Why a 4 to 3 conversion on Lyndale Ave S?

At Our Streets Minneapolis, we’re calling for a short term safety treatment called a 4 to 3 conversion on Lyndale Ave S from Franklin Ave to 31st street. Here is some more information on this treatment and our stance.

What is a 4 to 3 conversion?

A 4 to 3 conversion is a type of road safety treatment. In this treatment, a 4 lane  street without a center median, like Lyndale Ave S, is transformed to have two car travel lanes in each direction, with a two-way center turn lane.

Why are you recommending a 4 to 3 conversion right now?

Lyndale Ave S is currently a four lane undivided highway. These types of streets have a high number of crashes and are especially unsafe for people biking, walking and rolling. There are also high numbers of car crashes caused by differences in speeds between cars, and a higher rate of weaving between lanes.

Lyndale Ave S is no exception. This street is part of the City’s “high injury crash network”, a small number of streets that contribute to a majority of severe injury and fatal crashes in Minneapolis. Five out of the top ten intersections with the most vehicle crashes in Minneapolis are on Lyndale Ave S, according to the Vision Zero Crash report.  

4 to 3 conversions have been consistently proven to significantly improve safety on these streets—with one study showing up to a 47% percent reduction in crashes. This conversion can be done very quickly, in just a few days using just paint. It can also be carried out at a very low cost.

Will car traffic get worse?

Hennepin County’s own data says that traffic congestion either decreases or stays the same after a 4-3 conversion. 

We are calling on Hennepin County to take a stand—to prioritize human life over traffic congestion concerns. A 4 to 3 conversion will be a first step towards building a Lyndale Avenue that puts people first.

Why are you not asking for more active transportation infrastructure like bike lanes and wider sidewalks?

Because Lyndale Ave S is so dangerous right now, our goal is to advocate for a proven short term treatment that will provide immediate safety benefits: a 4 to 3 conversion.

We will continue to engage community members to help create a long term vision for Lyndale Ave S. This will likely happen only when the corridor is fully reconstructed—a process that can take years. From a safety perspective, we cannot afford to wait that long and continue to put community lives in danger. We see this 4 to 3 conversion as an important first step in a longer term reconstruction process.

Will this affect parking?

This will not affect existing street parking. All existing street parking will remain after a 4 to 3 conversion is carried out.

How can I help make this happen?

Contact your Hennepin County Commissioner and ask them to direct staff at Hennepin County Public Works to carry out a 4-3 conversion on Lyndale Ave S immediately. Find out who represents you by using the map below or this district locator.

• District 1: Mike Opat | (612) 348-7881, [email protected]
• District 2: Irene Fernando | (612) 348-7882, [email protected]
• District 3: Marion Greene | (612) 348-7883, [email protected]
• District 4: Angela Conley | (612) 348-7884, [email protected]
• District 5: Debbie Goettel | (612) 348-7885, [email protected]
• District 6: Jan Callison | (612) 348-7886, [email protected]
• District 7: Jeff Johnson | (612) 348-7887, [email protected] 

 
You can also email Carla Steuve, the Hennepin County engineer in charge of this project.