County Streets for People

We are creating a movement to put people first on streets in Minneapolis that are owned by Hennepin County.

Street projects have an outsize impact on our lives--from being able to access opportunity, access to growing and buying food, to affecting housing affordability and displacement of people.

We must transform transportation decision-making on these streets to include those who have been historically left out, especially Black people, Indigenous people and People of Color (BIPOC).

We are not the first group to challenge local transportation decision-making processes. We will center the experiences and wisdom of people who have laid the groundwork for this movement as we continue this work.

Lowry Avenue NE

Lowry Avenue NE

is the boundary line for the Windom Park/Audobon Park neighborhoods and the Bottineau/Marshall Terrace neighborhoods and travels through the Holland neighborhood in Northeast Minneapolis. The Lowry Avenue Bridge crosses the Mississippi River and connects Northeast and North Minneapolis. Before the 1960s, Lowry Avenue NE was a tree-lined neighborhood street with two motor vehicle travel lanes, arching elm trees, and small storefronts. In the 1960s, the street was widened to two lanes in each direction, and in some places to one lane in each direction with parking, by removing the boulevard and street trees. Lowry Avenue NE is scheduled to be reconstructed by Hennepin County in 2023.

Lake Street

Lake Street

is a prominent commercial corridor in Minneapolis that connects the Chain of Lakes, Uptown, Midtown, and the Longfellow communities. Lake Street has historically been a home to new immigrant families and businesses, and is home to many important cultural destinations like Karmel Mall, Plaza Mexico, Mercado Central, and the Somali Museum. Unfortunately, Lake Street also has some of the most dangerous intersections in Minneapolis, especially at intersections with other Hennepin County streets like Cedar, Portland, and Lyndale Avenues.

Franklin Ave

Franklin Ave

connects many different destinations and communities throughout the breadth of Minneapolis. Along it are the American Indian Cultural Corridor and Somali, Ethiopian and Oromo Communities. Franklin Avenue also has the second most crashes where people driving hit people walking or biking. The crash rate on the corridor is two and half times higher than what engineers call a "critical" crash rate.

Lyndale Ave South

Lyndale Ave South

is a vibrant street in South Minneapolis that many local residents and businesses call home. At Open Streets Lyndale we bring 50,000+ people out to bike, walk, roll and play on a street where folks typically would be driving. Yet on a typical day, Lyndale Avenue South isn't an easy, comfortable place to get around without a car. In fact, three out of the 10 most dangerous intersections in Minneapolis are on Lyndale. Given Lyndale's position as a street that connects neighborhoods, schools, parks, and businesses, we must make it a street that puts people first.

West Broadway Ave

West Broadway Ave

is the commercial heart of North Minneapolis and is home to several prominent community organizations, and public space for community gathering. The Northside business district boasts a diverse, young, and growing population, and will only grow further with new housing developments on the horizon. More than half of pedestrian crashes occur within 100 feet of a bus stop. High frequency transit route 5 crosses West Broadway Ave at Penn Ave N, Fremont Ave N and Emerson Ave N. The intersection of Lyndale Ave and West Broadway has a frequent local bus route and the most pedestrian crashes.

Did You Know?

Nearly one in two of the most dangerous streets in Minneapolis are owned by Hennepin County.

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