Minneapolis residents who've been dodging potholes and jockeying for position at the notorious Cedar Avenue-Edgewater Boulevard-Lake Nokomis Parkway intersection may finally see some relief. City officials have been busy playing traffic Tetris, and they're ready to show their hand. Details about the pilot project aimed to curb the vehicular chaos, which included a period of testing and public feedback last fall, are set to be aired at a town hall meeting this Thursday.
The city partnered with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, and Hennepin County, putting their heads together to try and safely direct traffic at this troublesome spot. The meeting, set in the gym at Lake Nokomis Community Center, will give the public a chance to fully understand the proposed solutions and to directly give their two cents on the matter.
The specifics of the Cedar-Edgewater pilot project will be laid out by staff from the agencies involved. They're sure to detail measurements they've taken and the community's reaction to the changes. The proof will be in the pudding—or in this case, the data and survey findings—to determine if their solutions can cut the mustard when it comes to improving safety and traffic flow.
Members of the community who have something to say or just want to be in the know should clear their calendars for Thursday, January 25. The meeting will run from 7 to 8:30 pm, promising an action-packed 90 minutes where you can bet your bottom dollar that local officials will be keen to showcase their results and to take more feedback. Need to bone up on the project before you go? Swing by the City of Minneapolis project page to get yourself up to speed.
If you’ve got a stake in the game, which let's face it, is anyone with a car, bike, or even a pair of sneakers, this is the time to step up to the plate. Officials have done their part; now it's up to the community to throw their hat in the ring—or in less sporty terms, participate in the local democratic process. Be there or be square.
