Citation

Knudson PT. City Community 2009; 8(2): 177-195.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Section on Community and Urban Sociology, American Sociological Association, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1540-6040.2009.01279.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article, by examining the planning, development, construction, and operation of the Hiawatha light‐rail transit line in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, attempts to further the understanding of coalition‐building between lawmakers in urban and suburban areas, as well as those at the local, state, and federal levels, and how this cooperation affects metropolitan areas. The analysis relies on primary and secondary data from local newspapers, radio transcripts, and organization websites and materials from 1995 to 2007 to examine the political processes surrounding the project. Previous research on coalition‐building strategies and regionalism informs the theoretical approach of the article. Key findings suggest that traffic congestion acts as a powerful motivator for uniting urban and suburban interests. The research also supports previous findings that big‐city mayors seldom take the lead in promoting regional cooperation. In addition, findings suggest that governor‐brokered coalitions can be relatively unstable, and that the possibility for receiving federal funds promotes regional cooperation along the lines of transportation issues.