Request for Committee Action

2018-00568 - Grant applications through the 2018 Metropolitan Council Regional Solicitation Program for federal transportation funds

Scope
The proposed project will provide pedestrian safety improvements and ADA accessibility at select intersections (see attached project map and layout for location details) along the Lyndale Avenue North corridor between 22nd Avenue North and 40th Avenue North, which is a high injury street in Minneapolis. A speed study, performed in November 2020, showed high levels of speeding traffic along the corridor, including sections where as many as 15% of the vehicles were travelling over 40 miles per hour, despite a posted speed limit of 25 miles per hour. The corridor is also identified in the Minneapolis Pedestrian Crash Study as a Pedestrian Crash Concentration Corridor. The prioritization of this project supports the City’s goals around safety, climate, equity and mobility as described in the Transportation Action Plan and its commitment to Vision Zero to eliminate serious and fatal crashes by 2027. Lyndale Avenue North serves as a transit corridor in north Minneapolis and is located on or near several schools, parks, and commercial areas. Given the community’s low rate of auto ownership, safe and comfortable pedestrian access to transit services along Lyndale Avenue North is key for residents to access the broader metropolitan area for work, school, services, recreation, and retail needs.

Minneapolis was awarded $1,000,000 in federal funds for the project in the 2018 Metropolitan Council Regional Solicitation for 2022 construction. The key elements of the project include adding pedestrian refuge islands (also known as medians), narrowing the roadway, adding mid-block bump outs, and upgrading the curb ramps to meet ADA accessibility standards. The pedestrian refuge islands allow people walking to focus on crossing one lane of traffic at a time while reducing crossing distances, making it a more comfortable and safer crossing. The mid-block bump outs will encourage drivers to slow down as they approach and exit the intersection, improving safety for all users. Lastly, the ADA curb ramp upgrades will ensure that people of all abilities will be able to effectively use these intersections and benefit from the previously mentioned safety upgrades.

Layout
After considering a series of alternatives, the design team focused on two options that were used in engagement with the public. One option used a bump out design, which narrowed the roadway, but did not include a median design. The other option is the one currently being recommended, which includes medians at each intersection. The median option was the clear favorite preferred by stakeholders through public engagement and the technical benefits of the median design also showed offer greater potential to reduce vehicle speeds on the corridor, which was one of the primary goals of the project for increasing pedestrian safety and comfort. The project team is coordinating with Metro Transit to confirm the placement and spacing of the transit stops along the corridor as part of final design.

Easements
Public Works is requesting authorization to negotiate with private property owners and partner agencies (Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and Minneapolis Public Schools) to acquire easements and additional right of way if needed.