This week the City released a draft of the Minneapolis Vision Zero Action Plan, which outlines key steps for the next three years to advance the City’s goal of ending traffic deaths and injuries on City streets by 2027. The City is taking public comment on the plan through Oct. 16.

Back in May I hosted a forum and asked for your feedback on how we can improve pedestrian safety in Minneapolis. Overwhelmingly I heard you voice a desire for a dedicated traffic enforcement unit to make sure our laws that are meant to protect pedestrians are up-help, and pedestrian infrastructure improvements. I hear these messages loud and clear, but everyone should make certain they submit their comments so that they are heard by my colleagues and city staff.

The draft plan was developed by City staff from multiple departments with significant direction from community stakeholders, partner agencies and the public. The City of Minneapolis officially became a Vision Zero city in September 2017 when the City Council passed a resolution setting a goal of eliminating traffic deaths and injuries within 10 years. Minneapolis is one of more than 35 Vision Zero cities in the United States.

An average of 95 people suffered life-altering injuries or were killed in traffic crashes each year on streets in Minneapolis from 2007 to 2016. Traffic crashes disproportionately impact people in neighborhoods with lower incomes, Native American residents, and people walking and bicycling. Traffic deaths and severe injuries are unacceptable and preventable.

The draft Vision Zero Action Plan includes 16 strategies and 68 actions to be implemented between 2020 and 2022.

Comment on the draft plan

Comment online on the draft plan at visionzerompls.com or provide feedback during two upcoming events.

• Open house, 4-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3 City Hall, room 319
• Online open house, 6-6:45 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10

City of Minneapolis Facebook page

Crews are preparing to sweep streets across Minneapolis to clean the streets before winter to keep leaves and debris out of the storm drains and ending up in our lakes and rivers as much as possible.

Minneapolis Public Works will begin the big task of curb-to-curb sweeping and leaf collection on streets throughout the city on Tuesday, Oct. 22. During the four weeks of the comprehensive fall street sweep, crews will clean about 1,000 miles of city streets. To make sure crews can do the best job possible, temporary “No Parking” signs will be posted at least 24 hours in advance so streets will be clear of cars when they’re swept. The first signs will be posted Monday, Oct. 21, and sweeping will begin the next day. Anyone who parks on the street will need to follow posted parking rules or their cars may be ticketed and towed.

Ways to stay informed of the parking rules:

• “No Parking” signs – City crews will post “No Parking” signs at least 24 hours before sweeping any streets. Parking will be banned from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the day a street is swept. However, the “No Parking” signs will be removed as soon as possible after a street has been completely swept to allow people to resume parking after the signs are removed. Vehicles not in compliance with “No Parking” signs may be ticketed and towed to the Minneapolis Impound Lot.
• Social media – The City will use Facebook and Twitter to post periodic street sweeping updates and information.
• Facebook: To “like” the City of Minneapolis Facebook page, go to www.facebook.com/cityofminneapolis.
• Twitter: To follow the City’s Twitter account, go to www.twitter.com/CityMinneapolis.
• Phone calls to residents – In addition to the “No Parking” signs that will be posted the day before sweepers come through, the City will make about 3,000 automated phone calls each evening to let residents know their street will be swept the next day. There’s no guarantee that the calls will reach everyone, so residents should be sure to check the various ways to be aware of the rules, and watch for signs.
• Interactive web feature – Folks can use a feature on the City’s website to find out when the sweepers are coming through their neighborhoods. The Street Sweeping Schedule Lookup will be available at www.minneapolismn.gov/streetsweeping once we get closer to the start date. The fall street sweep takes four weeks, and visitors to the website will be able to find out which week their street is scheduled to be swept. Then, on the weekend before each of the four weeks, the schedule for the upcoming week will be broken down to show which day of the week streets are scheduled to be swept.
• Videos – Street sweeping is explained in English, Hmong, Somali and Spanish as part of the City’s  “Did you know...” series of short videos that can be viewed at www.YouTube.com/cityofminneapolis and on Minneapolis City TV. Residents who have friends or neighbors who speak these languages are encouraged to share links to the videos. 
• See how and why Minneapolis sweeps streets and what you can do to help keep streets and waterways clean in this video from the Minneapolis “Did you know…” series.

Clean streets mean a healthier environment

Minneapolis is known for its sparkling lakes and waterways, and we want to keep it that way. That’s why protecting and enhancing our environment is one of the City’s top priorities. Street sweeping is one way we work to protect our environment because it keeps leaves and debris from clogging our storm drains and polluting our lakes and rivers. It also helps keep our neighborhoods clean and livable.

Minneapolis streets are swept completely curb to curb with enforcement of parking rules once in the spring, and again in the fall. Residents should not push leaves, grass clippings, or other debris into City streets – it’s bad for our lakes and waterways, can cause safety hazards, and is against the law. Anything that goes down a storm drain flows directly into our lakes and river, and decomposing plant material in the water encourages the growth of harmful aquatic plants and algae.