With all of the access to nature next to or near these lines, why not have signage for them and directions? I use the Orange Line for instant access to the Nine Mile Creek Trail at Knox Ave. It takes as long to get there by BRT as it does for me to bike to the Chain of Lakes and gives me a nice change of scenery. 98th St Station puts me close to the River Bottoms: I just wish you could hop on a path directly to the riverfront vs having to either bike on a high speed stroad or sidewalk until the bike lanes appear at 102nd, it's so ridiculous to have a major gap that's only 4 blocks long. 66th St Station takes you just a few blocks away from Wood Lake and its boardwalk. And if I'm really lazy or off to late start, the Orange Line transports me to the Minnehaha Creek Trail off of 46th St Station. The station at American Blvd *should* connect you to the large Highland Lake Park and surrounding lakes, but you have to make your way on either sidewalk or stroad again to 84th for a couple of unprotected curb bike lanes which suddenly dead ends before the intersection at France leaving you like 8 blocks to reach Normandale Lake. Aside from suburban bike infra blunders, it does a good job of giving easy (easier) access to our regional natural highlights, with the Gold Line also bringing you to Battle Creek and pretty close to Elm Lake which you can access from the station via shared paths the entire way. I know if it wasn't for access to our parks, I would not be using the Orange Line nearly as often as for just going to far flung strip malls.

The article says it's "unclear"who will pay for this Oakdale project, but it it's obvious that 3M is at least one company that needs to.

It would certainly compensate for the downgrade from rail to buses.

You can walk or bike to far more destinations in Minneapolis before someone can drive their pick-up out of their cul-de-sac back roads and get stuck at several 5 minute traffic signals on the way to a coffee shop drive thru with an hour long wait, but "convenience", sure Strib.