Pedestrian Safety and Infrastructure Improvements
Re: Pedestrian Safety and Infrastructure Improvements
Yep. In Minneapolis, I really got used to being able to watch the pedestrian signal to know how long I had (on bike) before the light turned yellow/red. Doesn't work at all in St. Paul; I've seen greens that lasted 15-20 seconds longer than the pedestrian signal on Como, for example.
- mister.shoes
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Re: Pedestrian Safety and Infrastructure Improvements
Has MPLS officially changed its policy on painting crosswalks to move toward zebras and away from parallel lines? Between the increase in zebras downtown and South Nicollet going zebras everywhere after the chip seal, I'm heartened by the rising population of striped streets.
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- sdho
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Re: Pedestrian Safety and Infrastructure Improvements
I saw a post that on Facebook from Simon Blenski. Sounds like they're generally moving that direction whenever there is a "design" change (as on 3rd Ave restripe, or Nicollet restripe), and selectively at other high-ped-volume intersections -- like a few on Franklin. It seems like they'll eventually move that way altogether, but they're not in any rush to wipe out all the old transverse lines.
For at least a couple of years, they've stopped doing transverse lines at uncontrolled crosswalks.
For at least a couple of years, they've stopped doing transverse lines at uncontrolled crosswalks.
- sdho
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Re: Pedestrian Safety and Infrastructure Improvements
Since MnDOT and basically all of suburban Hennepin County use a zebra design (with slightly different proportions), I'm glad to see Mpls going with the more universal, visible marking. St. Paul also seems to have transitioned away from transverse lines.
- mister.shoes
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Re: Pedestrian Safety and Infrastructure Improvements
That's good news. I really like the visibility of zebras over the lines (duh), though I noticed drivers pulling into zebras at Cedar/Minnehaha Pkwy on two occasions recently. Zebras still need a stop bar, I guess, to be effective.
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Re: Pedestrian Safety and Infrastructure Improvements
That's the case on France Ave in Edina, so many stop on the crosswalk still today. Though anecdotally it feels at times it's less than when the new zebra crosswalk was fresh and new.Zebras still need a stop bar, I guess, to be effective.
Re: Pedestrian Safety and Infrastructure Improvements
Yesterday I ran the entire Grand Rounds (slowly) and noticed that while the parallel crossing lines are still more plentiful, zebra stripes are appearing at more and more points along the parkways. It looks like *all* freshly-painted intersections are zebra stripes. I agree they're preferable.
Re: Pedestrian Safety and Infrastructure Improvements
Technical question: Are they actually using paint, or are they using the reflective thermoplastic?
Re: Pedestrian Safety and Infrastructure Improvements
Most I have seen in downtown are not paint, they are the stick-down stuff. I haven't been around at night so I don't know if it's "reflective thermoplastic."
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Pedestrian Safety and Infrastructure Improvements
Hmong residents storm Ramsey county offices to demand a safer intersection.
http://www.twincities.com/2016/12/23/hm ... ersection/
http://www.twincities.com/2016/12/23/hm ... ersection/
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Pedestrian Safety and Infrastructure Improvements
In 2004 a child was struck by a driver. The family of the victim sued the city for partial responsibility because despite posted speed limits, drivers sped on the street at high speeds. Posted limit was 30mph, driver was clocked going at 54 mph.
New York's highest court ruled city can indeed be held liable for street design that causes drivers to drive at unsafe speeds.
https://www.transalt.org/news/releases/9832
This needs to spread to more states now.
New York's highest court ruled city can indeed be held liable for street design that causes drivers to drive at unsafe speeds.
https://www.transalt.org/news/releases/9832
This needs to spread to more states now.
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Re: Pedestrian Safety and Infrastructure Improvements
Ilhan Omar has proposed state bonding for replacing the pedestrian bike bridge over Interstate Highway 94 connecting Cedar-Riverside and Seward
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.p ... _year=2017
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.p ... _year=2017
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Re: Pedestrian Safety and Infrastructure Improvements
Does anyone know if, with the new public works director and complete streets policy, etc, the city of Minneapolis is going to start marking more uncontrolled crosswalks? I know that St Paul has started doing that and enforcing them with a lot of success and it would be good to see Minneapolis do the same.
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Re: Pedestrian Improvements
Year and a half later....Damn. This would be good to see.
"Possible overhaul for 5th St SE bike/ped bridge over 35W, it would be widened and illuminated under a plan being pushed by a University-area neighborhood."
http://www.startribune.com/local/blogs/295195871.html
MnDOT holding an open house http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projec ... tings.html
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Re: Pedestrian Safety and Infrastructure Improvements
SInce both University and 4th are nearing the end of their useful lives, let's talk land bridge instead.
Q. What, what? A. In da butt.
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Re: Pedestrian Safety and Infrastructure Improvements
The 5th street bridge is great. I like it as it is today (even the small/cozyness of it), but I could see how someone with ADA would have trouble with it. I wish there were nice bridges like the 5th street one (accessible and completing great ped/bike streets) in other cities as well.
On a side note, how is it that bridges over rivers last up to a 100 years while these bike/ped bridges only last 50? MNDOT?
On a side note, how is it that bridges over rivers last up to a 100 years while these bike/ped bridges only last 50? MNDOT?
Re: Pedestrian Safety and Infrastructure Improvements
A cast in place concrete bridge in a freeway location like this is getting attacked from all sides by road salt spray, degrading the rebar. It's a brutal environment.
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Re: Pedestrian Safety and Infrastructure Improvements
I'll second this. Maybe a provision for a future highway BRT station?SInce both University and 4th are nearing the end of their useful lives, let's talk land bridge instead.
Urbanist in the north woods
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Re: Pedestrian Safety and Infrastructure Improvements
The latest year of the Connect The Park sidewalk improvements were voted on. Most of the recommended segments were approved.
http://sailor.mnsun.com/2017/02/21/st-l ... -projects/
http://sailor.mnsun.com/2017/02/21/st-l ... -projects/
Re: Pedestrian Safety and Infrastructure Improvements
Regarding the 5th Street SE Ped/Bike bridge, Option 2 is in front of the Minneapolis TPW Committee as the recommended option. It shifts the bridge a half block north from its current alignment, which is probably a win for bikers and a loss for pedestrians. It eliminates the need for switchbacks, but adds a block in travel distance for walkers.
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