Comments Requested on 40th Street Greenway Concept

40th St. Greenway plan, with extended curbs, bike lanes, one-way traffic, and parking lanes.

You may have read about the 40th St. Greenway idea in past issues of SENA News. The concept originated from Kingfield neighborhood residents. The idea is to create an attractive and safe cross-town route for pedestrians and bicyclists (but still maintaining auto traffic) along 40th and 42nd streets in South Minneapolis. The greenway is envisioned to extend from Kings Hwy. to West River Rd. and provide connections to parks and bicycle routes at either end. In between, the greenway would pass several parks and other Southside landmarks like Roosevelt High School.

Last year, a committee composed of representatives from the neighborhoods intersected by 40th St. convened to discuss the greenway idea. With funds from Kingfield Neighborhood Association's NRP budget, the group hired the consultant firm of Sanders Wacker Bergley (SWB) to study the proposed route and create a design. Meetings were held in the various neighborhoods last summer to gather responses from residents. SWB determined that the best route was along 40th St. from Kings Hwy. to Nokomis Ave., south along Nokomis Ave. for two blocks, then along 42nd St. to the river. The main features of the SWB greenway design are:

• Curb extensions at intersections with cross streets.
• Parking restricted to one side of the greenway. The parking lane varies from north to south depending on the block, with the location to be determined by the neighborhood.
• East- and westbound bicycle lanes along most of the route.
• Two-way vehicular traffic on 40th St. west of 35W and on 42nd St.
• 40th St. changed to one-way traffic between 35W and Nokomis Ave. because the street is too narrow to hold two traffic and bike lanes plus a parking lane.
• No bike lanes or parking restrictions on the two-block stretch of Nokomis Ave.
• Decorative plants, benches, streetlights, and other elements along the route.
• Street-side residents encouraged to add their own boulevard plantings.

The figure above shows what a redesigned Standish neighborhood section of 40th St. might look like. While a single westbound auto lane is pictured, it is not known whether the city would approve changing 40th St. to one-way traffic or what its direction would be. Further study, discussion, and approval by residents and city officials are required before any greenway plan can be instituted. Other illustrations of the SWB concept may be seen here.

The Kingfield neighborhood currently is attempting to implement the SWB plan along its part of 40th St. (which will retain two-way traffic). If the plan is approved by the city, construction is expected to begin during the fall of 2001. The remaining neighborhoods, including SENA, have not made a firm decision whether to follow Kingfield's lead. However, SENA's Phase II Neighborhood Revitalization Program planning will begin soon, and funding for the greenway could be included. That's where your help is needed. The SENA Transportation Action Group (TAG) wants to hear from Standish and Ericsson residents about whether they favor or oppose the greenway. Please call, write, or send electronic mail to SENA with your opinions and comments. Tell us what you think of the concept in general and the SWB design in particular.

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