Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves engineering for Broadway/Washington intersection; members press for pedestrian safety in roundabout study
Summary
The council authorized engineering services for a Broadway and Washington intersection improvement study that could lead to a roundabout; MnDOT indicated it could repurpose temporary-signal funds to support permanent work. Council members asked staff to prioritize pedestrian-safety measures and parking impacts during design.
Council authorized approximately $186,400 for intersection-control evaluation and engineering services for Broadway and Washington to prepare for possible permanent improvements, including a roundabout. Staff said MnDOT indicated that, rather than installing a temporary signal for an upcoming detour, it would provide comparable funds to aid a permanent project—potentially enabling construction before a 2028 detour.
A council member said he was "not opposed to the roundabout" but urged staff to study pedestrian-safety options beyond the basic design, including pedestrian-initiated flashing lights. "I am concerned about we're taking an intersection that has a 4 way stop... and turning it into a situation where they might not necessarily be as attentive going through," the member said, and asked engineers to evaluate alternatives to ensure safe crossings and minimize parking loss. Staff said those design questions will be part of the engineering scope.
