City staff lay out options to move downtown buses off Nicollet Mall; council members press for clearer process and equity analysis

City transportation staff presented a report to the Climate and Infrastructure Committee on March 20 outlining three candidate corridors and engagement to move Portland Avenue transit off Nicollet Mall to support a pedestrianized, activated downtown.

Kathleen Mayle, transportation planning manager in Public Works, said the work aims to “envision the next phase of Nicollet Mall” and described coordinated planning with Metro Transit on where buses could relocate. “There are nearly 12,000 on and offs on the corridor, each day,” she said, and staff have developed three options for where routes 10, 11, 17, 18 and 25 could move.

The options differ in which downtown streets would host the relocated routes. Option 1 would route most lines to a Marquette/Second one‑way pair and move routes 11 and 25 to Hennepin Avenue; Option 2 would create two‑direction transit and general‑purpose lanes on Marquette and Second; Option 3 would shift local and BRT service to Third Avenue while leaving express service on Marquette/Second. Mayle said Metro Transit analysis estimates average transit travel time on a new corridor could drop from about 10 minutes on Nicollet between Washington and 12th Street to about six minutes on a transit‑priority corridor, but walking distances to Nicollet Mall would change for many riders.

Council members repeatedly pressed staff on process, equity and impacts. Council Member Chavez said residents perceive the project as a foregone conclusion and asked whether the engagement allowed people to choose “no change.” Mayle replied the engagement included “no change” or “don’t move it” as an option and staff would confirm the exact survey wording and provide a follow up. Council Member Chowdhury and others said transit riders, public housing residents and other downtown stakeholders were under‑represented in early stakeholder groups; Chowdhury asked for stronger inclusion of riders in future decision steps.

Eric Hansen, director of the Community Planning and Economic Development Department, framed the proposal as part of a broader downtown revitalization effort tied to the mayor’s Downtown Action Plan. He said the goal is to “activate Nicollet Mall for people” and that private‑public partners — including the Downtown Action Council — are helping plan programming and activation. Hansen said activation work and transit relocation planning are related but distinct, and that some corridor investments (ADA ramps, signals, BRT station amenities) would be needed where transit moves.

Staff outlined curbside and driveway impacts: under Option 2, for example, Metro Transit estimated removal of about 105 meters on northbound Marquette to create transit lanes and identified roughly 30 new left‑turn and 20 right‑turn conflict points; Option 3 could convert two driveways to right‑in/right‑out and create up to 12 driveway crossings of a proposed two‑way bikeway on Third Avenue.

No final corridor choice was made. Mayle said staff and Metro Transit will work toward a recommended preferred option, plan a May round of public engagement on that recommended option, and anticipate buses moving off Nicollet Mall in 2026. Director Sexton confirmed that ordinance changes will be required if the city proceeds and that those changes will include public hearings.

Council members requested clearer points for council decision making before a final agreement is signed. Director Sexton said staff intend formal briefings and follow up with council members and will return with details on the formal approval steps and ordinance changes.

Committee discussion touched on resources needed for activation and for upgrading alternate corridors; Council Member Rainville (speaking earlier through staff comments) and others expressed concern about cost estimates and whether the modest programming line in the 2026 budget would be sufficient for long‑term activation and curbside retrofit costs.

The committee took no formal vote on the transit corridor selection; staff said they will return with a preferred option and additional engagement and analysis.