MnDOT seeks public input for statewide bicycle plan

Published 10:14 am Monday, February 2, 2015

The Minnesota Department of Transportation is seeking public input on its statewide bicycle system plan during a series of statewide meetings in February and March. The plan will identify a statewide system of bicycle routes, improve existing facilities and refine MnDOT’s bicycle planning process.

Meetings in southern Minnesota include Mankato Feb. 24 and Rochester March 11. During the meetings, participants will provide specific input at activity stations and get the latest project news and updates. The information will help guide MnDOT in its next steps for the plan.

Meetings will be held at these locations:

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Feb. 9 in Fergus Falls, West Central Initiative Conference Room, 1000 Western Ave.

Feb. 11 in Minneapolis, University of Minnesota’s Urban Research and Outreach Engagement Center, Room 105, 2001 Plymouth Ave N.

Feb. 18 in Bemidji, Hampton Inn and Suites, Sunken Island Room, 1019 Paul Bunyan Dr. SE

Feb. 19 in Granite Falls, Kilowatt Community Center, 600 Kilowatt Dr.

Feb. 24 in Mankato, Blue Earth County Library Auditorium, 100 E. Main St.

Feb. 25 in St. Pau, Neighborhood House at Wellstone Center, Westside Room, 179 Robie St. E

Feb. 26 in Duluth,  City Hall, room 303, 411 W. First St.

March 11 in Rochester, University Center Rochester, Heintz Center Classroom, HA 104. Park in the east lot of Heintz Center, enter door H-9, 1926 College View Road E.

March 12 in St. Cloud, Whitney Senior Center, Kelly/Voltuck/Nikle Rooms, 1527 Northway Dr.

All meetings will be from 5 to 7 p.m.

Project team members and planning partners will be available for questions. Kids’ activities and snacks will be provided.

Interested persons also may submit comments on the project website at mndot.gov/bike, by email to greta.alquist@state.mn.us or by mail to Greta Alquist, MnDOT Office of Transit MS 315, 395 John Ireland Blvd., St. Paul, MN, 55155.

A first round of statewide meetings was held in spring 2014. MnDOT received more than 3,000 comments on routes for the statewide network, ideas for the kinds of facilities that should be developed and locations where MnDOT should invest.

“Minnesota has a great bicycling culture. Throughout our process people from across the state were active in letting us know where and how we can make good bicycle-related investments,” said Tim Mitchell, MnDOT bicycle and pedestrian coordinator. “We hope anyone interested in bicycling will help us with our next steps as we continue to work towards improving bicycling throughout the state.”

To request an ASL or foreign language interpreter, or other reasonable accommodation during the meeting, call Janet Miller at 651-366-4720 or 1-800-657-3774 (Greater Minnesota); 711 or 1-800-627-3529 (Minnesota Relay). Alternatively, email janet.rae.miller@state.mn.us. Please request at least one week in advance.

For more information on the project, visit dot.state.mn.us/bike/study.html.