Hennepin Ave South Fight Continues
This week, the Minneapolis City Council fell just one vote short of overriding Mayor Frey’s Hennepin Avenue bus lane veto. It’s not what we wanted, but we are so grateful to our advocates, our partners, and our elected allies for staying strong.
Council members who voted to override the veto and save the full-time bus lanes: Elliott Payne (Ward 1), Robin Wonsley (Ward 2), Jeremiah Ellison (Ward 5), Jamal Osman (Ward 6), Andrea Jenkins (Ward 8), Jason Chavez (Ward 9), Aisha Chughtai (Ward 10), and Andrew Johnson (Ward 12).
Council members who voted no, blocking the bus lanes: Michael Rainville (Ward 3), LaTrisha Vetaw (Ward 4), Lisa Goodman (Ward 7), Emily Koski (Ward 11), and Linea Palmisano (Ward 13).
The fight for Hennepin Ave South is about more than one stretch of road. It’s about the future of this city. And the great news is that we have growing support and consensus that full-time bus lanes are imperative—from local residents to the majority of the Minneapolis City Council to the entire Minneapolis delegation of the state legislature. And just this week, Hennepin County Commissioner Irene Fernando publicly shared her support for 24/7 dedicated bus lanes on Hennepin Ave NE!
Meanwhile, our Minneapolis mayor, public works director, and a handful of council members are doing all they can to prevent critical climate action while time is literally running out to secure a livable future for everyone in this community. Imagine blocking Minneapolis’s ability to deliver climate-essential transit solutions the same week the U.S. Supreme Court blocked the EPA’s ability to deliver climate-essential climate regulations! It is mind-boggling and inexcusable.
Minneapolis can be a city that lives up to its promises to protect our air and climate, advance racial and economic equity, and encourage thriving neighborhoods for all. But to accomplish that we need better bus service and streets for people—and we need our leaders to lead.
What’s Next
Negotiations on the future of Hennepin Ave South and full-time bus lanes will continue with the whole street layout again heading back to committee. With your support, we’ll keep fighting to boost the bus—on Hennepin Ave and across the Twin Cities!
Sign our new Boost the Bus petition to show your support for more bus lanes.
Are you on Twitter? Like and retweet our latest Hennepin Ave thread to amplify this message along with great photos from the Hennepin for People march!