Dear Neighbors,
Many residents from across the city have contacted my
colleagues and me to extend the comment period for the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan. I appreciate
hearing from residents and share some of the concerns that have been expressed.
However I am not in support of an extension and here are a few of the reasons
why:
First, there are still six weeks left to provide feedback
and comment regarding the plan, and that opportunity has been available since
March 22nd. Minneapolis
2040 is still in draft form. From March 22 through July 22,
2018, the City will be reaching out to Minneapolis communities to discuss this
draft plan and to encourage review and feedback. Click
here to learn how to comment
The second reason is that we are required to provide an
opportunity to the surrounding communities to review and comment on this plan,
as well, communities like St. Louis Park, Edina, Richfield, Golden Valley,
Fridley and others.
Lastly, folks are correctly asserting that this plan
represents significant changes to zoning policies, land use and transportation
improvements with an equity lens that attempts to address the historical
inequities that have permeated our city and have contributed to exacerbating
these disparities. To that end, my office will be hosting a dialogue about the
plan with community members this June.
We will be joined by City planners and community advocates. Look for an
announcement soon to confirm this event, tentatively
set for June 22nd, noon, at the Seward Co-op Friendship Store, 317 E
38th St.
On May 25, at its full council meeting, Mayor Frey and Council Members approved a resolution declaring
June 2018 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual
Pride Month in Minneapolis. The declaration coincides with the Twin Cities
Pride celebration, which is held annually in June and is the largest outdoor
festival in the city. The City encourages residents and visitors to participate
in the numerous activities celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
Pride Month in the city and in the ongoing work of leading Minnesota toward
full LGBT equality.
The City of Minneapolis has a long history of
supporting LGBT rights. The resolution notes that in 2017 the City Council
approved the creation of the Transgender Equity Council, which was intended to
serve as an advisory board to the City and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation
Board on matters of importance to the transgender community.
In 2014, Minneapolis was part of a partnership with
the Minneapolis School District and numerous organizations that successfully
advocated at the State Capitol for passage of the Safe and Supportive Minnesota
Schools Act, which focuses on bullying prevention in Minnesota schools.
The City of Minneapolis has been steadfast in its
commitment to full legal equality for same-sex couples, and in particular to
end the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage, as well as a public and
vocal proponent of the marriage equality statute passed in 2013 by the
Minnesota State Legislature and signed by the governor.
In 1975 Minneapolis was the first city in Minnesota
to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender
identity/expression, a position subsequently adopted by numerous Minnesota
cities and the State itself.
 Road closures
10 p.m. Fri, June 1 to 5 a.m. Mon, June 4
March 2nd through early August 2018
- 38th St. bridge is closed over I-35W
- EB Detour: Nicollet Ave. to 36th St. to 3rd Ave. S
- WB Detour: 3rd Ave. S to 35th St. to Nicollet Ave.
- Bicycle Detour: 1st Ave. S (NB)/Blaisdell Ave. (SB) to 40th St. pedestrian bridge to 3rd Ave. S
- Pedestrian Detour: 1st Ave. S to 40th St. pedestrian bridge to 3rd Ave. S
- View map for all 38th St. bridge detours (PDF)
Ramp closures
May 18, 2018 through fall 2021
- NB I-35W to WB I-94 is closed
-
Detour: WB I-694
-
Note: There are a number of reasons this ramp is closed through fall 2021:
- This ramp is being fully reconstructed. Once complete, motorists will no longer merge on the right side of WB I-94; instead, motorists will merge on the left side and will have a dedicated lane through the Lowry Tunnel, helping to reduce congestion. The Lyndale Ave./Hennepin Ave. exit will still be accessible from WB I-94.
- Prior to the reconstruction of the ramp, there are additional construction activities in the I-35W/I-94 junction that need to happen and will be in full swing starting in mid-June 2018. Highway lanes will be reduced and shifted at various times and construction of the new ramp piers would not allow traffic to be safely switched around.
March 2, 2018 through fall 2021
Local street impacts
May 2018 to fall 2018 (tentatively)
- Park Ave. and Portland Ave. will have temporary restriping and a transit lane
-
Note: The restriping of Park Ave. and Portland Ave. (between downtown and Lake St.) to add a temporary transit lane was chosen to help reduce impacts and maintain a transit advantage for transit while the 35W@94 project is underway. This new striping is temporary; it will remain in place through fall 2018, at which point Metro Transit, MnDOT and the City of Minneapolis will assess if the transit operators are comfortable that they can again provide reliable service on I-35W. Restriping is also weather/temperature dependent, so it may need to wait until spring 2019 if the decision to move back to the permanent striping is made when it is cold out.
- Stevens Ave. is closed between 38th St. and 39th St.
March 2 to early August 2018
- Intersections of Stevens Ave. and Second Ave. S are closed between 37th St. and 38th St.
-
Note: Residents will be able to access Stevens Ave. and 2nd Ave. S from 37th St. or 39th St. During the closure, two-way traffic on Stevens Ave. between 37th St. and 38th St. will be allowed. Access Routes map (PDF).
Upcoming
Details about upcoming traffic impacts will be provided as they become available.
Road closures
10 p.m. Mon, June 4 to 5 a.m. Tue, June 5
- Overnight closure of I-35W between I-94 and Hwy 62
-
Detour: Hwy 62, Hwy 100 and I-394
Lane closures
Fri, June 15 through fall 2018
- WB I-94 from Portland Ave. to Stevens Ave. reduced to two lanes
Fri, June 15, 2018 through fall 2021
- NB I-35W from 43rd St. to downtown Minneapolis reduced to three lanes
-
Note: one northbound I-35W lane will be a MnPASS lane
SB I-35W from downtown Minneapolis to 43rd St. reduced to two lanes
Fri, June 8 through fall 2018
- NB I-35W to 31st St/Lake St will be closed to traffic, but remain open to buses
-
Detour: 36th St. to 3rd Ave.
Fri, June 8, 2018 through fall 2021
- 31st St. to SB I-35W will be closed to traffic, but remain open to buses
-
Detour: Nicollet Ave. to 46th St.
Fri, June 15, 2018 through fall 2020
- SB I-35W to 35th St. will be closed
-
Detour: Continue on I-35W and take the 46th St. exit to Nicollet Ave.
Fri, June 15, 2018 through fall 2021
- 35th St to NB I-35W will be closed
-
Detour: Nicollet Ave. to E. Diamond Lake Rd.
There are several ways to stay informed about the project and
provide feedback to the project team:
MnDOT: For real-time
travel information anywhere in Minnesota visit: www.511mn.org or dial 5-1-1.
| 
