Rochester council approves 18th Avenue Southwest geometric layout after debate over speed design

The Rochester City Council on March 3 approved the geometric layout for the 18th Avenue Southwest reconstruction project and authorized staff to proceed to final design, after discussion about design speed and neighborhood concerns.

City engineering staff presented the two-mile project from Maywood Road to 40th Street Southwest, describing goals to convert the corridor from a county highway to an urban street with traffic calming, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, utility upgrades and intersection improvements. The project’s current estimate is about $16 million, and staff said nearly $9.6 million in federal funding has been identified to cover much of the cost.

The layout calls for narrower travel lanes, separated 10-foot shared-use paths on parts of the corridor, mini roundabouts at several side-street locations and a traditional roundabout at the high-crash Maywood/18th intersection. Presenting the design, the city engineer said the layout is intended to reduce speeds and improve safety: "There is nothing that makes our people more safe than having safe speeds ... the 30 miles-per-hour design speed is exactly what the city of Rochester has put in their plan for arterial roadways," the presenter told council.

Council Member Palmer moved an amendment to have the project designed to a 25 mph standard. Palmer argued a lower design speed would better slow traffic through residential areas and align with safety goals. Council members debated whether designing for 25 mph would conflict with the city’s adopted arterial-speed policy; staff said design adjustments for 25 mph would be possible but would require additional review.

The amendment failed; the original motion to advance final design at the 30 mph design speed passed 6–1, with Palmer opposed. Council President Shuing and other members cited extensive public engagement and engineering review, while residents at the meeting had raised specific drainage, driveway access and path grading concerns earlier in the open comment period.

Staff said final design work will address local drainage and driveway impacts, and that construction is anticipated in 2026–27 if federal funding and bidding proceed on schedule. The project team also noted seasonal constraints and that portions requiring access agreements with adjacent property owners could be phased if access is not immediately available.

The council’s approval authorizes the city to advance to final design and to prepare construction bidding documents; council action did not award construction contracts at this meeting.