Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
University and Hennepin County Seek Funding for Washington Avenue Bridge Suicide Barriers
Summary
University of Minnesota and Hennepin County described a multi‑jurisdictional need to install permanent suicide‑prevention barriers and lighting on the Washington Avenue Bridge; lawmakers debated whether to use Hennepin County active‑transportation funds, Metropolitan Council active‑transportation shares, or other state funding sources.
The University of Minnesota and Hennepin County urged the conference committee to provide state funding for permanent suicide‑deterrent barriers, higher railings and integrated lighting on the Washington Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis, citing recent deaths and daily pedestrian volumes.
The bridge, a double‑deck structure that carries light rail and vehicles below and an upper deck used by pedestrians and cyclists, sees about 20,000 pedestrians and 7,000 cyclists each day, Alice Roberts Davis, vice president for university services at the University of Minnesota, told the committee. The university said it has spent about $78,000 on temporary fencing and signed a $25,000 contract to keep fencing for another 12 months while it seeks a permanent design. The university estimated full design and construction of permanent railings, lighting, surveillance and related site work at about $8,000,000.
Why this matters: the bridge connects the university’s East and West Bank campuses, carries high foot and bicycle traffic, and has been the site of recent mental‑health crises…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
