Despite broad community support and a clearly identified need, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) did not apply for a Bloomberg Philanthropies asphalt art grant for the Olson Memorial Highway & Van White Boulevard intersection. Although the City of Minneapolis expressed support for asphalt art on Olson, because MnDOT owns the right-of-way, MnDOT needed to approve the project.

Open Streets Minneapolis, the highly-anticipated event series that closes city streets to motor vehicle traffic, will kick off the 2023 season this Saturday, June 10, 2023, in Midtown. Lake Street from 2nd Avenue South to 22nd Ave South will be closed to car traffic from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m for Minneapolis residents to enjoy unique neighborhood businesses and safe biking, walking and rolling.

Community organizations in the Near North neighborhood of Minneapolis joined together to ask the City of Minneapolis, Vision Zero, and MnDOT to apply for funding to install an asphalt art pilot project at the intersection of Olson Memorial Highway and Van White Boulevard. The dangerous intersection could benefit from a project like this, as data shows asphalt art projects significantly reduce pedestrian crashes and unsafe driving behavior.