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 Streets.mn:
Brian Mitchell, a streets.mn board member, wrote a fantastic historically based piece on the Minneapolis 29th Street railroad depression that later gave rise to the Midtown Greenway. His reporting is very rich, unearthing photos and a Minneapolis Tribune Map from 1908 that I found particularly interesting. Stay tuned for part two as Brian continues to explore.
I enjoyed Sylvie Hyman’s piece about fighting for safe streets in the western suburbs, highlighting local planning fights for safe, multimodal streets on the project and systems level. It’s a great read, and it’s critical that suburban residents have safe spaces to bike, walk, roll and take transit… not just drive.
Colin Jones opened my eyes to efforts to transform the streets of Duluth through the advocacy of Vibrant Streets Duluth. Definitely check out this piece. We look forward to hearing more from Duluth’s advocacy scene soon.
And, weighing in on the contentious issue of the future of the Northstar Commuter Rail, Macalester student Adam Schwalbe, argues that it’s time to call it quits on the struggling commuter rail service from Minneapolis to Big Lake. Agree with Adam or not, we certainly have to do something– whether that means extending it to St. Cloud, increasing the frequency on the existing route or walking away altogether.
Here’s What Else We’re Reading:
- The Problem with My City Is That It’s A City is humorous take on NIMBYism and whether or not the people who complain about city life actually want to live in cities from the geniuses over at McSweeney’s.
- This piece in StreetsBlogUSA explores whether now is the right time to nix the federal highway trust fund. Replacing this outdated system with something friendlier to transit and active transportation projects is a target of national advocates preparing for Congress’s next big transportation package next year.
- Politico and StreetsBlog Chicago reported on the Illinois legislature’s plan to consolidate transit agencies in the city, without addressing the huge funding gap the system faces.
- The USDOT isn’t the only agency stepping in to kill good projects. A new state law gave Utah’s DOT more power to stop active transportation projects in Salt Lake City.
- From MinnPost, Trump’s budget bill would cut over $1 billion from green energy projects in Minnesota
- Bill Lindeke was spot on with this piece about protecting Minnesota’s nation-leading climate impacts of highways law. Based on what we know about the legislature’s transportation deal, the law is safe for now. Read more about this law and stay tuned for end of session legislative updates at Streets.mn.
- And, unsurprisingly to many Streets.mn readers, some of the most bike-friendly cities in the world are also among the happiest!
Upcoming Events:
And the METRO B Line will be opening on Saturday, June 14, with celebrations around Minneapolis and St. Paul. See Metro Transit for more information.
Summer FTW Rides: Perennial Cycle in Minneapolis (a strong supporter of BikeMN) is hosting periodic Wednesday evening rides for bicyclists who are femme/trans/women (FTW) or non-binary. The rides are six to 12 miles, with a social pace of under 10 mph, and a destination of breweries “or other fun food/drink spots.” Next dates: June 11 and July 2. Meet at 6 p.m. behind the shop at 3342 Hennepin Ave. S. Details here.
Free State Parks Day: Four times a year, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) offers free entrance to all Minnesota state parks and recreation areas. Mark your calendars! Saturday, June 14, is the third Free Park Day in 2025, and there’s not another one until November. “The goal is to encourage families and friends to spend time together in nature,” the DNR says. Note that user fees (such as camping) and rentals are extra.
Come out for volunteer doorknocking to save the Twin Cities Boulevard with Our Streets and Twin Cities DSA on Saturday, June 14, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. meeting at Matthews Recreation Center in Minneapolis. Can’t join? Then come to a Transportation Advocate Happy Hour on June 13th, 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Arbeiter Brewing Company!
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