ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT
To Committee(s)
| # | Committee Name | Meeting Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Public Works & Infrastructure Committee | Jun 23, 2022 |
Action Item(s)
| # | File Type | Subcategory | Item Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Action | Grant | Accepting a grant from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), in the amount of $32,000, for the Community Grant Challenge to support the 2022 Public Works Mobility Hub Pilot. |
| 2 | Resolution | Appropriation | Passage of Resolution approving appropriation of funds to the Public Works Department. |
Ward / Neighborhood / Address
| # | Ward | Neighborhood | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | All Wards |
Background Analysis
In 2019, Public Works launched a mobility hub pilot program to increase access to convenient, low or no carbon transportation options, including transit, shared scooters and Nice Ride bicycles. A mobility hub is a place where people can connect to multiple modes of transportation to make their trip as safe, convenient and reliable as possible. In 2020, the pilot expanded to respond to pandemic response and recovery using a new model of community partnership. In the 2022 Mobility Hub pilot season, Public Works will include elements that support community needs as well as demonstrate the pilot's impact on reducing transportation greenhouse gas emissions in the city.
The AARP Grant would focus on increasing safety, accessibility and comfort at our mobility hubs and hire community ambassadors to help users interact with and learn about Mobility Hubs and provide vital feedback. The $32,000 grant will cover the cost of installing new seating, projectors, and signage to make our Mobility Hubs more welcoming, safer, and easier to navigate. The funds would also cover hiring local ambassadors to help educate older residents on how to use mobility hubs as well as the services available at them - shared bikes, scooters and EV car share. And, the ambassadors will be deployed in high ridership areas to help educate all riders on proper riding and parking behaviors in an effort to surface the impacts that sidewalk riding and misparked shared bikes and scooters have on older adults.
These improvements will be installed in conjunction with the City of Minneapolis Public Works Mobility Hub 2022 Pilot program, which is funded by a MnDOT Clean Transportation Grant and supported by staff time, to pilot new features and inform program development and the capital improvement budget in future years.