Author: Joe Harrington

Joe Harrington

Joe is the Editor-in-chief at Streets.mn and a member of the board of directors. He writes on urban geography, public policy, transportation, and environmental issues. Joe also serves as the Policy manager at Our Streets, aiming to create an equitable and multi-modal transportation future in the Twin Cities. He studied Geography and Environmental Studies at Macalester College and in his free time loves exploring Twin Cities restaurants, cooking, and finding good places to swim or fish.

Photo by Larry Syverson, Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Making Sense of This Year’s Transportation Budget Bill

Joe Harrington and Michael Wojcik • June 26, 2025

With an overbuilt highway system, Minnesota needs legislators willing to invest in safe, affordable transit that is far-reaching and forward-looking.

July 8, 2022-Duluth, Minnesota, USA: Two people use their bikes and scooters on a bike lane on Superior Street. The state May bankroll more sidewalks and bike lanes this session. (H. Jiahong Pan/Minnesota Reformer)

Street Views: Counting Beyond Cars

Joe Harrington • June 6, 2025

Car counts guide urban planning, but what about people on bikes and foot? Does their absence affect streets and public spaces?

The War on Cars live show in Minneapolis in April. Photo by the author.

Street Views: A Conference Fights Highways

Joe Harrington • May 9, 2025

Takeaways from the Communities Over Highways National Summit, where freeway-removal advocates from across the country shared their experiences and perspectives.

Approaching Minneapolis by freeway. Photo by weston m on Unsplash

Street Views: The Road to Climate Accountability

Joe Harrington • April 25, 2025

Minnesota passed bold climate legislation last year, a model for the nation. This session, Republican legislators are trying to bury it.

Street Views: Transit Without Displacement

Joe Harrington • April 11, 2025

No one likes road construction, but too often mass transit projects unfairly take the blame for inconveniences to traffic and local businesses.

A different way to bike the lakes! Photo by Joe Harrington

Street Views: On Frozen Lakes

Joe Harrington • March 27, 2025

The Land of 10,000 Lakes means that hearty residents get acres more of parkland when those lakes freeze during the winter.

Photo: Streets.mn file

Street Views: A Digest of Transportation Bills

Joe Harrington • March 14, 2025

The Minnesota Legislature has transit and active-transportation advocates playing defense — but they’re still moving exciting new initiatives forward.

Rendering of the Native American Community Clinic & Housing project. Source: City of Minneapolis

Street Views: Local Comp Plans (Unofficially) Kick Off

Joe Harrington • March 3, 2025

How might the Met Council’s newly adopted Imagine 2050 plan be implemented in local comp plans? Let’s read the tea leaves of recent trends.