north-south stretch where Lake Street meets the river is a popular recreation destination, providing residents and visitors access to multi-use trails that are part of

1000-402: The corridor and the used car businesses focused on lower-end vehicles. In 1977, the construction of a Kmart closed off Nicollet Avenue at Lake Street and combined two city blocks. Many traditional streetcar-era buildings were razed during the auto era and much of Lake Street contains 1960s-era auto-oriented businesses with parking lots. Near the intersection of Lake Street and 27th Avenue

1040-481: The corridor, as most of this section of the corridor was branded with the Midtown neighborhood name. East Lake Street continues to undergo massive refitting to help reduce crime, boost property values, and attract more shoppers. Improvements to the area brought concerns for the many immigrant business and property owners on the street who are being assessed for the new sidewalks and street paving. Non-positive gentrification

1080-577: The general support of the Greenway Coalition. Lake Street (Minneapolis) Lake Street is a major east-west thoroughfare between 29th and 31st streets in Minneapolis , Minnesota United States. From its western most end at the city's limits, Lake Street reaches the Chain of Lakes , passing over a small channel linking Bde Maka Ska and Lake of the Isles , and at its eastern most end it reaches

1120-437: The greenway was resurfaced in 2021 using a technique called "microsurfacing". The same section was paved again in September 2022 with normal asphalt after a public petition got more than 2,000 signatures over concerns that the new surface was too rough and potentially unsafe. The Greenway consists of two one-way bike lanes and one two-way walking path, though they are combined in some places with space constrictions. Because of

1160-526: The historic nature of the corridor, it cannot easily be widened or modified. The Greenway starts near a Lake Street overpass, and continues to the Kenilworth Trail junction. It turns due east, and crosses Dean Parkway on a bridge. It goes in between Bde Maka Ska and Lake of the Isles . it passes over a channel and parkway connecting the two lakes on separate bridges. It has three at grade intersections, at James, Irving, and Humboldt Avenues. It goes into

1200-478: The most auto-oriented corridors in the Twin Cities. Poet John Berryman referred to Lake Street in a poem as, "Lake Street where the used cars live". In 1955, Lake Street had 14 new car dealerships and almost 60 used car businesses. As suburban retail grew and wealthier households in south Minneapolis moved further south of Lake Street or to the suburbs, businesses on Lake Street deteriorated. New car dealerships left

1240-579: The path of an abandoned route of the Milwaukee Road railway . It is considered under segregated cycle facilities . Used both recreationally and for commuting, the partially below-grade Greenway runs east–west about one block north of Lake Street . It provides cyclists , inline skaters , runners and pedestrians an almost automobile-free route across the city. The Greenway lies in a former Milwaukee Road railroad corridor along 29th Street. This corridor had been abandoned west of Hiawatha Avenue but

Southwest LRT Trail - Misplaced Pages Continue

1280-703: The railroad grade and terminates at West River Parkway. To the west the Greenway connects directly to what was called the Southwest LRT Trail , named after the future light rail with which it will share right-of-way , but is now called the South Cedar Lake Trail overseen by Three Rivers Park District. It also connects to the Kenilworth Trail (which in turn connects to the North Cedar Lake Trail ) providing access to downtown Minneapolis and

1320-458: The site of rapid condominium development in recent years. The section of Lake Street stretching from Interstate 35W to Hiawatha Avenue has been in the past known for crime, prostitution, and drugs, especially in the late 1980s and early '90s. The street marks the southern boundary of the Phillips neighborhood, which was plagued with violence during that time. However, there has been reinvestment in

1360-575: The trail each year. Some places along the trail include Lake Minnetonka, restaurants in Hopkins and Excelsior, and historic places such as the Old Log Theatre and the Cottagewood General Store. 44°55′29″N 93°23′51″W  /  44.92472°N 93.39750°W  / 44.92472; -93.39750 Midtown Greenway The Midtown Greenway is a 5.7-mile (9.2 km) rail trail in Minneapolis , Minnesota that follows

1400-660: The trail to Hopkins. It has a crushed limestone surface. It runs from the Hopkins Depot through Hopkins , Minnetonka , Eden Prairie , and Chanhassen . Together, the Cedar Lake LRT Trail and the Minnesota River Bluffs LRT Trail are about 15.5 miles (24.9 km) long. This trail has a partial closure south from Pioneer Trail in Chanhassen since 2014 due to significant mudslides and unsafe conditions and

1440-496: The western suburbs. At its approximate center, on the west side of Sabo bridge the Greenway connects to Little Earth Trail and the surrounding community, and on the east side of the bridge it connects to Hiawatha LRT Trail that reaches Downtown East and Minnehaha Regional Park at each respective end. To the east, the Greenway connects to West River Parkway, a segment of the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway that runs along

1480-552: Was a large industrial complex that eventually served Minneapolis Moline . By 1972, the Minneapolis Moline factory shut down and a Target store opened in 1976. More suburban oriented developments with large parking lots and businesses set back from the street followed in the area including a Rainbow Foods in the mid-1980s. Protests following the murder of George Floyd in 2020 caused widespread damage along Lake Street. More than 30 businesses were damaged or destroyed including

1520-563: Was also a concern. An example of renewed interest in the area is the refurbishment of the Midtown Exchange building at East Lake Street and Chicago Avenue South. Formerly one of the most notoriously crime-ridden intersections in the city, is now home to an Allina Hospitals and Clinics expansion that brought 1,500 new employees to the area; the Sheraton Minneapolis Midtown Hotel and the Midtown Global Market with

1560-526: Was built in 1870, and was eventually acquired by the Chicago and North Western Railway , who abandoned the line in 1990. The Cedar Lake LRT trail is temporarily closed for the Southwest LRT project, while the North Cedar Lake trail remains open. The Minnesota River Bluffs LRT Regional Trail is a trail that extends 12.26 miles (19.73 km) along the former Minneapolis and St. Louis right-of-way that brought

1600-534: Was the highest in the Twin Cities. The Metro Blue Line light-rail, (formerly known as the Hiawatha Light Rail line), serves Lake Street at Hiawatha Avenue with the Lake Street/Midtown station . The station itself is one of the most expensive along the line because it had to be elevated above a busy intersection. Furthermore, the Lake Street station has become one of the most crime-ridden stops along

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