Someone grab a wooden stake and make sure that it is really really dead.

The Met Council voted 11-1 to accept the Washington Avenue plan for the LRT Central Corridor. With the University of Minnesota’s representative being the only NO vote.

“The resolution that we passed today does close the door on the northern alignment,” said Peter Bell, who chairs both the planning committee and the Met Council.

I’m so glad that this project is moving forward. My only fear now is that the Fed will use this infighting as an excuse to not give us the funding we need.

More Central Corridor nonsense from the University.

Then Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, whose district includes the university, introduced a pre-vetted resolution calling on the panel to adopt the Washington Avenue route and end any further discussion or study of the Dinkytown detour. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak seconded it. Everyone except O’Brien said they supported it, including Bob McFarlin, Pawlenty’s assistant transportation commissioner.

Then Bell told the story of Bruininks’ call to Pawlenty and the request from the governor’s office. Bell said the extra week was “in deference to the university.”

O’Brien thanked everyone and after the meeting said, “Right now, the university needs to take a step back and say, ‘What are the benefits and risks involved?’ “

Give me a fucking break.

When I attended the recent Ecowatch panel discussion on the topic I almost felt sorry for the University Reps on the panel. The two of them stated their case during their short presentation and then basically shut up during the Q & A.

I didn’t envy it at all. The Northern Alignment was clearly shown to be a waste of resources. Bottom line - no one wants to go to fucking Dinkytown.