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Joyce Wisdom Lake Street Council 612-822-0232 |
November 15 , 2005
Announcing Nov. 21 celebration on Lake Street to mark the return of bus service in Midtown
Business owners and area residents will welcome the return of bus service to Lake Street in Midtown – 10 AM, Monday, November 21, at the northeast corner of Lake Street and Chicago Avenue.
Fifth District Congressman Martin Sabo will be a passenger on a bus originating at the Mercado Central on Bloomington. He will greet community members there and at the bus’ destination at Chicago and Lake. Mayor RT Rybak, Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, Ward 6 City Council Member-Elect Robert Lilligren, and Ward 8 Member-Elect Elizabeth Glidden will also appear at the event.
Crunch (the Minnesota Wild dancers), McGruff the crime fighting dog, and other mascots are scheduled.
On November 21, Metro Transit is restoring bus service to the 11-block area of East Lake Street that has been rebuilt in the last six months. Bus service in the Midtown section of East Lake had been rerouted to 31st Street while Hennepin County rebuilt Lake Street between 5th Avenue and 14th Avenue. More info: www.lakestreet.info.
The welcoming event marks the completion of the first phase of Hennepin County's Lake Street reconstruction project. During the 2005 construction season, Lake Street traffic between 5th and 14th Avenues was limited to one lane in each direction. On-street parking lost to the roadwork was remedied with courtesy parking at neighborhood lots. On November 21, two lanes of traffic in each direction will be restored and on-street parking will be available in newly constructed parking bays.
"This is a time of celebration for people up and down the street," said Joyce Wisdom, Interim Executive Director of the Lake Street Council. "For a long time, we have been looking forward to a new and improved Lake Street. Today, that is more than a hope – it is a reality."
Lake Street reconstruction will resume next April when Hennepin County begins work on a two-mile section of Lake Street east of 14th Avenue.
After community members greet dignitaries at the Chicago and Lake bus stop, the “Welcome Back” celebration will continue at the Carne Asada Restaurant across the street at 809 East Lake.
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