Skyway Advisory Committee
April 12th, 2013
US Bank Center, 2nd floor conference room at 9:00 am
Committee members present: Balter, Flamm, Harris, Reger-Rumsey, Hansen, Thurmes
Other: Bill Hosko, Renee Skoglund, John Rupp, Greg Peterson, Dana Happel, Nick ?, Lucy Thompson
(PED), Jim Ivey, Melissa Martinez-Sones (staff)
Meeting called to order at 9AM.
Macy’s Variance.
Macy’s is closed for business and has submitted a Skyway Variance Application to DSI. From the
application: The applicant requests the exception to hours of operation due arising from the closure of
its Department Store. Harris asked if there was a way to preserve the easement and keep the entrance
off of Cedar open. For now those will stay along with the escalators which are still running. There was
discussion on the City’s position regarding skyways and a move away from skyways, and Lucy Thompson
clarified that the City supports the current network but does not support new skyways in Lowertown or
Rice Park. Bill Hosko stated he is seeing skyways pop up in other parts of the city, and there was some
discussion about how particular skyway decisions were made. Motion: The Skyway Governance
Committee approves Macy’s request for a skyway variance on the hours of operation. Approved 5-0.
Vertical Connection at Central Station.
Nick and Dana presented on the plans for the vertical connection at central station. Funding has been
put together and Met Council will own, operate, and maintain the vertical connection. The project is
going out to bid in the next couple weeks, get awarded in June or July, and then breaking ground and
construction will happen in August or September. A 3-day closure of the existing skyway bridge is
anticipated, but the plan is for a weekend closure so that only one weekday closure is needed (either a
Friday or a Monday). During September through December there will be a restricted area with a 6-foot
walkway space. Vertical connection will be operational by the second quarter of 2014. Questions. The
work will be during normal working hours and no noise variance should be necessary. The connection
will not be staffed and be open during normal skyway hours and security cameras will be installed and
operated by regular Metro Transit employees and responded to by Metro Transit police. The elevator
holds about six passengers and intended for anyone to use. Stair tower will be heated and cooled.
There were questions about the actual connection and Nick referred to plans.
There was lengthy discussion on concerns about crime. Nick stated that they are aware of the situation
and feel like they are able to monitor the new tower without personnel present in the tower.
Community members stated that this will serve as a de facto central station because there is no actual
building or structure to serve as the station, and there was some feeling that the current problems will
get substantially worse. Rupp suggested that there should be an actual station with personnel and
include restrooms and a heated waiting room. It was his feeling that there needs to be personnel
present to make it safe. There was mention of working with Alliance for surveillance and bathroom
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access. Rupp stated that there were people sleeping in his building who had to be removed in the
mornings and this made his building unsafe. Reger-Rumsey asked for clarification about whether people
felt unsafe because there were simply homeless people present, or were the homeless people accosting
skyway users. Could her organization and resources be helpful in addressing the issue? She also
mentioned that the downtown beat is down officers and downtown needs for a larger police presence
needs to be communicated to the Chief. There was additional discussion about crime and safety and
how the vertical connection is going to make the problem worse. Rupp stated that it creates a new
situation for people to congregate and cause problems. The tower is not intended to be a fire exit so
there is not a way to get out at 3AM for example. The discussion turned to other undesirable behavior
in the skyways, such as the skyway being used as a bathroom and individuals using the DoubleTree
bathrooms to bathe. Rupp also mentioned the loss of the pager system is a problem. There was
mention about the redesign of other downtown bus shelters and that might help. Rupp reiterated that
the solution is a station at central station. Skyways after Saint Peter street aren’t as safe because the
security cameras end. There is a need to make the skyway east of Saint Peter just as safe as the rest.
Flamm stated that skyway safety is an issue, but it is beyond the scope of this committee to suggest that
Metro Transit add a new building. Some felt like bus security has never been properly addressed
downtown. Nick and Dana agreed to take the concerns and input back to Metro Transit and return to
the committee if/when appropriate.
Meeting adjourned.
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