I’m on a workgroup through Our Streets Mpls, and I’m asking you to show your support for safer bikeways through downtown, specifically on 9th and 10th streets. These streets were added to the Bicycle Master Plan back in 2016, but there is currently no plan or schedule for improvement.
Currently, the infrastructure afforded to me and my fellow cyclists on these streets is a stripe of paint and some well-wishes. I believe we need more than that, and I’m asking Minneapolis Public Works to put these streets on the list for improvement by 2020.
One proposal, not significantly different from the existing streetscape but adding critical safety features. Buildings not to scale.
I’m asking the following, of you the reader:
- Please take this survey, putting your name on a list showing you support improvements to 9th & 10th.
- Get a friend or three to take the survey.
If you’re interested in advocating for improvements to downtown bikeways with me, please come to a meeting, the next one is November 5th!
10th was one of my “worst streets” awhile back. Some of the best block is gone now (currently apartments under construction).
But the thing is, we don’t need all that space for cars. 10th doesn’t really even get congested at rush hour (well, certainly not now with the 35W entrance closed). Let’s shrink it and give some of that extra space to people on bikes and on foot.
Can’t believe I forgot the self-promoting link: https://streets.mn/2015/04/11/more-on-bad-downtown-streets/
you’re completely not wrong – I am deliberately making as moderate a proposal as I could conceive of to get buy-in from car-havers. if public works wants to make it better, they have my complete support.
long as you’re not eliminating street parking. street parking is *essential* for businesses in downtown, it provides short term parking, especially for deliveries,contractor, and customers. i don’t think you’ll ever get non removable barriers with bike lanes, due to plowing needs.
We’ve just added curb protections on 11th Ave downtown and Plymouth Ave in North and bought a small street sweeper to be able to clean them. I think they do snow removal with a pickup.
There’s almost no street level retail on 9th and 10th, so no, on street parking isn’t essential. A parking ramp or surface parking lot or even office building does not rely on on-street parking and especially east of 2nd Ave, available on-street parking on these street is often unused.
But the primary issues with these streets are excessive lane widths and capacity so there shouldn’t be a need to get rid of parking, which is helpful for traffic calming in its own right when used.
Is Our Streets identified on the survey? I didn’t see it. Might be a good idea to let people know who they are interacting with.
Downtown streets need more street trees. I just walked 9th St from Chicago to Marquette this morning. Not only are there approximately zero street trees, there are dozens of empty tree grates along this stretch (many with stumps still in the ground).
argh, don’t I know it. I wonder whether they were all wiped out by cars or by salt.
I completely support getting some nice trees back in those grates come spring – let me know who to ask about that.
ill second that… downtown looks much better and livelier with greenery
Here’s the details on how to request a boulevard tree from the city. You do not have to be the property owner to make the request. Deadline is 11/1:
Request a New Boulevard Tree
Minneapolis residents and property owners are welcome to request a new boulevard tree by calling 612-313-7710 or emailing forestry@minneapolisparks.org.
We will review your request, inspect the location to make sure it is possible to plant a tree, and make sure there is enough money budgeted for the tree planting. We will let you know if we cannot plant the tree you request.
We finalize our spring planting list by November 1 to allow time to purchase trees from commercial nurseries. After November 1, we begin preparing the next year’s planting list, so it is possible that we may not replace a tree we removed in December for 1.5 years.
We will select the type of tree, and plant it during the season that is best for the tree.
https://www.minneapolisparks.org/park_care__improvements/trees/boulevard_trees/
Doesn’t the city have a five year capital plan? The street projects for 2020 have probably already been selected.
These corridors will be up for evaluation and design by the City in the next couple years, just a heads up. Obviously your opinion is valued and take the poll, all voices matter. But it is currently on the docket from the Protected Bikeway Master Plan Update the author had mentioned.