+ The University of Minnesota has filed suit in Hennepin County District Court against the Metropolitan Council citing concerns about interference from LRT trains affecting University laboratories.  President Robert Bruininks says the Met Council has not done enough while Chairman Peter Bell says the suit is without merit.  Delays are not expected in the project stemming from the suit.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/09/22/centralcorr-lawsuit/
http://www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/60325037.html
http://www.minnpost.com/politicalagenda/2009/09/22/11810/u_of_m_goes_to_court_to_protect_its_research_labs_from_potential_lrt_disruptions
http://pa.courts.state.mn.us/CaseDetail.aspx?CaseID=1613054013
Case No. 27-CV-09-23445

+ Last January as part of the Downtown Transportation Action Plan, the Minneapolis City Council proposed converting  Hennepin Ave and First Ave into two-way streets following concerns about safety.  Confusion is derived from multiple dedicated lanes for drivers, bicycles, and buses while pedestrian safety was often a cited concern.  Now it appears the city is ready to implement their plans next month.   University Second Ward Councilmember Cam Gordon highlighted concerns in his blog.

http://www.startribune.com/local/60653622.html
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/CIP/HennepinAve/
http://secondward.blogspot.com/2009/01/hennepin-and-first-ave-two-ways-and.html

+ MinnPost’s Washington Correspondent reported this Monday: “The Twin Cities will receive $1.1 million in stimulus funding to replace 35 small diesel buses, according to the White House. About half of the new buses will be small gas/electric hybrids.”  The money is part of the $100 million Economic Recovery Act funds signed this year.

http://www.minnpost.com/cynthiadizikes/2009/09/21/11771/twin_cities_get_11m_in_stimulus_funds_for_green_buses
http://www.hometownsource.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10762:recovery-funds-directed-to-twin-cities-to-reduce-greenhouse-gas-emissions&catid=13:capitol-news&Itemid=29
Full breakdown:  http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/09/21/obama-administration-sends-100m-in-stimulus-aid-to-43-transit-agencies/#more-47111

+ The Twin City mayoral runs get hot.  Mayoral contender Eva Ng puts pressure on Mayor Chris Coleman to pledge to run his full-term if re-elected.  Meanwhile Mayor R. T. Rybak continues to set his sights on being Mayor and Governor.

http://www.minnpost.com/politicalagenda/2009/09/17/11628/st_paul_mayoral_challenger_wants_seven_debates_mayor_coleman_doesnt
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/cspg/smartpolitics/2009/09/how_competitive_can_eva_ng_mak.php
http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2009/06/15/9508/if_mayors_coleman_and_rybak_run_for_governor_theyll_be_following_a_lonely_path
http://minnesotaindependent.com/17242/2010-governors-race-pawlenty-rybak-gain-rivals-not-counting-each-other
http://www.startribune.com/local/17325114.html

+ A lookback on PARK(ing) Day
http://minnesotaindependent.com/45194/parking-day-2009-sod-trumps-cars-on-some-twin-cities-streets-today
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeteethblog/sets/72157622280559119/
http://parkingdaytwincities.tumblr.com/
http://www.parkingday.org/