The Minneapolis Bicycle Story

November 20, 2013

David PetersonBicycle & Pedestrian Section

Traffic & Parking Services DivisionMinneapolis Public Works Department

A bit about MinneapolisLargest city in Minnesota: 393,000Regional population: 3.4 millionArea: 58.4 mi2

20 lakes, ponds and wetlandsAnnual precipitation: 30.6 in.Annual snowfall: 50.8 in.July average high: 83.4 °FJanuary average low: 7.5 °F

nytimes.com

Bicycle Commuting Mode Share: 4.5%Pedestrian Commuting Mode Share: 6.9%

History of Minneapolis Bicycle Planning & Engineering: Parkways

Parkways are the Backbone of the Non-Motorized System

Horace Cleveland

Minneapolis Parks Board of Commissioners founded in 1883. Horace Cleveland responsible for the revision of the City’s park system.

Theodore Wirth was hired served as Superintendent from 1906 to 1935, expanding the parks acreage from 1,800 to more than 5,000.

Theodore Wirth

David Smith, minneapolisparkhistory.com

History of Minneapolis Bicycle Planning & Engineering: Parkways

Lake Calhoun Trail Parkway & Trail, 1909Minnesota Historical Society

Lake Calhoun Parkway, 2009

A fatal bicycle-pedestrian crash in 1972 on the Lake Harriet combined bicycle and pedestrian trail resulted in widespread separation of bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

Total off-street facilities today (MPRB and Minneapolis Public Works) = 85+ miles

History of Minneapolis Bicycle Planning & Engineering: Bike Lanes

4th Street SE at Oak Street, Minneapolis

September 1974 – First bike lanes are installed in Minneapolis on 4th Street SE and University Ave SE, adjacent to the University of Minnesota campus

History of Minneapolis Bicycle Planning & Engineering: Bike Lanes

Hennepin Avenue

1994 – System of Bike Lanes Developed in Downtown Minneapolis

Marquette Ave S

9th Street S

History of Minneapolis Bicycle Planning & Engineering

Stone Arch Bridge looking south, 1905Minnesota Historical Society

Stone Arch Bridge Preservation - 1994

Stone Arch Bridge Bicycle & Pedestrian PathDudley Edmondson

Other Minneapolis Bicycle & Pedestrian Only Bridges

Bridge #9 (Dinkytown Greenway Bridge)

Washington Avenue Bridge

Taking Advantage of Opportunities

35W Bridge Collapse - 2007

Tunnel constructed underneath new bridge

abcnews.com

mplsbikelove.com

Opportunities from Subsequent Bridge Retrofits

Lanes reduced from 4 to 2; protected lanes added, September 2013

Plymouth Ave N

Opportunities from Subsequent Bridge Reconstructions

Full reconstruction. Bicycle accommodation both on and off street. Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition

LowryAve N

World Class Trail System

Cedar Lake Trail – 1995, 2011

Totals more than 85 miles

Midtown Greenway, three phases 2000-2006 Martin Olav Sabo Bridge, 2007, Dan Anderson

Hiawatha Light Rail Trail - 2004 18th Ave NE Trail - 2011 Dinkytown Greenway – 2013, SW Journal

Low-Stress Network – Protected Lanes

Parking protected, minimal buffer, 2009 Buffer widened, 2011

Flexible delineators added, 2012

Green Conflict Zones added,

2013

1st Ave N

Low-Stress Network – Buffered Lanes

Lyndale Ave S Buffered Bike Lane - 2013 1st Avenue S - 2011

Low-Stress Network – Bike Boulevards

Street markings

Traffic Calming

Bicycle Wayfinding

Traffic Reduction

19 Miles by the end of 2013

Low-Stress Network – Neighborhood Greenways

Full Linear Park Greenway Half & Half Greenway

Milwaukee Avenue

Originally planned workers community housing constructed in the 1880s, the street was named to the National Register for Historic Places in 1974 in a move to thwart demolition. The street was subsequently closed to motor vehicle traffic.

Other Bicycle Infrastructure

Shared Lanes

Traffic Signals

Advisory Bike Lanes

Turning Stop Signs Raised Trail Crossings

Bicycle Parking ProgramCity pays 50% of the cost of purchase/installation for racks in the public right-of-way. $50,000 annually (general fund), administered by Public Works Parking. Installed 667 racks in 2012. Fund has been in operation since mid-1990s.

Standard Hitch Style Rack Meter Hitch Rack, Uptown

Custom Racks for some neighborhoods

Bike Corral, Seward

Custom Styles

Minneapolis Central Library

Other Bicycle Efforts

Minneapolis Bike Map, 2013 (2nd ed.)

Minneapolis Bicycling Account, 2011

Bicycle Crash Analysis, 2013

Annual Bicycle & Pedestrian Counts

Every September, trained volunteers count 30 benchmark locations over two days, along with 300 locations counted once every three years.

2013 Summer Safety Campaign

Displayed May-June at 27 bush shelters along high-crash corridors

Safety Benefits of Bicycle Infrastructure

• Increased predictability for all users (bicyclists tend to use the designated bicycle areas)

• Build it and they will come:

• Increased numbers of cyclists makes the system safer (safety in numbers)

Economic Benefits of Bicycle Infrastructure

More than 2,000 housing units have been built along the Midtown Greenway corridor since 2000. 1,000 more are in the development pipeline.

New bridge and ramp constructed by adjacent developer, Mosaic and Flux Buildings. Minneapolis Bike Love

Flux Building, 2013. Global Site Plans

Development is likely a combination of the greenway, market forces, transit investment, proximity to the lakes and downtown, and the mix of shops and restaurants in these neighborhoods.

Developing a Project WorkplanMaintenance-Related Bike Program

Review maintenance program (autumn prior to resurfacing year)

Match maintenance plan to bike plan routes

Internal staff discussion and recommendation of project list

Share with bicycle advisory committee and revise list

Share with council members

Neighborhood and business outreach, as recommended by CMs

Projects finalized and scheduled

Project construction May-October

To the Record letters signed by CMs

Developing a Project Workplan

Minneapolis Bicycle Master Plan (2011) Bikeways Master Plan Map

Developing a Project WorkplanCoordination with Street Maintenance: Resurfacing

Sharrows installed following new mat, 2013.

Developing a Project WorkplanCoordination with Street Maintenance: Seal Coating

4:3 conversion, wide bike lanes added, 2012. Green chip experiment at conflict zone.

Developing a Project WorkplanCapital Project Program

Identify the project (small area plans, bicycle or pedestrian master plans, elected officials) – October/Nov

Basic scoping (PW staff)

Staff prioritization, using criteria (pavement condition index, safety, community demand, etc.)

Public Works administration consideration and revision

Capital Long Range Improvement Committee consideration

Sent to Mayor’s office for consideration

Council adoption (December)

Mayoral budget inclusion (~July)

Winter Maintenance - Successes

Trails are plowed within 24 hours after the end of a snowfall using a standard pickup with a plow blade. Many are accessible before most streets.

Special service for the 1st Ave N protected lane. Width is adequate for a truck with a blade, but hand shoveling is required, as is snow removal (in the downtown district).

Plowed trail after a major snowDowntown Improvement District employees clearing curb ramps

Policy:Curb-to-curb

clearance. Prioritization set

by snow emergency policy

Winter Maintenance - Challenges

Annual Snowfall: ~51”

Snow tends to stick around in MPLS.

Curbside bike lanes frequently become impassable following plowing.

Adjacent to parking lanes, snow storage pushes parked vehicles into bike lanes. www.cycletc.com

Some areas require hand shoveling.

This is the primary snow plowing vehicle. It’s not great for precision, and impossible for narrow spaces.

Needs• Network

prioritization• Maintenance

vehicles and staff resources to do the job

University of Minnesota

Brine solution for pre-treatmentAntonio Rosell, Community Design Group

Brush vehicle for path clearanceAntonio Rosell, Community Design Group

1) Provide safe access for students, staff and visitors

2) Employ cost-effective and fruitful methods3) Keep environment as pollution-free as

possible

Maintenance Goals

Funding the Bike Program

General Fund ContributionsPublic Works• Traffic Division – Bicycle & Pedestrian Section Budget

($575,000)• Traffic Division – Traffic Operations Signals, Signs, Painting• Traffic Division – Bicycle Parking Fund ($50,000)• Transportation Maintenance & Repair Division –

Repaving, Seal Coating, Pothole Repair, Street Sweeping, Snow & Ice Control

• Transportation Planning & Engineering Division – Capital Project Planning and Management for Streets, Bridges and Pathways

Community Planning & Economic Development• Sector/Small Area Planning, Zoning Enforcement

Neighborhood & Community Relations• Community Participation Program

Minneapolis 311• Fields/answers public questions

Minneapolis Police Department

• Bicycle Recovery Unit

Communications Department• Press releases and promo video content• Press conferences

Health & Family Support• Statewide Health Improvement Project, other grants

Intergovernmental Relations• Conveys bike-related policy priorities to State and other

lawmakers

Minneapolis Development Review• Reviews site plans for bicycle parking requirements

Mayor’s Office• Budget setting and critical role as cheerleader

Sustainabilty Coordinator’s Office• Minneapolis Sustainability Goals, Climate Action Plan,

Greenprint

Funding the Bike Program

Capital Project Funding

• Generally try to have 1-2 bike projects per year in the CIP.

• Examples of projects in the pipeline:– U of M Bike Trail– LRT Trail Lighting– Sidepath/protected bikeway projects on: 18th Ave NE, 26th Ave N, 26th

St E, 28th St E

• Capital projects are frequently paired with outside funding

Funding the Bike Program

Outside FundingFederal Funding• Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot (NTP): $25 million since 2008• Many Minneapolis projects were funded in part by federal programs such as Recreational Trails and Transportation Enhancements.• National Park Service – $480,000 bike sharing expansion; access to MRNRA

Minnesota Department of Transportation• Responsible for implementing bikeways on their own streets within Minneapolis

Minnesota Department of Health• Statewide Health Improvement Program

Hennepin County• Responsible for implementing bikeways on their own streets within Minneapolis• Bikeway solicitation program started in 2013

University of Minnesota• Manages bike parking and the bikeway network on their campus. The Minneapolis Campus has the largest bicycle and pedestrian

activity areas in the state

Blue Cross Blue Shield of MN• Major sponsorship funding for Nice Ride MN bike share program• Sponsorship of Open Streets Minneapolis events

Bicycle Facilities Lessons Learned

• Recreational trails are key to Minneapolis’ bicycling numbers

• Get a bike plan in place (even if it’s just a facility map alone), and get it referenced in many different planning/policy documents

• Look for easy opportunities:– 4-lane roads with low traffic volumes– streets that have received lots of complaints

about traffic volume or speeds– widen bike lanes when possible, and add

buffers whenever you can

BREAK

Minneapolis Policies & PlansThe City has adopted numerous planning and transportation policies and implementation plans that seek to improve access and safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders. The overall City goals and Sustainability indicators also play a role.

Minneapolis Comprehensive Plan (2008)

Access Minneapolis (2009) Bicycle Master Plan (2011)

Climate Action Plan (2013)

Project Coordination – Departmental Involvement

PW-Traffic: Bicycle & Pedestrian Section home; drives most bicycle infrastructure and planning efforts.

PW-Transportation Planning & Engineering: Capital projects and long-range planning

PW-Street Maintenance & Repair: resurfacing and routine maintenance

Other departments (CPED, Health) play an occasional role.

Project Coordination – Elected Official Involvement

Mayor R.T. Rybak: 12 years of strong leadership. Sets the budget, makes special capital requests, acts as principal cheerleader

City Council: Strong leadership; almost universal support.

Coordinating With Council

Large-scale projects always involve layout approval. This goes to the Transportation & Public Works Committee, and then to full Council.

Smaller-scale projects involve a To the Record Letter. This outlines the project briefly and includes the signature of the Council Member(s) and the Traffic Operations Engineer.

46th Street W reconstruction – Request for Council Action (RCA)

Johnson St NE seal coat restriping – To the Record (TTR)

Project Coordination – Bicycle Advisory Committee

Membership13 Ward Citizen Appointees3 Park Board Citizen Appointees5 Outside Agency Appointees7 City Staff Appointees

The BAC functions as an advisory committee to the Mayor and City Council as well as the Park Board and serves as a liaison to bicyclists, businesses, neighborhoods, and other communities and agencies.

The BAC consists of the main committee, and two subcommittees – 3Es (Education, Encouragement, Enforcement) and Engineering (Engineering, Equity, Evaluation).

Committees meet monthly. Members are on main committee and one sub-committee.

BAC members tour the SW Light Rail Project route, August 2013Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition

Dealing with ProblemsResidents and visitors can all City services, report problems, check the status of issues, or get information.

The Bicycle & Pedestrian Section answers queries for the Bicycle Transportation Queue.

311 operators are available from 7AM to 7PM

311 issues can be logged using the City’s website or a mobile app for iPhone and Android devices.

Who’s Pushing for ProjectsThe Bicycle & Pedestrian Section is tasked with carrying out the Bicycle Master Plan. Implementing projects/strategies identified in the Master Plan is part of the work.

Minneapolis has strong advocacy organizations, all of which push Council Members, Public Works and other departments.

What can PW do to build support?• Clear and unified communication

(remove discrepancies between divisions or various PW agents)

• Paid staff are key

• Get a strong BAC established

• Don’t be careless or dismissive. Do it right.

Complete Streets Policies• Minneapolis CS policy in the works

• Commonplace for streets to receive extra scrutiny now (Bike & Ped Section and advocates make certain of this)– Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plans

are key in this effort

Process Lessons Learned• Know elected supporters

• Strong advocates can be useful, but people need to know when to use their sticks

• Help advocates to understand how municipal processes work

• A strong, well-organized Bicycle Advisory Committee can do big things

Questions?

David PetersonMinneapolis Public Works

Bicycle & Pedestrian Section612-333-1378

david.peterson2@minneapolismn.govhttp://www.minneapolismn.gov/bicycles/