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"St Paul should protect their unique assets like Summit Avenue as it is today, "One of the only remaining Victorian and long historic tree lined streets in America."

"I live on Grand Ave, and often walk my dog on Summit. I would really hate to see the wide-pathed walkability split up; and I would worry for my dog's safety with an influx of cyclists who might see the trail as 'exclusively for them.' I am aware that there would be a pedestrian-cyclist split, but dogs are dogs - and I've met some very unaccommodating cyclists. Along with this, Parking itself is already a nightmare from Lincoln to Summit - especially in the wintertime. The parking bans may be done for this year, but they'll be back again this coming Winter. I don't see how this plan would NOT affect this."

"The St. Paul city council's determination to shove the "designed" bike trail through Summit Avenue where it doesn't make economic, ecological, or public safety sense, reminds me of the Met Council ramming the new Southwest light rail construction through the ecologically sensitive area of Lake of the Isles and Cedar Lake. Instead of routing the rail through Uptown where many people live, it was routed into a barren area of a former rail yard and enters downtown Minneapolis from the west side where few people live. Recently, it was revealed that the Met Council was not honest and transparent in the planning and budgetary process, and their dealings with the general public. What a surprise! It's frustrating why governmental bodies often refuse to listen to the general public. As a result, the Southwest rail line is a BILLION DOLLARS over budget. It appears that the St. Paul city council is on the same tragic path, creating a boondoggle that will have a long lasting, detrimental effect on the historic Summit Avenue neighborhood and the city of St. Paul. As a lifelong bicyclist, I currently avoid Summit Avenue whenever possible due to the already overcrowding of the roadway, lack of speed controls, poor maintenance, and many cross traffic conflicts. The proposal to have the bicyclists next to the curb and a parking lane between the bike lane and automobile lane, will likely increase hazards for the cyclists. Debris such as rocks, sand, and glass tend to get pushed to the curb by the air pressure of passing car traffic. This is in addition to other hazards already present such as sewer grates, curb obstructions, and roadway deterioration due to poor maintenance that is more apparent where the asphalt joins the concrete or granite curbs. The proposed clearing of more than nine hundred trees will further diminish the biking experience, and have a negative effect on the property values of the historic homes that line this beautiful Minnesota treasure. It makes much more sense to draw bicyclists away from an already stressed traffic facility and reroute them onto a separate and safer facility such as the Grace Trail."

"The St. Paul city council's determination to shove the "designed" bike trail through Summit Avenue where it doesn't make economic, ecological, or public safety sense, reminds me of the Met Council ramming the new Southwest light rail construction through the ecologically sensitive area of Lake of the Isles and Cedar Lake. Instead of routing the rail through Uptown where many people live, it was routed into a barren area of a former rail yard and enters downtown Minneapolis from the west side where few people live. Recently, it was revealed that the Met Council was not honest and transparent in the planning and budgetary process, and their dealings with the general public. What a surprise! It's frustrating why governmental bodies often refuse to listen to the general public. As a result, the Southwest rail line is a BILLION DOLLARS over budget. It appears that the St. Paul city council is on the same tragic path, creating a boondoggle that will have a long lasting, detrimental effect on the historic Summit Avenue neighborhood and the city of St. Paul. As a lifelong bicyclist, I currently avoid Summit Avenue whenever possible due to the already overcrowding of the roadway, lack of speed controls, poor maintenance, and many cross traffic conflicts. The proposal to have the bicyclists next to the curb and a parking lane between the bike lane and automobile lane, will likely increase hazards for the cyclists. Debris such as rocks, sand, and glass tend to get pushed to the curb by the air pressure of passing car traffic. This is in addition to other hazards already present such as sewer grates, curb obstructions, and roadway deterioration due to poor maintenance that is more apparent where the asphalt joins the concrete or granite curbs. The proposed clearing of more than nine hundred trees will further diminish the biking experience, and have a negative effect on the property values of the historic homes that line this beautiful Minnesota treasure. It makes much more sense to draw bicyclists away from an already stressed traffic facility and reroute them onto a separate and safer facility such as the Grace Trail."

"I am an avid cyclist. There are more than adequate alternative routes to Summit Ave that are safe and scenic. To tear up the very walkable and historic street for little or no necessary benefit would be tragic - especially considering the loss of so many mature trees."

"What a thoughtless change to devastate a gorgeous road. Living in the area my entire life, I have never once heard somebody even utter the idea that Summit needs more pavement. This just seems like work assigned so that the interns have something to do."

"I have spent the last 20 years biking all over the world. Summit Ave is historical to Minnesota. The trees are magnificent, and there is a bike lane on Grand, one street over. Leave the beauty of the trees and historic houses alone!"

"Part of the City support for the off road trail is the belief that snow removal from the bike path will be easier if the bikeway is off street. This is an erroneous belief in that while snow removal itself by dedicated equipment and dedicated route drivers may be improved the removal of ice conditions will be less effective. I cannot imagine that the City will spread salt or ice melt along the entire off street corridor. Currently the trailway melts automatically as part of snow/ice removal along the street and that will not happen once it is off street. My professional experience was in City Management of various Twin Cities suburbs and the off road trails in those suburbs were impossible when it came to ice removal. Summit Avenue would be no easier than in my past experience. It would not be shocking that after a few years of complaints that there would at least be discussions about making the adjacent property owners responsible for ice removal. Due to these concerns, alone, the off road proposal should be abandoned."

"Great work from the grassroots up!"

"I have spent much of my 78 years enjoying the Summit Avenue ride. It is a highlight for the city of St. Paul. What a travesty to take down the trees and convert the road as planned! Please be sensible and save this beautiful gift for generations to come. There are plenty of other streets that can accommodate bicycles and the river road is great for walking!"

"I wish you guys luck. Our neighborhood tried and tried to have city listen to us about the new Ryan development. It's four blocks from our house. I came away thinking same thing I always have thought with St. Paul politics. They do whatever the f&&k they want. I love Summit Ave - always will - leave things alone and use the money they are trying to use to ruin your street for pot hole repair. Melvin Carter does nothing to make this a better place - just look at downtown. It's sad really - after paying $1000 a month in taxes with no services (and I know residents on or near Summit pay much, much more) we are actively looking in Mendota - had it with Saint Paul I am sad to say. Good luck, maybe you guys can prevail - hope so."

"Repave only! The money saved can be used to repair potholes and tar streets to preserverthem by sealing out water. Pot holes are not a featured amenity."

"Save our streets, save Summit Ave. NO to your plan!!!! I'm a lifelong democrat but will vote against you next go round. You've hired expensive "assistants" (for what??? no one else has needed this support)and ignored the primary function of government (roads, plowing, potholes) the things that impact people every day."

"Pave paradise …and ruin it for this generation and those to come. Let’s not be the ones who “don’t know what [we’ve] got til it’s gone.” We DO know what we have— and the time to save it is NOW. Trees are invaluable to our ecosystem, property values and quality of life. At a time when Saint Paul is losing thousands of trees to disease, only this Mayor and his Administration would recommend destroying hundreds of healthy ones. Summit Avenue is a treasured asset for our city and beloved by all ages. Its lilacs are a harbinger of spring and its canopy a delight for the diverse populations who stroll among them. Summit Ave belongs to all of us. Let’s not have it commandeered by a single, self-involved sporting group."

"As a frequent bicyclist along this street the main issue I see in regards to safety is that the street really needs to be repaved and the lines marked again for the bicycle lanes. This would benefit the neighborhood and historic district and make the road work for EVERYBODY not just a few who want protected bicycle lanes everywhere."

"I am 100% against the removal of any/ all trees along summit ave. A simpler solution to the 250 traffic incidents since 2015 to present, would be fixing all the massive potholes along summit avenues road to prevent cars from going in and out of bike lanes to avoid these massive potholes. Start by fixing the road which you neglect for years and years, then reevaluate after that. I don't see why we need such a drastic change to summit ave just to solve a mere 250 traffic incidents in 8 years time... seems like overkill. A waste of trees, tax payers dollars, and valuable resources we need more than a trail..."

"Just say NO, to this ridulous and unneccessary proposal to destroy our beloved Summit Ave. and its lovely tree canopy. The destruction of this portion of our urban forest alone, is reason enough."

"I am a cyclist who lives a half mile from Summit and ride on it constantly. I ride about 4,000 miles a year and have been for 37 years. I ride mostly on the road using bike lanes and use trails occasionally. I have found that trails such as on Como Ave. and Wheelock Pkwy. are extremely dangerous. First of all you have to be very aware of cars moving through their own driveways and other oncoming cyclists passing within inches of your handlebars. The most dangerous part of these paths is approaching an intersection as cars have to pull across the bike lane to see approaching auto traffic and neglect to see cyclists coming toward the intersection. I have had to swerve around cars many times and prefer to ride on the road on Como or Wheelock risking a car honking at me verses the risk of being hit by a car on the sidestreets. Please leave the lanes on Summit as they are."

"STOP THE DESTRUCTION OF SUMMIT AVENUE !"

"I am a Saint Paul resident who use the street by car, bicycle and my feet. The street is in shameful condition and the bike plan is absurd. Not enough people use bicycles to merit the proposed plan- let alone all of the environmental concerns this plan causes. Just look at the ridiculous bike path over the Franklin Avenue bridge and the rarely used Ayd Mill bike lanes over the bridge. It is a visual eyesore and major traffic constrictor. This is where Summit Avenue is headed with this plan. There is a reasonable manner to reconstruct Summit and have a bike path - like right down the existing median and no need to use asphalt - it should be gravel path. The plan as proposed is a DISASTER on so many points."

"I grew up near Summit Ave. It is not only known for the historic homes but also for the Trees down the center of the Avenue. Take those away, you destroy the beauty and the history of this one of a kind Avenue."

"I have lived and worked near the Summit area for 10+ years and am an avid cyclist and I think this a terrible idea. Why can't we resurface the roads to make them bikeable/drivable? The biggest issue spoken of in media now is climate change. So the city thinks cutting down nearly 10% of the trees that have been there longer than any of us have been alive is a good idea? and how would this make things safer? cars and bikers have to swerve out of the way of bad road conditions for years. You'll still have to cross the same dangerous intersections where the accidents happen. I'd imagine most of those accidents happen because of driver or biker errors not because they don't have a fancy bike lane.. Also with eliminating that many parking spaces will only make that area more dangerous with people doing laps and U-turns to try and find a spot to park. SAVE THE TREES AND REDO THE ROADS!"

"I have lived and worked near the Summit area for 10+ years and am an avid cyclist and I think this a terrible idea. Why can't we resurface the roads to make them bikeable/drivable? The biggest issue spoken of in media now is climate change. So the city thinks cutting down nearly 10% of the trees that have been there longer than any of us have been alive is a good idea? and how would this make things safer? cars and bikers have to swerve out of the way of bad road conditions for years. You'll still have to cross the same dangerous intersections where the accidents happen. I'd imagine most of those accidents happen because of driver or biker errors not because they don't have a fancy bike lane.. Also with eliminating that many parking spaces will only make that area more dangerous with people doing laps and U-turns to try and find a spot to park. SAVE THE TREES AND REDO THE ROADS!"

"I am an avid cyclist that has biked Summit Ave. all my life. I have led many group rides for beginner level cyclists thru elite level cycling teams. We have never had a problem with traffic or space on the road etc. The road itself needs to be repaved. Get rid of the potholes and cracks and that is all. Do not destroy Summit Ave. and its trees. Just repave it and leave it beautiful for motorists, cyclists and the neighbors that live there. Please add me to the Petition. Sue Lee Masters National Criterium Champion & Best All-Around Rider in age group. Past Cycling Coach for St. Paul Bicycle Racing Club Beginner Road Racing Program Past Twin City Bicycling Club ride leader."

"I am not for the bike path being proposed along summit Avenue. There is already a perfectly fine bike path there already. Bikers in Minneapolis along Minnehaha parkway choose to bike on roads with cars, over the designated bike path that is on that road, and that will be the case here along summit ave, if you spend all this money, remove trees, and add a bike lane that's already there on summit ave. Do this project along Marshall ave if you must waste our money on a bike path... summit ave home owners will be watering their grass more in the summer if you remove their trees, and that is not a smart way to use our precious water that we will desperately need in the future."

"Leave Summit ave as is. No bike lane."

"The last thing that St. Paul needs is more pavement and fewer trees. Summit is one of the few remaining streetscapes that has not been decimated by the city's horrific and irresponsible approach to "managing" the emerald ash borer invasion. Cutting down or putting at risk hundreds of mature, otherwise healthy non-ash trees for this project should be unthinkable."

"I am unable to make the rescheduled Park and Rec Commission meeting about the project, so I thought I would put my comments in this section of the website: 3-8-23 Dear Ms. McDonald, I am reaching out to respectfully provide my perspective in opposition to the proposed Summit Regional Trail project. I recognize that a significant amount of time and energy has been devoted to this proposal, but I believe it is in the City of St. Paul’s best interest to stop this project for three primary reasons: 1. I believe St. Paul is in a period of crisis and city leaders and engaged citizens should be doing all we can to demonstrate that we recognize we are in crisis and align our priorities to address it. 2. We have made a number of concessions in recent years to encourage biking. I am a biker and enjoy riding in the summer, but we are in a northern climate, and we will only have a very small group of people who bike year-round. We cannot make decisions like this that benefit such a small group of people when there are so many other pressing priorities. 3. Summit Avenue is a historic and beautiful asset that should be preserved and protected. Its canopy should be maintained not cut down and paved, especially given all the terrible tree loss we have experienced lately in terms of our beautiful ash trees. Highland Park has been especially decimated. There is time to stop this project and encourage city leadership to address immediate and important issues related to an unsustainable spending and taxing approach, school safety and resource constraints, public safety failures and a period of terrible potholes - including on Summit Avenue - and crumbling infrastructure across the city. Thank you for considering my perspective. My hope is we can begin to return St. Paul to being a community of pragmatic, thoughtful and engaged people who love and preserve the unique aspects of our city. Thank you. P. Johnson Highland Park"

"Please please consider saving our street! As a tax payer living on Summit Avenue, this plan greatly affects my house and family but the impact will be felt across the city, state and region. The reason we bought this house is because of its historic significance on this famous street. Adding bike lanes doesn’t take into account all the parking along Summit that is needed for houses, churches and visitors. Daily, we see cars parking to get their dogs out and use the boulevard to walk them. We also see regular attendance to the AA house on the corner of Hamline on all hours of the day. Where are all these cars going to go if you take away parking? Keep the cars, sidewalks and trees please. I also can’t imagine the chaos for drop off and pick up around my children’s school – Saint Thomas More at the corner of Lexington & Summit. There are parents who park on Summit to walk little ones into preschool. They will have either no parking or to cross a bike lane with a toddler and sometimes a baby in tow. The bikes shouldn’t be a priority given only 1% of residents are bike commuters. We live in a snow-filled climate and cars should be given priority for parking considering it's cold for 9 months of the year. And where will the piles of snow go and who will plow the trail? The benefits don’t seem to outweigh the negatives. I support SOS."

"Please tell them that they can't keep the roads passable now (and that's even for bikers) so how are they going to fund getting them fixed first?"

"Preserve Summit Avenue for our future generations to enjoy. Minnesota doesn't preserve anything. If there is a 4'x4' piece of open land, the government approves a developer or the DOT to build something there. The state needs to, "Stop destroying and start restoring." Preserve our historic places."

"A project of this magnitude with so many unanswered questions from the residents that pay your salaries is ridiculous! You work for us the citizens of St.Paul not yourselves and your own agenda. An agenda that is sketchy at best. Preserve the historic nature of Summit Avenue. Taking down the trees and building a bike path that will get minimal use with our weather is not a good use of resources and our environment. Your studies don't support the project the residents are not in favor its time to listen St.Paul Government. Spend the funds on what really important CRIME in the city."

"I grew up in the Ramsey Hill neighborhood and now, 20 years after moving away, I am back. This neighborhood is so special and a big part of what makes it so is the mature tree canopy and the architecture. There is a timeless quality to Summit Avenue that we must preserve for all to enjoy, both walkers, cyclists, and motorists. The walking traffic on the wide sidewalks of Summit Avenue has increased as more people are becoming conscious of the health benefits of gentle exercise and time spent outdoors. In all weather, you see families and individuals enjoying the tree-lined sidewalks, often with dogs or strollers in tow. What’s special is this area is a destination for people who live both within and outside the neighborhood to enjoy, and since the pandemic there is a renewed appreciation for this space as a public good for all. Adding bike lanes would destroy the character of this neighborhood and would change the nature of the neighborly interactions that take place here. The mature tree canopy is part of what makes this an attractive, calming, and beautiful place to spend time and we would lose that with the city’s plan. Please save Summit Avenue as it is today, for all to enjoy."

"Dear St. Paul, please start treating, not cutting our trees! The lack of significance and respect for our mature landscape is startling. Is this about preservation or greed? I hear lumber is expensive. And you have a "strict contact" with a company that gathers the lumber - so much so, that we were not "allowed" to preserve (or treat/prune - at our requested expense) even a biscuit of our majestic boulevard tree. Even after our Ward 4 district representative Mitra approved our request after losing our battle to save our tree. *PS the tree was not diseased, just had a case of canker. Makes my stomach turn to see the disrespect continue. Come on St. Paul! These requests can easily be honored and the plan re-designed. Please listen."

"do not destroy a stunning historic avenue ..we having plenty of places to bike and hike throughout the city.."

"Leave the trees and boulevard alone. It's worked fine for more than a Century. Mill the street and apply an overlay. That's were the money should be spent. Build affordable housing with the leftovers. The bike paths on the street are safe and work fine."

"I’m an avid biker, have supported every project thus far and I even hate this idea. It’s stupid, and we bikers don’t like the idea. Why ruin it! We have bike lanes in summit, I use them all the time and are fine. Putting in path will actually not make me bike to summit. Sorry."

"Summit Avenue is beautiful as is and a go to destination for so many in the city. It should be preserved and cherished! The money for this project could be well used elsewhere in the city. So many neighborhoods that need attention and help. Summit does not!!"

"“You don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone.”"

"this whole "project "is a FARCE - I was unable to attend Monday's meeting due to the icy roads.... Summit Avenue is a GEM -- one of the last remaining historical premier streets in not ONLY Saint Paul but nationally taking down mature trees and putting in more cement is just plain WRONG - bicyclists know the ways around the city without taking main streets .. side streets are MUCH safer ... DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN - throwing away & discarding one of the special features of our beautiful city would be a tragedy"

"Almost every weekend I leave the suburbs, where I live, and take a drive. I often end up going to Summit Ave to enjoy the beautiful homes, the gorgeous trees and the overall culture and history of Summit Ave. I was married in a church on Summit Ave in 2003. We chose Summit Ave because of its beauty. The mature trees are truly irreplaceable and that’s coming from someone who works in the landscape industry. I support the save our street petition as well as the families."

"I have enjoyed the Summit Ave as a historic treasure for the past 57 years and believe it is not appropriate to mess with a treasure that is not broken. There are many places to add a bicycle trail and Summit Ave is not right place."

"I’m a cyclist and I do not think this plan is worth the risk to the historic character of the street and the impact on the old trees. There are plenty of places to ride bikes in this city, including Summit Avenue as it exists today. I’ve never felt this street is an unsafe place to ride a bike."

"Enough is enough! Save our streets! Save our trees."

"historic street leave it alone"

"What this new plan fails to consider is those with mobility issues and the fact that this trail would make accessability to Summit Ave nearly impossible. This isnt just a minor inconvience; this is a big concern. Eliminating places for cars to park would also mean less flat surfaces for accessible cars/vans to get their loved ones onto or up to Summit Ave. Speaking from personal experience, making such an area that inaccessible means unfortunately, having to miss out on time with family/friends. Why is the city of St. Paul not taking into consideration the wants/needs of those with physical disabilities?"

"These are historical trees on a historical road. Removing those trees would take away all the character summit Avenue offers our city. We need to care about our environment more than bike paths that bikers don't even use as it is..."

"Summit Avenue has the most Victorian style homes on one street in the whole country, and as nice as the homes are, the trees and open fields of grass, are what makes summit Avenue such an amazing street. Those trees are hundreds of years old and have stood the test of time, and no man, for any reason should control the power to remove these trees. You cannot find the amount of character these trees add to summit Avenue and the city of st paul as a whole anywhere else. Removing these trees only.benefits the rich people that want them gone, nobody else... let's not let greed win. I do not support the removal of healthy trees for any reason whatsoever."

"I have ridden my bike on beautiful Summit Avenue for decades. Nothing needs to change. The street is such a magnificent public good. You cannot replace the trees in a lifetime. Respect what you have, please!"

"The need for this significant city expenditure has not been proven, the damage to trees and the neighborhood's historical ambience is environmentally and esthetically irresponsible, and as a long-time resident of the Hill District, I'm embarrassed that city officials would even consider doing such a thing to one of the most beautiful avenues in the Metro Area. Most of the streets on the Hill are in terrible condition; there are axle-cracking potholes everywhere, and the surface of Summit Avenue itself is a horror show. Please spend our city's resources on something the residents want and need -- streets that are smooth enough to plow effectively and drive on safely -- not a showy, expensive bike trail that will be occasionally used by small fraction of the city's population and perpetually resented by the rest of us."