Editor’s note: Walk the Talk is Streets.mn’s carefully curated, highly partisan collection of both serious and fun-loving events, community meetings and opportunities for engagement that we think will interest our readers. Email your ideas to Hawken Habig, one of our daily editors, at [email protected].
Annual Fundraiser: Nightmare on Our Streets — Wednesday, October 30, 6-8 p.m.
Our Streets — the driving force behind a number of ambitious (non-driving) transportation-related initiatives, including the Twin Cities Boulevard and Bring Back 6th — will be hosting their annual (Halloween-themed) fundraiser the evening of October 30 at Dual Citizen Brewing in St. Paul. Your $50 ticket will include dinner, as well as access to a silent auction and a door prize entry; donating an extra $10 will allow entrance into the costume contest. Those coming from the east or the west can also join group rides starting at Lake Phalen and Humboldt/Midtown Greenway, respectively. Find more information about the event (and Our Streets) here!
Metro G Line Corridor Plan Feedback — by October 25
Continuing apace with its extensive plans for a regional bus rapid transit (BRT) network, Metro Transit released last month the initial Recommended Corridor Plan for the G Line along Rice and Robert streets in St. Paul. Slated to begin construction in 2026, and to open about two years later, the G Line will expand the BRT network to a pivotal north-south corridor through St. Paul. The new plan includes info on service, integration and preliminary station and street designs along the corridor. The G Line will help to overhaul the corridor along other street redesign projects, including a reconstruction of a section of Rice Street — which will reduce vehicle lanes and add a shared-use path — and the Robert Street reconstruction in downtown St. Paul (which will disappointingly feature no bus lanes). Metro Transit is gathering feedback on specific stations here, and any general comments on the G Line may be given at [email protected] or 651-829-5305.
Vote! — Tuesday, November 5 (or Earlier)
I know that everyone is talking incessantly about the upcoming general election on November 5, and that the topic can be quite tiresome at times, especially with the non-stop bombardment of advertising. But I’d encourage you to shift your attention away from the rambunctious national races and take a moment to focus on state and local seats. For housing, transportation, planning and a host of other urban affairs, the state and local government can make a huge impact, whether it be over bus lanes, transit funding or zoning reform. Here I’ve listed a few resources where you can find info on how/where to vote, the races, the candidates and other ballot measures. Just click on the highlighted text below.
- Election day voting rules (Secretary of State)
- Absentee/early-voting rules (Secretary of State)
- Your ballot info (based on location, through MyBallotMN)
- MinnPost’s Voter Guide
- MinnPost analysis on “swing” Minnesota House seats
- Minnesota House and Senate 2023-24 Legislative Session voting records
2024 Transportation Summit — Wednesday, November 20, 8-11 a.m.
One of the largest barriers to successful construction projects is how they can hamper the businesses and communities along the street that the work affects, which is why Move Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Regional Chamber have made it a focus of the 2024 Transportation Summit: Exploring How Businesses Can Survive and Thrive Through Construction. The event takes place the morning of Wednesday, November 20, and will feature a number of speakers who will address how to navigate transportation infrastructure projects while considering the issues faced by local businesses. You can register for the event here: It is free of charge and includes a breakfast, as well as a complimentary transit pass available via Metro Transit.