Most everyone has seen the white bollards at various Northeast streets and intersections; they’re part of the city’s program of “traffic calming,” safety improvements aimed at reducing vehicle speeds and changing driver behavior while increasing conditions for pedestrians and cyclists.
At an April 11 presentation at Van Cleve Park, members of Minneapolis Public Works Traffic and Parking division answered questions about 24 upcoming local traffic calming projects for 2024.
Work in Northeast involves some of the intersections on Polk Street, from Lowry Avenue to 18th Avenue NE, and will include more bollard installations, along with traffic circles, speed humps and median islands. The designs are a product of a new process for determining the neighborhood streets eligible for traffic calming installations. Following approval by the Minneapolis City Council in August 2022, city residents, property owners, business owners and neighborhood organizations can submit applications for traffic improvements in their neighborhood.
The criteria for traffic calming requests are based on traffic conditions and volume, history of vehicle crashes, proximity to neighborhood destinations and opportunities to further city equity goals, among others.
At the Van Cleve park meeting, Supervisor Engineering Technician Kevin Thomsen said, “Until recently, there was no real system to look at residents’ traffic complaints, compare them, figure out how best to use our limited resources and make informed decisions.” By creating the application process, the department can see the specific concerns and put them on a map.
Thomsen said that work on the chosen intersections are “quick build” projects, causing for the most part minor closures, a day or even a portion of a day. He noted that at this point in the process, there are no cost estimates for individual projects because the specific calming treatments have not yet been finalized. The department will be using the feedback received at the open houses, on their online comment map, and a project survey, as well as data collection done at each location to determine the final recommendations. The current survey closed April 30, and they expect to have the data collection completed by June 1.
Thomsen noted that the Public Works Transportation Maintenance and Repair people manage the construction of the traffic calming treatments, and they will try to complete the Polk Street area in one day, if possible. Closures are usually a day or less and not a full closure, the goal being minimal disruption to the residents. The installations are typically followed by Public Works Traffic and Parking Services crews making appropriate updates to signage. Thomsen said that ADA pedestrian corner upgrades are managed separately, but there may be an opportunity to do some of the work concurrently where possible, adding, “Both projects complement each other to improve safety and accessibility.”
The goal is to start Polk Street construction in late June. Those residents who attended open houses and provided contact information will be informed via email, and door hangers will be distributed in the areas prior to work starting. The traffic calming website will post updates and large signs will be placed in locations where traffic calming treatments will be installed.
To read more about the traffic calming projects, find a schedule of open houses and to request traffic calming in your area, visit https://www2.minneapolismn.gov/government/departments/public-works/traffic-parking-services/traffic-calming/.
Bollards at N. 29th and Humboldt Avenues. (Minneapolis Department of Public Works)
residents at the Van Cleve Park meeting on traffic calming projects talk with Helen Schuda. (Mark Peterson)
A traffic circle at N. 29th and Girard Avenues. (Minneapolis Department of Public Works)
a speed bump which is also used for “traffic calming.” (Minneapolis Department of Public Works)
