Strategy 6 Create and improve pedestrian connections across freeways, highways, rivers and railroads.
The actions within this strategy are divided into two categories:
Action we will DOActions we will SUPPORTAction we will do are followed by “DO” and are colored in dark gray, and actions we will support are followed by “SUPPORT” and are colored in light gray.
Learn more about how we get thereThere are a number of natural and human-made obstructions that limit pedestrian movement across them – such as freeways, railroads and rivers. This strategy focuses on how to make existing overpasses or underpasses more attractive, inviting and part of a seamless pedestrian network.
This strategy focuses on reconnecting neighborhoods that have been destroyed by freeway construction during the latter half of the 20th century. Reconnecting across barriers will help address the historic injustices these neighborhoods experienced and continue to experience due to the regional infrastructure.
Actions to create and improve pedestrian connections across freeways, highways, rivers and railroads.
Walking 6.1
Establish spacing guidelines for connections across freeways, railroads and rivers to identify locations for new pedestrian (and bicycle) bridges or underpasses.
Supported goals:
Equity Mobility Active Partnerships
Related actions:
Bicycles 2.1, Bicycles 2.2, Bicycles 2.3, Bicycles 2.4, Bicycles 2.5, Bicycles 2.6
Difficulty:
Low
Timeframe:
2024-2027 (Years 4-7)
Walking 6.2
Reestablish the street grid in places where streets do not exist through the creation of new pedestrian and bicycle connections.
Supported goals:
Mobility
Related actions:
Operations 6.5
Difficulty:
High
Timeframe:
2028-2030 (Years 8-10)
Walking 6.3
Identify funding for connectivity, safety and aesthetic improvements for underpass or overpass improvement projects such as I-94 near the Farmer’s Market and the I-94 viaduct through the North Loop.
Supported goals:
Mobility Active Partnerships
Related actions:
Difficulty:
High
Timeframe:
2028-2030 (Years 8-10)
Walking 6.4
Improve local street connections to freeway entrances and exits to improve pedestrian safety and comfort through enhancing signal operations and street design.
Supported goals:
Safety Mobility Active Partnerships
Related actions:
Difficulty:
High
Timeframe:
2020-2023 (Years 0-3)
Status:
On-going
Walking 6.5
Identify opportunities and partnerships to design, fund and construct lids over highways to reconnect neighborhoods that have been bifurcated by freeway construction and to amend the resulting injustices faced by those neighborhoods, and over railroads.
Supported goals:
Equity Prosperity Mobility Active Partnerships
Related actions:
Operations 8.5
Difficulty:
High
Timeframe:
2028-2030 (Years 8-10)
See also actions:
- Bicycling 2.2
Non-motorized bridge over Interstate 94 - Bicycling 2.6
New river crossings for Midtown Greenway and Great Northern Greenway - Street Operations 6.5
Eliminate gaps in street grid and reopen Nicollet Avenue at Lake Street