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Infrastructure

With Over 1,200 Petition Signatures, Strong Show of Support for Dedicated Bus Lanes and Protected Bikeway on Hennepin Ave South

November 5, 2021

Bus lane and bike lane supporters gathered for an outdoor action along Hennepin Ave S in Minneapolis. A Metro Transit bus passes in the background.

Pressure is mounting for an accessible, sustainable, and neighborhood-oriented redesign of Hennepin Avenue South in Minneapolis. Move Minnesota and grassroots allies Hennepin for People have recently collected over 1,200 signatures supporting a dedicated bus lane and protected bikeway on Hennepin Avenue South. Last week, Minneapolis residents and advocacy groups held a joint press conference at City Hall to deliver the petition signatures to Minneapolis decision-makers—and call for progress on a street design that puts people and climate first.

The City of Minneapolis plans to reconstruct Hennepin Avenue South in 2023-24, but has repeatedly delayed choosing a design for the project. City staff recently committed to presenting a design for the approval of City elected officials in Q4 of 2021.

Street design is an urgent issue of climate leadership that will impact Minneapolis residents today and for generations to come, suggested Sam Rockwell, Executive Director at Move Minnesota, emphasizing: “The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change tells us we need ‘significant reductions in car use,’ along with ‘walkable cities’ and ‘transit corridors’ to eliminate emissions. Minneapolis’s design option #1 for Hennepin Avenue, which features bus and bike lanes, meets these criteria. The delay in approving these facilities is insidious and reprehensible climate denial, plain and simple. It’s time for Minneapolis to be part of the climate solution, not the problem, and that means transforming our streetscapes into sustainable, livable spaces.”

The delay in approving these facilities is insidious and reprehensible climate denial, plain and simple. It’s time for Minneapolis to be part of the climate solution, not the problem, and that means transforming our streetscapes into sustainable, livable spaces.

Sam Rockwell
Executive Director, Move Minnesota

Hennepin Avenue South is the approved route for METRO E Line bus rapid transit and a vibrant corridor where many people live, work, and play. Busing, biking, walking, and rolling on Hennepin should be easy, safe, and enjoyable—and dedicated bus lanes, protected bike lanes, and pedestrian improvements are essential to making that a reality.

Dedicated bus lanes and protected bike lanes on Hennepin would also realize climate, equity, and safety commitments in several of the City’s own plans and policies, including its Complete Streets Policy, Climate Action Plan, Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan, Vision Zero Action Plan, and the Transportation Action Plan.

Huge thanks to our partners at Hennepin for People and to everyone who has stepped up in support! In addition to garnering over 1,200 individual signatures, the petition is co-signed by: Move Minnesota, Our Streets Minneapolis, Sierra Club North Star Chapter, Midtown Greenway Coalition, Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota, Move Minneapolis, Hennepin for People, MN350, and 30 Days of Biking.

Speakers at the City Hall event last Thursday included Sam Rockwell, Executive Director, Move Minnesota; Ashwat Narayanan, Executive Director, Our Streets Minneapolis; Katie Jones, Hennepin for People; Joshua Houdek, Sierra Club North Star Chapter; and Commissioner Jono Cowgill, President, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.

Stay involved! Move Minnesota continues to fight for these important changes on Hennepin alongside our local allies and continues to build support for bus lanes across the Twin Cities through our Boost the Bus campaign.