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Protected bike lanes coming to parts of Blaisdell, Franklin, and 11th Avenue
The designs are approved for new protected bike lanes on Blaisdell Avenue from 29th to 42nd Streets, on Franklin Avenue from Riverside over the Franklin Avenue bridge, and on 11th Avenue from 6th Street to West River Road. All will be installed this year. The protected bike lane network is growing! You can see a map of all this year's protected bikeway addition's here.
Except for the Franklin Avenue bridge, these are all protected bike lanes with flexible posts and we hope they can be upgraded in the future to planters or curbs.
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North Minneapolis Temporary Greenway demonstration
The temporary demonstration greenway is now installed on the 3000-3500 blocks of Irving Ave N. Current plans call for the temporary greenway to be in place for a year so the community can assess interest in a permanent greenway. This comes after years of meaningful and deep community engagement, lots of support, and some concerns to work through. There was a grand opening kick off for the Greenway a few weeks ago.
North Minneapolis deserves nice things. North Minneapolis deserves to have input on whether the greenway is right for their neighborhood. North Minneapolis deserves the Temporary Greenway! If you've heard your neighbors talking about it, it's time to go see it for yourself! Read more on our blog about the process leading up to the demonstration. MinnPost also has a great story on the Greenway.
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Franklin/Cedar/Minnehaha improvements delayed
We are extremely disappointed that needed safety improvements to the Franklin/Cedar/Minnehaha intersection have been delayed until 2017. We understand that construction bids came in higher than expected and funding could not be found to move forward this year. After years of delays, outreach, and promises, we had hoped for more.
We are excited that plans are approved to improve the area. You can read details from the Star Tribune and on our blog.
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Making the 29th Ave Greenway Closure Permanent
Despite positive public feedback (72%) and support from both Longfellow Community Council and the Seward Neighborhood Group, the Public Works has proposed to turn the closure into a ‘half closure’ on a long-term basis. The test closure should be made permanent. We thank Council Members Gordon, Warsame, and Andrew Johnson for their work to make the closure permanent.
Read more for ways you can help make a closure on 29th a permanent change.
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46th Street getting bike lanes
This fall, Hennepin County plans to install bike lanes for most of 46th Street from Lyndale Avenue to Cedar Avenue. This will be a big safety improvement for everyone and make it much easier to bike in the area.
We thank County staff, area Council Members Glidden and Quincy, and local community members--especially from Field Regina Northrop neighborhood--who worked for these improvements.
You can see more details here.
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1st Avenue bike lanes changing
The poorly implemented "protected" bike lanes on 1st Avenue North in the Warehouse District are being reverted to more traditional bike lanes right now.
We are disappointed that a successful pilot with flexible posts to keep people from parking in the bike lane/buffer was never made permanent, but we are ok with this change. Hennepin Avenue is getting protected bike lanes and there are needs for more pedestrian realm space on 1st Avenue. We still know that parking protected bike lanes can work when implemented well (like they are working on Oak Street SE, for example) and will keep advocating for them where appropriate.
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New Public Works Director to be confirmed July 22
Last month, Mayor Hodges nominated Robin Hutcheson as the new Public Works Director. The City Council will confirm her appointment July 22.
Ms. Hutcheson joins from Salt Lake City, where she has served as the Transportation Planning Director. She has been getting national recognition for her work. We are excited to work with her.
You can read more about Ms. Hutcheson here and in this Star Tribune story on her appointment hearing.
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Connection to Midtown Greenway included in Calhoun Village plans
Calhoun Village, a shopping complex between Lake Street and the Midtown Greenway (map) will be including a new protected bikeway connection to the Greenway. This protected bikeway is planned to eventually connect to Lake Calhoun directly. This is a critical first step to making that possible. We thank the developer (Doran), Cedar-Isles-Dean Neighborhood Association, and staff for their work on this.
You can see the broader plan for this connection here (pages 71-74).
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