Author: Matt Steele

Matt Steele

Matt Steele

Matt's passion is fostering resiliency in local transportation and land use decisions. He's at @matthewsteele.

A Centering Exercise for Hennepin Avenue

Will Rogers once said, “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” And while actual steel track is unfortunately not in the future for Hennepin Avenue between Uptown and Downtown, we’re on the right track thinking about Arterial Bus Rapid Transit and dedicated bus lanes on this […]

Missing Middle Housing Transect Diagram

Dear City of Minneapolis

My open letter to City of Minneapolis officials and staff regarding the disposition of a vacant, city-owned lot. I’m disappointed to see the recent article in the Southwest Journal, “Project with most parking wins vote in Lyndale neighborhood.” I am urging you and city staff to choose the 32+ unit apartment proposal that serves the interests […]

Would We Really Miss It?

The Rochester Post-Bulletin reports that a critical piece of Minnesota infrastructure would be open today, if not for the legislative deadlock that prevented a comprehensive transportation funding package last session. This bridge serves County Road O, a critical east–west link in Dodge County just south of Claremont. “A bridge in Dodge County has become the […]

Minneapolis’ Zoning Code Continues to Make Housing Unaffordable

There’s an Ethiopian proverb that goes something like, “When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion.” When it comes to housing, Minneapolitans may have it better than those in Seattle, San Francisco, D.C., and Brooklyn, but a larger and wider slice of Minneapolis is feeling the pinch of fast-rising rents. For some, this even means […]

For Bde Maka Ska, a New Bridge to Honor a New Name

In an effort to boost accessibility and equity, Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board has announced plans to bridge Lake Street across the north end of Lake Bde Maka Ska (also known as Lake Calhoun). The eight lane bridge is expected to be complete by summer of 2018, and is expected to save tens of thousands of motorists […]

Map of the Day: Duluth’s Canal Parking

After a ridiculously warm weekend, it seems like spring has arrived early. Before you know it, thousands of us Minneapolis-types will be driving up Interstate 35 to the cool shores of Gitche Gumee. Since its post-industrial low point a few decades ago, Duluth has built Canal Park into one of the top-drawing tourist spots in the state. […]

Twenty Is Plenty Tuesdays

Happy Tuesday! Tuesdays are a great weekday to be paired with other weekly things that start with T, such as Taco Tuesday and Two For Tuesday. The only thing that could make Tuesday worse is if you have to drive a motor vehicle as part of your routine, but here’s another T thing for Tuesdays which may […]

The Value of Snow Emergencies

If you’re like me, you’ve heard people complain about Minneapolis or St. Paul’s snow emergency rules, that they’re complex and burdensome. In reality, these complexities may be a pain a handful of times a year they apply, but they allow for better cities all year long. If you speak Minnesotan, you know that a snow emergency is an event […]

Free Parking Still Not a Transit Investment

Will Rogers once said, “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” While that may be true, he didn’t even bother to explain what happens if you’re on the wrong track. As a region, we continue to be on the wrong track when it comes to how […]

Roundabout Myths (video)

A local engineering firm is out with a new video debunking 10 common roundabout “myths,” which surely wouldn’t stump our wonderful streets.mn readership. Rochester City Councilor Michael Wojcik posted a link to this video on his blog: While I suspect the publishers would never admit it, poor decision making by the Rochester City Council likely […]