Get ready for a smoother, narrower ride from Stinson Blvd. to Central Avenue. Repaving is about to begin on 29th Avenue.
At a meeting at Audubon Park Tuesday, April 30, Tracy Lindgren, project engineer, and Peter Bennett, transportation planner, laid out the City of Minneapolis’ plans for the potholed thoroughfare.
Although it’s not a complete renovation and doesn’t have the wider sidewalks, trees and storm water handling features residents along the avenue wanted, the project does incorporate safety features such as a two-way protected bike lane on the north side of 29th; bollard curb extensions – white plastic sticks – at St. Anthony Parkway, Brighton Avenue and Taylor Street and striped crosswalks with bollards at Buchanan Street by Audubon Park and Hayes Street next to Northeast Middle School.
Work to provide the street’s 57 corners with ADA-compliant ramps is already underway. When the corners are complete, the mill-and-overlay process will begin, probably in June, weather permitting. The cost of the new corners is $785,000.
Repaving will take approximately two weeks, to be followed by the bollards and stripes. The total cost of the project is $1.8 million without the striping, and is expected to last ten years.
Residents along the route continued to express concern over truck traffic coming up from Shoreham Yards on Central Avenue or barreling in from Co. Rd. C in Roseville. Pounding from the semis’ tires bouncing in the potholes have loosened plaster in some homes. And there’s worry that truck drivers may not see pedestrians as they often exceed the 25 mph speed limit.
The planners explained that 29th is a Minnesota State Aid road, and truck traffic can’t be prohibited. However, attorney Brian Rice has drafted a bill that’s been sent to the Minnesota Legislature that would allow St. Anthony Village and Minneapolis to restrict truck traffic. Passage of the bill may not happen during this legislative session.
The planners said the bollards would promote traffic calming by “visually narrowing” the road, particularly at the striped intersections. The white plastic sticks will also better define and make complicated intersections such as 29th and St. Anthony Blvd. “more understandable,” Lindgren said. She also said there’s a possibility more permanent bollards could be put in place if the sticks slow and direct traffic as expected.
Part of the project will be funded through special assessments to properties along the route. The assessments are based on the square footage of the property multiplied by an assessment rate approved by the City Council. The assessment rate is uniform throughout the city.
People who want to pay the assessment outright may do so before Nov. 15. The assessment can also be added to property taxes for five years at 3.9% interest. The interest declines as the assessment is paid down.
Residents over 65 years old, people with disabilities or active-duty military personnel can receive a deferment, but the taxes must ultimately be paid.
People who want to contest the assessment can contact the city at pwassessments@minneapolismn.gov, or 612-673-2401.
Citizen science informs traffic calming on 29th
While there is a considerable amount of car traffic on 29th Avenue NE, it’s the heavy trucks that worry the folks who live on the street.
Dalton van Buren, who lives near Northeast Middle School, and Blake Hampton, who lives near Audubon Park, decided to monitor traffic along the avenue. They set up a Telraam system, a multi-modal traffic data collection system made for homeowner use.
A sensor set in a window facing 29th Avenue records the traffic that passes by the house: Pedestrians, bicyclists, cars and heavy trucks. It also records their speed and the time of day they passed by.
During the week of April 23-May 7 (Tuesday to Tuesday), 951 pedestrians, 1,783 “two-wheelers,” 32,397 cars and 8,815 heavy vehicles passed by the middle school.
The sensor positioned near Taylor Street recorded 594 pedestrians, 865 bicyclists, 30,328 cars and 5,053 heavy trucks for the same period.
Predictably, the heaviest traffic is during the afternoon rush hour from 3-6 p.m. The morning rush is a little lighter, with a slight dip in traffic around lunch time. Truck traffic dips during the weekend, although car traffic tends to remain the same.
According to the data, there are few speeders along 29th. Most drivers seem to keep within 18 to 24 mph.