Background
Johnson Street is a busy corridor that sees not only a lot of vehicle traffic but also many pedestrians and cyclists. To better serve pedestrians and cyclists and reduce the potential for crashes, the
Minneapolis Public Works Department initiated a project to reconstruct four blocks of Johnson Street from 18th Avenue Northeast to Northeast Lowry Avenue.
The City aimed to improve services for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transportation while reducing traffic incidents of all kinds. Secondary goals included improving vehicle traffic flow, reducing impervious surfaces, beautifying the corridor, and serving the access needs of local businesses and residents.
HEI was hired to provided engineering and design services for the four-block project.
The Project
The corridor is regularly traveled by students on their way to the nearby elementary school and by families on their way to the community park. With this in mind, improving pedestrian services was a top priority for the corridor.
The sidewalk on the east side of the corridor primarily serves pedestrians and connects them with local businesses and improved public transportation stops, which includes dedicated bus bays.
On the west side of the corridor, an 8- to 10-foot-wide multi-use trail provides a corridor for cyclists. Both the sidewalk and the multi-use path are separated from the roadway with natively seeded vegetated boulevards.
While the roadway was narrowed to calm traffic flow, accommodations were made for businesses and public transportation. Bumpouts were constructed near local businesses to provide parking, and dedicated bus bays were constructed to remove busses from traffic lanes while passengers board and depart.
The vision for this busy transportation corridor is one with zero traffic or pedestrian crashes, injuries, or fatalities. Johnson Street will stand as a prime example of accessible city living, with plenty of room for pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transportation.
Construction was completed in 2021.
Client Benefits
- Improved pedestrian and cyclist safety along the corridor.
- Raised the visual appeal of the street with cultivated native plants.
- The discovery and removal of old streetcar timber and rails from decades past was overseen by experienced staff.