Hello Streets.mn community,
Welcome to our biweekly newsletter, delivering the latest Streets.mn news and views directly to your inbox! In each issue, our editorial team will provide ongoing stories, news, updates and event information related to Streets.mn, city life and Greater Minnesota.
New in Street Views:
As the legislative session continues to ramp up, we’ll take a look at the efforts to repeal, undermine and delay a 2023 law which requires climate impacts to be considered in the planning of highway projects. This effort, led by state Republicans, threatens Minnesota’s status as a climate and transportation policy leader and could have broad impacts to the way we plan highways. Stay tuned Friday for more.
New in Streets.mn:
Bryan Formhals’ photo essay illustrating the landscape of Minneapolis cycling was a visually rich work. Many Streets.mn writers have tackled this issue from the personal, technical, policy and planning angles, but Bryan’s visual essay brings Minneapolis’ world-class bike infrastructure to life.
Saint Paul Bicycle Coalition Chair Zack Mensinger also wrote about bikes last week, honing in on St. Paul’s new bikeways added in 2024.
Joseph Walden took a deep dive into MnDOT’s Rethinking I-94 process and, as he put it, The Public Discontent at MnDOT’s Disconnect. He also provides helpful info on the decision makers you can contact to make your voice heard.
And Duluth resident James Buchanan reminds us of the benefits the Northern Lights Express could bring to Minnesota as federal headwinds, project uncertainty and partisanship has led the Legislature to cut the initial funding needed to implement the rail line.
Here’s What Else We’re Reading:
- Zak Yudhishthu’s commentary in Minnesota Reformer argues that St. Paul needs to reform its rent stabilization policy to revive development.
- With all the negative news about downtown St. Paul, Peg Guilfoyle’s MinnPost commentary reminds us that downtown still has its upsides and is a place many call home.
- Christopher Ingrahm’s analysis in Minnesota Reformer shows how much the Trump administration has cut federal funding in Minnesota so far.
- Lawsuits in three southern states are seeking to overturn voter approved transit expansions, from States Newsroom.
- David Zipper’s most recent City Lab piece explores the politics of protected bike lanes.
- Though it may be behind a paywall, Greta Kaul wrote a useful article in the Minnesota Star Tribune about the prevalence of bike theft in the Twin Cities and the need for more secure parking. She quoted Mike Vogl, who earlier had written a two-part piece on the topic for Streets.mn.
Upcoming Events:
If you live in Near North or North Minneapolis or would like to learn more about the ongoing study of removing Olson Memorial Highway in Minneapolis, join the Bring Back 6th Chapter of the Minnesota Communities Over Highways Coalition for design week community engagement events! More information can be found here.
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