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<br />Star Tribune Editorial
<br />October 24, 2003
<br />RAMSEY TOWN
<br />
<br />STILL WAITING FOR THE TRAIN
<br />
<br />Before the spacious Anoka County suburb of Ramsey committed
<br />to building an actual town center - focused around the arrival of North star
<br />commuter trains - about 40 community leaders made a trip to Chicago.
<br />There, they toured a string of "railroad suburbs" north and west
<br />of the City, among them Highland Parl(, Deerfield and Arlington Heights,
<br />towns that have recently revived the commercial and residential areas
<br />around their stations. As the visitors strolled the platforms, they chatted
<br />with waiting commuters, asl(ing questions; How far away do you live?
<br />Why do you tal(e the train to work? Do you also shop around here?
<br />The Minnesotans were impressed by the answers. People
<br />walked or made short drives to the station. Riding the train was easier
<br />then fighting traffic. Yes, they shopped nearby. As for the commuter
<br />lines, which date back a century to steam-engine days, they've enjoyed
<br />a revival in recent years as more cars have jammed the region's freeways.
<br />Chicago's 500-mile commuter-rail system, Metra, handles
<br />150,000 passengers a day, including half of all suburban commuters into
<br />the Loop. Without Metra, 35 more freeway lanes would be needed.
<br />Minneapolis is no Chicago, and Ramsey will never be Lake Forest.
<br />But Northstar rail can give people a chance to opt out of traffic
<br />along Minnesota's fastest-growing corridor while also helping towns lil(e
<br />Ramsey. They can preserve rural character by focusing a greater portion
<br />of their inevitable growth as near to stations as possible.
<br />When City leaders break ground for the new 322-acre Ramsey
<br />Town Center today, they will be showing the entire state how a rapidly
<br />growing, out-ring suburb can act responsibly - with foresight, faith and
<br />determination.
<br />F or years, the town had stubbornly held a no-growth stance only
<br />to see its picturesque landscape fill up with thousands of homes on large
<br />lots and septic tanl(s, and its roads swell with cars needed to accomplish
<br />every daily tasl( - including shopping trips to Anol(a or Coon Rapids.
<br />N ow Ramsey will concentrate on how best to grow. While much
<br />of the countryside will be preserved, more growth will be concentrated
<br />in a new "downtown" of shops, offices, plazas, parl(s, public buildings, a
<br />school and 2,000 townhouses. Ramsey will have a small-town focal
<br />point, where people can park once and walk to many attractions -
<br />including a train station from which people can ride to a job, a ballgame
<br />or a concert in Minneapolis.
<br />They will be able to do all this if Gov. Tim Pawlenty and legislators
<br />will finally agree to match the federal funding available for Northstar.
<br />Except for them, all have done their part: Ramsey's citizens, business
<br />leaders, the developers, the marketplace and the Metropolitan Council,
<br />which triggered this $1 billion private investment by mal(ing Ramsey a
<br />demonstration site for innovative developers.
<br />Unfortunately this fine town, along with many others in Anoka,
<br />Sherburne and Stearns counties, are still standing by, waiting for the
<br />train.
<br />
<br />SAFE AND SOBER
<br />
<br />The Ramsey Police Department will be
<br />participating in the safe & sober wave over the
<br />holiday season. During this time extra officers
<br />will be out on patrol targeting intoxicated drivers
<br />and those who choose to endanger public safety
<br />by ignoring traffic laws. So far this year, as of
<br />09/30/03, 445 people have been l(illed on the
<br />highways in Minnesota. This is a record setting
<br />pace that we do not want to continue. So please
<br />don't drink and drive. Please buckle up and
<br />slow down. The life you save could be your
<br />own. Please have a safe and happy holiday
<br />season!
<br />
<br />ROTARY ..
<br />
<br />INTERNATIONAL ~
<br />Rotary International is an organization of
<br />business and professional leaders united
<br />worldwide to provide humanitarian service,
<br />encourage high ethical standards in all vocations,
<br />and help build goodwill and peace in the world.
<br />Rotary Clubs exist in 166 countries worldwide
<br />and approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong
<br />to more than 30,000 Rotary club throughout the
<br />world. Community and business leaders have
<br />been meeting in recent months to bring Rotary
<br />to Ramsey. Currently, the Ramsey Rotary is in
<br />the process of chartering and hopes to initiate
<br />community service projects such as a reading
<br />program with the youth at Ramsey Elementary,
<br />restoration of Foster Cemetery in Ramsey, and
<br />parl( improvements at various parks in Ramsey.
<br />If you are interested in getting involved in the
<br />Ramsey Rotary or want to learn more about
<br />the opportunities to serve your community,
<br />please contact Heidi Nelson at 763-433-9817
<br />or hnelson@ci.ramsey.mn.us.
<br />
<br />HEAD START
<br />
<br />Head Start is lool(ing for children for
<br />our available preschool program. Head Start
<br />continues to be a free comprehensive preschool
<br />program for lower income families in our
<br />community. We offer a variety of program
<br />options and services to parents. If you have
<br />any questions regard our programs, please
<br />contact Anoka County Head Start
<br />Administrative Office at 763-753-4300.
<br />
<br />Forgiveness is a gift of high value. Yet it s cost is nothing. - Betty Smith
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