Thank you!
Thank you to all who attended our #AllEyesOnHiLake meeting 0n Tuesday, February 27. The input we received was very helpful, and your questions for the panel and questionnaire responses will help shape the direction of LCC’s continued engagement. We’ll be sharing your feedback and the following questions with public officials responsible for the operations and management of the Hi-Lake Intersection.
These conversations are difficult, but important. Greater Longfellow continues to prove itself as an engaged community and its residents care deeply about the safety and sustainability of the neighborhood and the users of Hi-Lake. There is so much potential in this area to create a vibrant, safe and beautiful gateway to the Greater Longfellow, Corcoran and Phillips neighborhoods. We look forward to continuing to work with you to realize this vision for the community.
Resident-submitted Questions
Physical Improvements at Hi-Lake
- I drive and walk in the Hi-Lake Area. The lanes on Lake are too wide and the on/off ramps are too broad and gently curved. These environmental markers encourage and enable speeding, no matter what the posted speed limit says. Additionally, the crosswalks don’t prioritize pedestrians with priority crossing and leading pedestrian intervals in what is arguably a transit-oriented development. How will Tier 1 & 2 developments improve the pedestrian experience at Hi-Lake?
- What are physical changes that will make the area safe?
- I am a YWCA member and parking in the area is horrible. How will new school and new construction make it better?
- Hiawatha Ave is a highway that divides our neighborhoods. Is there a way to make I less of a highway and more like a neighborhood street?
- What can be done from a design standpoint to light up the underpass so it feels safer and more welcoming?
- Ways to continue to improve bike/ped. transit car flow (while reducing car use) at Hi-Lake, 32nd & Hiawatha, 21st & Lake, YWCA, South High, Shopping, Housing?
- Wellington has installed metal spikes on the benches around Lake Street station. How do we ensure improvements go beyond physical changes to the intersection and improve all aspects of the public space around this area?
Funding/Timeline/Engagement Process
- There is a lot of conversation about short term improvements. Those are nice and we do need improvements, but we want to make sure those improvements aren’t done at the expense of the Tier 3 plan. Can you ensure that this will not occur?
- Can you describe the tangible phases of this project and a timeline?
- What can residents expect from the public entities in the next 12 months?
- When the light rail was planned, why weren’t the issues of this intersection addressed? Were community action committees informed?
- When will you listen to Minneapolis residents when spending money on experimental transit methods & put forth real reasons how transit affects pedestrians, people with disabilities and bicyclists & motorized scooters. For example, let’s redefine what transit is needed for lower income people and families with children need to get to and from these fast bus lanes, inappropriately located fast transit stations, and lack of facilities at bus stops- gentrification of transit is shutting out more of the disenfranchised, 40% of City’s population lives below the metro median income for a household of four ($171,000). Why are transit decisions made without full input?
- How much funding is available now?
- How do we make sure projects such as the Hiawatha LRT Bike Trail gap, the Lake Street Bus Rapid Transit, or Learning Dreams public art are coordinated and work towards a broader vision for the entire area?
- How will the collaborative process be visible to the public? The bike/ped. trail gap project is an example of how transportation projects where City/County/State/Transit facilities crossover often faces gridlock and finger-pointing on who is responsible for what.
- The City of Minneapolis has an influx of new funding for streets. Will there be a capital budget request from Public Works for long-range improvements?
Policing/Safety
- I walk, drive, and bike in the area. What can be done to reduce prostitution, drug deals, and vagrancy along that section of Lake Street?
- With hiring of 3 sets of police officers in the past four years, would you be willing to support a moratorium on hiring until a reasonable and diverse training program is created to fully represent the diversity at all levels in the Minneapolis population? Why or why not?
- What can you share about security/police presence near this intersection?
Other Questions/Comments
- What is being done to address the giant parking lot in front of Target? It is a part of the problem.
- I believe that to truly transform Hi-Lake we need more people living walking-distance from the intersection. What, if any, efforts are underway to encourage Target and other adjacent businesses to release under-utilized surface parking for development?
- When can we expect a meeting that is near to and accessible from the intersection in question?
- How will LCC engage the residents, including renters, that live nearest to this intersection and walk daily? This room isn’t reflective of the diversity of stakeholders.
- Would you expand a bit on MNDOT’s efforts to reduce carbon footprint and other environmental impacts on Hwy 55 at Lake Street?
- Inspector Sullivan mentioned the Management Company. Who is the management company? Do they oversee the interchange?
- With the additional 200 City & worker vehicles being introduced to this immediate area by the Roof Depot Water Works relocation, please take this extra traffic load into planning considerations. Also, do not leave East Philips out of community input opportunities.
All panelists have received your lists of questions and have been asked to respond by Monday, April 16. As they mentioned during the community meeting, these entities care about engagement with residents and they are free to contact officials with their concerns and inquiries.
Alondra Cano, Minneapolis Ward 9 Councilmember: Alondra.Cano@minneapolismn.gov
April Crockett, MNDOT Metro District West Manager: april.crockett@state.mn.us
Peter McLaughlin, Hennepin County District 4 Commissioner: Peter.McLaughlin@hennepin.us
Pam Steffin, MetroTransit Customer Relations and Community Outreach & Engagement Manager: Pam.Steffen@metrotransit.org
Michael Sullivan, Minneapolis 3rd Precinct Inspector: Michael.Sullivan@minneapolismn.gov
Interested in becoming more involved with LCC’s work with the Hi-Lake Intersection?
LCC is considering organizing a resident group that could help shape the improvements at the Hi-Lake intersection. If you would be interested in participating in a Community Action Committee, please submit your name and contact information to LCC via http://eepurl.com/dmWxn5.
For questions about the CAC, please contact ashleigh@longfellow.org.