Council approves contract amendment for Cedar Lake Road/Louisiana Avenue project amid lane‑width debate

The St. Louis Park City Council on April 21 unanimously approved a professional services contract amendment for the Cedar Lake Road–Louisiana Avenue phase 2 reconstruction (project 4024‑1100), after staff summarized project history and residents raised concerns about lane widths and bicycle access.

Engineering Director Deb Heizer told the council the city approved the project layout in February 2023, engaged the community starting in 2022 and built phase 1 last year. Heizer said the council‑approved layout rebuilds the road, adds a sidewalk on the east side, and addresses water main work; a bikeway was routed off Louisiana to avoid removal of roughly 70 mature trees. The city has acquired temporary and permanent easements from 125 parcels at a combined cost of about $2,500,000, Heizer said, and the project has federal authorization. She said the current cross section reduces the road width by about 8 feet (from a 36‑foot width) to allow the new sidewalk, and that the recommended lane widths align with arterial‑street standards and operational needs for transit and emergency vehicles.

Several residents and advocates urged the council to adopt narrower travel lanes to calm traffic and make the corridor safer for people walking and bicycling. Jason Feltz, a resident who said he moved into the area in March, told the council, “Please do not widen the roads.” Sophie Heidman said wider lanes “are actually wider than highway lanes” and encouraged reducing lane width to as little as 10 feet each to slow speeds and cut salt and maintenance needs. Mark Bird, administrator of the Bike and Walk the Park Facebook group, said he was “frustrated and disappointed” that a bike facility on Louisiana had been set aside and urged the council to pursue lane‑narrowing where feasible. Other speakers (Dana Nidec; Ali Rogers) urged alternatives to a strict “bike path or trees” choice and emphasized connections to nearby destinations.

Heizer and other staff responded that Louisiana Avenue is classified as an arterial with average daily traffic the city cited at about 16,500 vehicles on the corridor, and that the alignment must allow clearance for fire apparatus leaving a nearby station as well as accommodate transit and occasional curbside activity (delivery trucks, trash collection). She said MnDOT owns the Louisiana bridge over I‑394 and has no plans to widen it, which constrains continuous north‑south bicycle facilities on the corridor. Staff described planned alternate routes and trail connections: a cycle track on Cedar Lake Road built in phase 1, trail connections near Hampshire, improved north‑south connections via Northside Park and other local routes and future regional trails coordinated with 3 Rivers Park District and partners.

Heizer gave these project details in answer to council questions: the city spent approximately $2.5 million on easements from 125 parcels; the project was advertised for bids after federal authorizations; the current design reduces the roadway width 8 feet to accommodate the east‑side sidewalk; and lane widths will meet arterial standards (staff described simplified cross sections as roughly 12 to 12.5 foot lanes plus curb reaction space). Council members acknowledged the bike advocates’ concerns but said the alternative routes, budget, bridge constraints and emergency‑vehicle access shaped staff recommendations. Several council members said they support continued advocacy for improved bike connections while approving the amendment.

The council moved, seconded and approved the professional services contract amendment by voice vote. Staff noted the amendment reflects an updated consultant cost estimate once final plans and staging were known. The project remains on the timeline toward the reconstruction work already approved by council.