Hennepin Ave S will be reconstructed in 2026. We're organizing to ensure that people biking, walking, and rolling are prioritized in the design.
Reconstruction returns to council.
On December 7, 2021 the Minneapolis Public Works Department released their recommended layout for the Hennepin Avenue South reconstruction project from Lake Street to Douglas Avenue (construction will begin in 2024). The design includes car traffic lanes in both directions with additional dedicated left-turn lanes, full-time dedicated bus lanes, wider sidewalks, a protected bikeway, improved crosswalks, a planted center median, and more. This design would make Hennepin Avenue S comfortable and accessible for all users.
After months of delay, Public Works is finally bringing forward the final layout for approval by the Minneapolis City Council. Unfortunately the original plan has been changed and 24/7 bus lanes will no longer be included when the new street opens in 2026.
Public Works may claim that this layout is the same as the original plan, however that is not true. The current plan would delay the implementation of 24/7 bus lanes until an unspecified date in the future. There is no accountability and no reason to believe that this will happen anytime soon. This is unacceptable. These bus lanes are urgently needed for the thousands who depend on transit to access their daily needs. 24/7 bus lanes must be included on day 1 of the project's opening.
It has been revealed that research supporting dedicated bus lanes has been withheld during City Council meetings. This represents a clear lack of transparency and accountability from the Public Works Director and Mayor. The need for 24/7 lanes should not be undermined.
The Minneapolis City Council passed a layout amendment to include 24/7 Bus Lanes on Day 1, but Mayor Frey vetoed the action. City Council did not override the veto despite a majority of council members voting to do so. The Hennepin Ave S reconstruction now returns to committee for review. Disappointingly, Councilmembers Chughtai and Johnson moved forward with a compromise that would delays 24/7 bus lanes for several years.
This compromise is at the expense of people who rely on transit the most. While this is a setback, we will continue organizing for improvements on Hennepin as the project continues.
Other ways to support putting people first on Hennepin Ave S:
Read the letter from Minnesota Senators and Legislators
Inviting Mayor Frey and the Metropolitan Council to talk to transit riders
With 24/7 bus lanes removed from the Hennepin Ave S design, transit riders will be left behind. Agencies including Metro Transit, the Metropolitan Council, and the City have described the importance of these lanes in meeting our climate and equity goals. We're invited key decision makers to canvass with us and hear directly from the people most impacted by this project.
Click here to read the letter to the Mayor
Click here to read the letter to Metropolitan Council members
Letter of support for Hennepin Ave S reconstruction from Pueblos de Lucha y Esperanza.
Contact your Representatives: Our Streets Minneapolis is working with Hennepin for People to put people first on Hennepin Avenue S. Learn more about Hennepin for People on their website here.
Find contact information below. This table is best viewed on desktops and larger screens.
Title | Name | phone | |
Mayor | Jacob Frey | 612-673-2100 | [email protected] |
Mayor Chief of Staff | Mychal Vlatkovich | 612-673-3665 | |
Director of Strategic Partnerships | Affordable Housing | Andrea Inouye | 612-673-2984 | |
Senior Policy Aide | Becky Boland | 612-673-2100 | |
Public Safety | Jared Jeffries | 612-368-0552 | |
Director of Policy and Government Affairs | Peter Ebnet | 612-673-2156 | |
Director of Economic Development & Policy Inclusion | Rebecca Fabunmi | 612-673-3711 | |
Communications Director | Tara Niebeling | 612-673-3825 | |
Office Associate | Tou Tou Khamsot | 612-673-3477 | |
Press Secretary | Katie Lauer | 612-673-2100 | |
Council Member | Elliott Payne | 612-673-2201 | [email protected] |
Ward 1 Policy Aide | Benjamin Carrier | 612-673-2003 | [email protected] |
Ward 1 Policy Aide | Liam Davis Temple | 612-673-7920 | [email protected] |
Council Member | Robin Wonsley | 612-673-2202 | [email protected] |
Ward 2 Policy Aide | Qannani Omar | 612-673-7142 | [email protected] |
Ward 2 Policy Aide | Celeste Robinson | 612-673-3654 | [email protected] |
Council Member | Michael Rainville | 612-673-2203 | [email protected] |
Ward 3 Policy Aide | Ryan San Cartier | 612-673-3142 | [email protected] |
Ward 3 Policy Aide | Henry Jarvinen | 612-673-3126 | [email protected]polismn.gov |
Council Member | Latrisha Vetaw | 612-673-2204 | [email protected] |
Ward 4 Policy Aide | Betsy Brock | 612-673-3313 | [email protected] |
Ward 4 Policy Aide | Maggie Kohl | 612-673-7930 | [email protected] |
Council Member | Jeremiah Ellison | 612-673-2205 | [email protected] |
Ward 5 Policy Aide | Dieu Do | 612-673-3198 | [email protected] |
Ward 5 Policy Aide | Bethany Turnwall | 612-673-7140 | [email protected] |
Council Member | Jamal Osman | 612-673-2206 | [email protected] |
Ward 6 Policy Aide | Sean Broom | 612-673-3315 | [email protected] |
Ward 6 Policy Aide | Hamdiya Abdulahi | 612-673-7139 | [email protected] |
Council Member | Lisa Goodman | 612-673-2207 | [email protected] |
Ward 7 Policy Aide | Patrick Sadler | 612-673-3195 | [email protected] |
Ward 7 Policy Aide | Zach Schultz | 612-673-7144 | [email protected] |
Council Member | Andrea Jenkins | 612-673-2208 | [email protected] |
Ward 8 Policy Aide | Deebaa Sirdar | 612-673-3569 | [email protected]apolismn.gov |
Ward 8 Policy Aide | Zoe Bourgerie | 612-673-7144 | [email protected] |
Council Member | Jason Chavez | 612-673-2209 | [email protected] |
Ward 9 Policy Aide | Zaynab Mohamed | 612-673-7196 | [email protected] |
Ward 9 Policy Aide | Aurin Chowdhury | 612-673-7145 | [email protected] |
Council Member | Aisha Chughtai | 612-673-2210 | [email protected] |
Ward 10 Policy Aide | LyLy Vang Yang | 612-673-3197 | [email protected] |
Ward 10 Policy Aide | Yasmin Hirsi | 612-673-7169 | [email protected] |
Council Member | Emily Koski | 612-673-2211 | [email protected] |
Ward 11 Policy Aide | Melissa Hill | 612-673-3314 | [email protected] |
Ward 11 Policy Aide | Corinne Horowitz | 612-673-7143 | [email protected] |
Council Member | Andrew Johnson | 612-673-2212 | [email protected] |
Ward 12 Policy Aide | Kate Nelson | 612-673-2378 | [email protected] |
Ward 12 Policy Aide | Dylan Kesti | 612-673-7138 | [email protected] |
Council Member | Linea Palmisano | 612-673-2213 | [email protected] |
Ward 13 Policy Aide | John Freude | 612-673-3199 | [email protected] |
Ward 13 Policy Aide | Ruth Olson | 612-673-7147 | [email protected] |
Public Works Director | Margaret Anderson Kelliher | [email protected] | |
Deputy Director and City Engineer | Bryan Dodds | 612-673-3061 | [email protected] |
Transportation Planning Manager | Nathan Koster | 612-246-0220 | [email protected] |
Transportation Planning Manager | Kathleen Mayell | 612-419-9835 | [email protected] |
Transportation Planning Director | Jenifer Hager | 612-673-3625 | [email protected] |