Hennepin Ave S will be reconstructed in 2026. We're organizing to ensure that people biking, walking, and rolling are prioritized in the design.
UPDATE 5/27/22: Staff directive to save Hennepin Ave S bus lanes passes through committee. Next step: Full Council Vote
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.
On May 19, the Public Works & Infrastructure (PWI) Committee passed a staff direction that would restore 24/7 bus lanes on day 1 of the Hennepin Avenue S reconstruction opening. The plan was brought to full City Council and then returned back to committee at the May 25th Council meeting. The layout will once again need to be amended to include 24/7 bus lanes at the June 9th PWI committee meeting.
We are calling on Ward 10 council member Aisha Chughtai to seek a vote on June 9th to amend the Public Works Department recommended design and RESTORE the original layout, and we are calling on the members of the PWI Committee Members Andrew Johnson, Elliott Payne, Robin Wonsley Worlobah, LaTrisha Vetaw, and Emily Koski to support and vote for this amendment — including all day 24/7 bus lanes on Day 1!
Other ways to support putting people first on Hennepin Ave S:
Send an Email to All Project Leaders
Send an email to tell Public Works Director Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Mayor Jacob Frey and City Council Members to restore the original layout that includes 24/7 bus lanes. Click here to send an email.
Take the Survey
Hennepin Avenue is due to be reconstructed. This survey captures your experience on Hennepin and feedback for the proposed designed. It takes less than five minutes to complete!
Click here to take the survey
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 Worlobah | 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] |
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] |
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] |