 Located at East Lake Street and Hiawatha Avenue, the METRO Blue Line's Lake Street/Midtown Station is one of the region's busiest boarding locations, with around 1,800 light rail boardings each weekday. Bus stops served by the METRO B Line, are located immediately adjacent to the station.
After 20 years of use, a full renovation of the station is being pursued to ensure it remains in a state of good repair and continues to be a space that invites people to use transit. Station renovations will complement improvements to the Hiawatha-Lake intersection that are being led by Hennepin County.
Timeline
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2022-2023: Planning
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2024-2025: Design and Engineering
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2026-2027: Station Construction
Station renovation goals
- Providing more consistent and reliable access for all users by adding a pedestrian ramp from the street level to the station on the south side of Lake Street, along with new, larger elevators that will be closer to Lake Street bus stops, and wider stairways (escalators will be removed).
- Making the station easier to maintain over time by providing facilities staff more functional spaces to work out of and limiting the use of glass (for instance, existing glass platform shelters will be replaced by a larger overhead canopy).
- Reorienting station entrances to more directly face Lake Street.
View a project fact sheet (English) (Spanish) (Somali) (Hmong). More information, including a link to sign up for updates on the Renew the Blue projects, can be found on Metro Transit’s website.
During last year’s budget process, I authored an amendment, which passed, to create a new position and fund it on an ongoing basis. Under the amendment, the position was intended to focus on syringe clean-up and disposal. After working with staff at the Health department, the job duties of the position were expanded. This public health harm reduction specialist, who was recently hired, will be dedicated to supporting harm reduction efforts and other public health initiatives that promote the health, safety, and well-being of Minneapolis residents.
Working closely with communities, schools, healthcare providers, and other partners, the harm reduction specialist will manage initiatives such as syringe mitigation services, community training and education, coordination with the Mobile Medical Unit provider team for outreach and referrals, and data collection to improve service delivery. The role includes acting as a liaison between the City and diverse communities to strengthen relationships, identify needs, and address challenges related to substance use and behavioral health. The specialist will be instrumental in organizing community-based events and training sessions, preparing educational materials, and ensuring that programs are accessible and effective.
Sharps litter creates a public health hazard, risk of injury, and the spread of disease. In conversations with residents, business owners, school administrators, childcare providers, and community organizations, among the most common requests made to our office is for the clean-up and disposal of sharps. Our office has heard of multiple examples where children were not allowed to use the playground at their school or childcare facilities due to the number of needles that are littering the play area. While requests are regularly made via existing City enterprise channels, the sheer volume of requests made is unsustainable and did not allow for adequate clean-up.
This new position reflects the City’s commitment to meeting residents where they are, building trust, and working in partnership with community organizations to improve public health. By expanding our capacity for harm reduction and health promotion, we’re better equipped to save lives and foster healthier neighborhoods.
The new public health specialist will begin work this month, bringing additional expertise and energy to the City’s mission of delivering equitable and evidence-based public health services.
In response to a legislative directive from the Minneapolis City Council, the City’s Public Works Department is evaluating the feasibility of a pedestrian mall concept layout and the establishment of a new ordinance for a pedestrian mall along Chicago Avenue, between 37th and 38th streets. This concept would restrict through traffic and create a cul-de-sac and public plaza near 3744 Chicago Avenue (also known as The Peoples’ Way).
To inform this work, Public Works is undertaking a rigorous effort to gather information for the design, operations, maintenance, deliveries, loading, emergency vehicle access, transit access, snow removal, and related costs that may be required to establish a new ordinance per state statute.
Public Works will present the findings around the pedestrian mall alternative at a community open house on Tuesday, Aug. 19.
Community members are encouraged to participate
You’re invited to learn about the planning and evaluation of street design concepts, ask questions and ensure your voice is heard.
Event details
- 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19
- Chicago Ave Shops – 3736 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407
- Light snacks will be served
The engagement feedback and findings of this evaluation will be presented to the City Council’s Climate and Infrastructure Committee on Dec. 4, 2025, for discussion and consideration.
A landmark peer-reviewed study in Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice tracked outcomes for people experiencing a mental health crisis in five communities. Over an 11-month period, researchers found that individuals who received help from mobile crisis teams were 45.2 percent less likely to be arrested than those who received a law enforcement-only response. As the authors note, “only the mobile crisis response [had] a statistically significant reduced incidence rate of arrest,” suggesting these teams “may encourage crisis service pathways outside of 911 and law enforcement, which may decrease … the likelihood of future arrests,” and save law enforcement resources so they can focus on solving serious crime.
Here are key findings:
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Mobile Crisis Teams Significantly Reduced Arrests: “Only the mobile crisis response [had] a statistically significant reduced incidence rate of arrest…[with a] 45.2 percent lower incidence rate of arrest compared to law enforcement-only recipients…”
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Clinician-Led Mobile Crisis Teams—Over Other First Response Models—Made Most Significant Impact: Researchers examined “mobile crisis, co‐response, and office‐ based crisis intervention” crisis teams to mental health calls for service and found that while “all three crisis models showed fewer post-year arrests than their respective law enforcement-only comparisons only the mobile crisis response” had a statistically significant impact on lowering arrest rates.
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Mobile Crisis Teams Build Trust, May Help To Reduce Future Arrests: “Mental health service clients and their families prefer non‐law enforcement models, which may increase trust in the mobile crisis team's recommendations…Mobile crisis teams may encourage crisis service pathways outside of 911 and law enforcement, which may decrease risk of future law enforcement contacts or arrests… The findings support the expansion of mobile crisis teams to non‐threatening mental health crises in lieu of law enforcement.”
Other key findings include: mobile crisis response helps reduce cycling in-and-out of jail, and law enforcement responses to mental health calls can escalate crises.
This study shows that investments in policing alternatives work, and that is why I have long supported bold and transformative approaches to public safety.
 Lake Street Safety Center hours are changing to 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday starting Aug. 18. Stop by during the new weekday hours to learn how the center can support you and your needs.
The center offers government and community-based services and resources including:
- K-12 school enrollment and education-related resources.
- Resources for victims or survivors of crimes.
- Help with safety concerns or resolving conflicts.
- Housing services, like rental help or rapid rehousing.
- Support recovering from substance use disorder.
- Resources for the area’s businesses and property owners, like help with graffiti issues, lighting concerns, and registering security cameras.
- Connecting to social services and case managers.
- Free naloxone and fentanyl test strips.
Learn more about the safety center’s services and resources on the City website.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation will close I-94 in both directions and its entrance and exit ramps between I-35W and Highway 280, as well as the ramp from eastbound I-94 to Highway 55, starting the evening of Friday, Aug. 15. Most of the lanes and ramps will reopen Monday morning, Aug. 18.
Follow the posted detour of I-35W to Highway 36, I-35E to I-94.
Plan ahead by checking 511 and giving yourself more time.
For more information, visit the I-94 project webpage.
 At an open house Aug. 25, community can get an update on future steps for the Elections and Voter Services Center at 3000 Minnehaha Ave.
- LSE Architects will give an update on the design process for the Election & Voter Services spaces.
- Both applicants for the community partner space will present their proposals. The applicants are Change Inc. and Mama Sheila’s House of Soul.
- A Q&A session will follow, and attendees can take a survey on their opinions of the two applicants. This survey will be available online for several weeks.
Democracy Center open house 5:30-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 25 Coliseum Building, 2708 E. Lake St.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m., presentations begin at 6. Food and refreshments will be served.
The engagement feedback and findings will be presented to the City Council later this year, tentatively in November.
Read more about the open house on the City website.
Contact the Ward 9 Office
Email: jason.chavez@minneapolismn.gov
Phone: 612-673-2209
City Hall
350 S. Fifth St., Room 370
Minneapolis, MN 55415
For reasonable accommodations or alternative format please contact 311. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 at 612-673-3000. TTY users call 612-263-6850. Para ayuda, llame al 311. Rau kev pab, hu 311. Hadii aad caawimaad u baahantahay, wac 311. |
