EQEA 11/12/2019
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION
Fridley Municipal Center, 7071 University Ave Ne
AGENDA
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Location: Fridley Civic Campus, Banfill Room, 7:00 PM
Call to Order
Approve Environmental Quality and Energy Commission Minutes
1)Review October 08 Minutes
New Business
1)Active Transportation Plan (review draft)
2)Lawns to Legumes
Old Business
1)Energy Action Plan update
rd
2)53 Ave open house recap
Other
Next meeting December 10 at 7:00 PM at Fridley Civic Campus
Adjourn
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION
Fridley Municipal Center, 7071 University Ave Ne
MINUTES
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Location: City of Fridley Civic Campus, Banfill Room
Call to Order
Chair Hanson called the Environmental Quality and Energy Commission to order at 7:00 p.m.
Present: Amy Dritz, Heidi Ferris, Mark Hanson, Justin Foell, Paul Westby Sam Stoxen
Absent: Nick Olberding
Staff: Rachel Workin, Environmental Planner
Other: Alex Carlson, Metropolitan Mosquito Control District
Approval of Minutes
Chair Hansen called for a motion to adopt the minutes from the September 10 Environmental Quality and
Energy Commission minutes.
Commissioner
Commissioner Foell made a motion to approve the minutes and Commissioner Dritz seconded the motionto
approve the minutes.
MOTION PASSED unanimously
New Business
1)Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD)
Alex Carlson, with the MMCD- Public Affairs gave a presentation to the EQEC. The MMCD serves the 7-
county metro and is overseen by a board of county commissioners. He provided information related to mosquito
d do to reduce mosquito disease. He stated that mosquitos
are able to survive through freezing cold temperatures since their eggs can last up to 7 years; he also provided
the example of cattail mosquitos whose larvae can survive over winter. Mr. Carlson said that the MMCD survey
BTI or Methoprene rather than
spraying for adult mosquitos. When they spray for adults, they primarily use chemicals containing the
compound pyrethrin.They treat 211 acres in Fridley using larvicide and 3.4 acres for adults. MMCD also
samples for diseases carrying west nile virus (WNV). In 2018, there were 68 cases of WNV; in 2019, there were
just 3 cases of WNV, likely due to resistance building up in avian transmitters. Mr. Carlson shared the MMCD
mapping website, where the public can see what sites are inspected and treated.
treated, that they would encourage residents to call as that is treated as a data point. Mr. Carlson said that the
best thing that citizens can do is dump any standing water from containers. He said that mosquitos can breed in
just a small amount of water if left standing for 7 days. Commissioner Stoxen asked if there was any concern
about mosquitos developing resistance to Bti, since the corn borer moth developed resistance to Bt corn. Mr.
Carlson said he was not aware of any concern for resistance and that Bt corn had been used for a number of
year.
2)Approve 2020 Meeting Dates
Commissioner Foell made a motion and Commissioner Dritz seconded the motion to approve the minutes.
MOTION PASSED unanimously
Old Business
1)Energy Action Plan update
Ms. Workin said the information was in the packet. She thanked Commissioner Dritz for attending the Partners
in Energy meeting that she was unable to attend. Ms. Workin shared that they had presented at the Senior
Center and were still calling apartment complexes. Commissioner Dritz asked who was doing that work. Ms.
Working said that she presented at the Senior Center using a powerpoint provided by PiE, but that their
recycling intern was calling the apartment complexes as part of her recycling outreach.
2)Mississippi St Meeting recap
Ms. Workin shared that their was good turnout and the County was analyzing this information to develop
preferred sections. Commissioner Foell asked what the next steps would be. Ms. Working shared that the
st
based on feedback from the 1
meeting.
Other
1)New resident mixer- October 12
Commissioner Stoxen asked if all residents were invited or just new residents. She said all residents were
help with a table.
rd
2)53 Ave Trail open house- October 26
th
Ms. Working shared that there had been a 7 St trail project that evening that went well.
Adjournment
Commissioner Westby moved to adjourn the meeting and Commissioner Stoxen seconded the motion. The
meeting Environmental Quality and Energy Commission adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Memorandum
Planning Division
_____________________________________________________________________
DATE: November 7, 2019
TO: Environmental Quality and Energy Commission members
FROM: Rachel Workin, Environmental Planner
Active Transportation Plan
SUBJECT:
In
transportation opportunities for all citizens of Fridley and established strategies for increasing
transportation options in Fridley. The plan also contained a series of maps including winter maintenance
activities, streets designated for trails and sidewalks, and priority trails for sidewalks.
Since the plan is now more than 5 years old and a new Comprehensive Plan has been developed, the plan
needs to be amended for accuracy and relevancy. The following plan was developed using feedback from
the Finding Your Fun in Fridley campaign and EQEC/
Staff recommendation:
Staff recommends that the EQEC reviews the Active Transportation Plan to make changes or recommend
for approval.
Active Transportation Plan
2 nd Edition
Engineering Department
Community Development Department
November 2019
1
Introduction
The City of Fridley is committed to providing residents with safe opportunities for walking,
biking, and other non-automobile transportation. The Active Transportation Plan (the Plan)
for a well-maintained
sidewalk and trail system.
The 1 st edition of the . In
Comprehensive Plan has been developed. This 2 nd edition reflects the progress that has been
made as well as the new Comprehensive Plan goals related to Active Transportation. The Focus
Routes trail map will be updated every 5 years and the full Plan will be updated every 10 years in
following Comprehensive Plan approval.
Purpose
This p guide the Cit infrastructure needed
to achieve mobility equity and support opportunities for active transportation (walking, biking,
assisted mobility, transit, etc.). It is well documented that increased walking and biking improves
health and quality of life. Additionally, improved active transportation infrastructure can increase
a community desirability, encourage higher spending at commercial establishments, and
reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In a city such as Fridley, where residents face many barriers to
movement due to high-volume roadways and railways, a well-developed trail and sidewalk
network is particularly important to increasing sense of place and community connection.
2.1% of Fridley residents walk to work compared to 2.8% on average; 0.4% of Fridley
residents bicycle to work; 4.8% of Fridley residents take public transportation to work
(2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates).
4.6% of working age Fridley residents do not have a car (2013-2017 American
Community Survey 5-Year Estimates).
62% of millennials, currently the largest generation of home buyers, prefer living in
walkable communities that have short commutes (National Association of Realtors, 2017
National Community and Transportation Preference Survey).
People under 35 are more likely to use a park or trail for commuting than for recreation
(2017 Minnesota Statewide Health Assessment).
Only 52% of Minnesotans meet physical activity recommendations; of these, 62% do so
by including walking as part of their regular physical activity (Minnesota Walks, 2016).
The percentage of children walking and biking to school had dropped significantly within
one generation- 48% in 1969 compared to 13% in 2009 (Hayes Elementary Safe Routes to
Schools).
When engaging in active transportation planning, it is important to consider and account for the
causes and consequences of disparities related to racial and economic inequity. Populations of
color use parks half as often as white populations. Furthermore, populations of color experience
higher rates of poverty, which may limit transportation opportunities or ability to take time to
visit parks and trails. Age and disabilities are also factors that may lead to limited mobility.
2
According to Minnesota Walks, the prevalence of inactivity is highest in rural areas, among
people of color, older adults, persons with disabilities, those with less education, women and
lower-income groups. These demographic trends are relevant, because they can help the City 1)
identify priority areas for needed trails and sidewalks and 2) address historical inequalities that
prevent full participation of different groups.
Vision
The vision for this plan is that Fridley residents and visitors of all ages and abilities will feel safe
, bike, and roll for
transportation and outdoor recreation.
All Ages and Abilities = Triple AAA infrastructure
planning and designing infrastructure for independent users ranging from
school-aged children to seniors.
such as motorized wheelchairs, as well as those with other impairments that may require special
accommodations.
Goals
The goals of the Plan are to:
1)Improve the connectivity of the city by constructing active transportation infrastructure
2)Design active transportation infrastructure to provide a comfortable experience for users
of all ages and abilities
3)Integrate living streets concepts into reconstruction and development projects
4)Maintain trails and sidewalks to allow for satisfactory, year-round use
Supporting Documents
Increasing multi-modal options throughout the City was frequently identified throughout the
2040 Comprehensive Plan as a strategy to enhance Fridley as a safe, vibrant, friendly, and stable
community. Relevant objectives of the Comprehensive Plan to the Active Transportation Plan
include:
Plan for safe transportation routes for all modes of transportation
Incorporate Living Streets design and operations principles during road reconstruction
and redevelopment
Provide a variety of transportation options to enable people to get to jobs, shopping,
and recreational opportunities in the community
Encourage increased car sharing, biking, walking, and transit usage to reduce traffic
congestion in the community
3
The 2040 Comprehensive Plan directed staff to update the Active Transportation Plan at least
once every five years to prioritize current needs for sidewalk and trail connections, and to
incorporate newly adopted Safe Routes to Schools Plans. In addition to the 2040 Comprehensive
Plan, the following approved plans inform and support this document:
1)City of Fridley Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan
2)University Avenue and Highway 65 Corridor Study
3)East River Road Corridor Study
4)Northstar TOD Master Plan
5)Regional Bike Barriers Study
6)Safe Routes to School Plans for Stevenson Elementary, Hayes Elementary, North Park
Elementary, and Fridley Middle School
City of Fridley ADA Transition Plan
The ADA transition plan was approved by the Fridley City Council on February 11, 2019. This
plan guides the City in its efforts to ensure that pedestrian facilities within the public right-of-
way are compliant with the American Disabilities Act and meet the accessibility needs of all
residents. New facilities are presumed and required by the ADA transition plan to be ADA
compliant. This plan recognizes the ADA Transition Plan as the guiding document related to
ADA compliance within the city.
Parks Master Plan
plans recognize the importance of trails for increasing opportunities for outdoor recreation and
exercise as well as improved community engagement through enhanced connectivity. This plan
recognizes the Parks Master Plan as the guiding document on trails and sidewalks within the
parks as well as wayfinding between parks and trails. The Active Transportation Plan will serve as
the guiding document for trails and sidewalks along roadways.
Community Outreach
In addition to the to the community outreach that was performed in conjunction with the above
plans, the City conducted community surveys related to trails and sidewalks as part of the
Finding Your Fun in Fridley campaign. This campaign was used to gather feedback on the Fridley
Parks and Trails systems to be used for the Parks Master Plan and Active Transportation Plan.
Feedback was gathered using the Polco platform, a survey tool, and the Social Pinpoint
platform, a mapping and survey tool. 503 unique users visited the Social Pinpoint site 1488
times. 103 of those users left comments on the map (see Appendix A, Figure 1). A total of 223
comments were left on the map and 78 surveys were completed. An identical survey was posted
on Polco and received 24 responses. An example of the survey is included in Appendix B. A list
of all comments related to trails is included in Appendix C. Common themes throughout the
survey were:
An overall desire for increased connectivity throughout the City
4
Difficultly and feeling of unsafety at certain crossings (e.g. along University Avenue,
Highway 65, and 53 rd)
Increased maintenance of existing trails
Need for improved wayfinding signage
Increased lighting along trails
When asked where they preferred to ride their bike, residents indicated:
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Table 1. Preferred bike location
Additionally, surveys were distributed amongst the Fridley Senior Center in February of 2019; 14
surveys were completed. Respondents indicated that they wanted more trails closer to home;
increased maintenance of trails; more benches; more fountains, and more wayfinding signage.
Specific content related to plan development, outreach, and implementation was solicited from
the Environmental Quality and Energy Commission, which served as the steering committee for
this Plan.
Existing Conditions
While Fridley began growing in the 1940s, population rapidly increased during the
1950s through 60s before leveling off. Fridley is once again experiencing a resurgence with an
expected population increase from current levels of approximately 27,500 to an estimated
32,500 residents by 2040. This growth is driven in large part by a transition from single family to
multi-family housing. As the city has grown, it has become a younger and more diverse
community. While Fridley was 96% white in 1990, the most current data indicates that Fridley is
67% white (Fridley 2040 Comprehensive Plan). The average age of the population has decreased
from 37.1 years old in 2010 to 35.4 old in 2015.
Race 2000 Percent 2015 Percent
White 88.7 67.2
Black or African American 3.4 14.0
American Indian/Alaskan Native 0.8 1.1
5
Asian 3.0 7.1
Two or more races 2.9 3.4
Hispanic or Latino 2.6 7.2
Other 1.2 0.0
Table 2. Fridley demographics
Like many first-planning and
travel modes were shifting away from walking and mass transit to auto-focused design. Highway
65, Trunk Highway 47, and Interstate 694 carry cars at high volumes through Fridley, presenting
many barriers to free movement throughout the city. Other arterial roads, like East River Road,
Osborne Rd, and Mississippi St, can also create safety issues for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Railways and natural features, like Rice Creek present further barriers, dividing the city into a
grid. The Regional Bikeways Barriers Study identified several Tier 1- Tier 3 freeway and railroad
barrier crossing areas in the City including East River Road and TH 47.
locations (see Appendix A, Figure 2). The primary regional trail corridors through Fridley
include the Rice Creek West Regional Trail which continues from the Fridley border with New
Brighton to its intersection with the Mississippi River Trail near Locke Lake, and the Mississippi
River Trail. The Mississippi River Trail is a route through ten states along the Mississippi River,
and includes both on-road, unstriped sections and off-road trail in Fridley.
As part of the Plan development, the Environmental Quality and Energy Commission completed
transportation system:
Strengths Opportunities
Strong regional employment Prioritize regional connections and
Net gain of commuters; destinations, new campus, new residents, and
NorthStar Train stop; community groups/volunteers
Public Works/engineering Many county roads are up for resurfacing
departments that are open to trails (goal trail one side, sidewalk other side)
Strong partnerships with watershed Residents have new needs, ability to
districts beautify/regreen/placemaking
More awareness of benefits of trails ADA Transition Plan
and their ability to connect people to
Weakness Threats
6
Many roads are outside city control Development may increase numbers of
City is bisected by transit corridors automobiles
Financial conditions,
Plans to increase active transportation
City originally formatted without walks
opportunities can be sidelined by lack of
easements or a few vocal residents
Increased infrastructure requires increased
maintenance
University Ave crossings are dangerous
The Fridley trail system is not on a regular maintenance schedule. Patching of the trails is
performed on a complaint-basis. A condition rating of the trail was last performed in 2013 (see
Appendix A, Figure 3).
Future Improvements
While there are options for walking and biking in Fridley, significant gaps in the network still
exist. A list of streets designated for trails and sidewalks was developed for the 1 st edition of the
Active Transportation (see Appendix D). Many of the priority connections from this map that
were identified in the original version of the Plan have since been completed (Main Street, West
Moore Lake Drive). However, some of the identified connections have yet to be completed, and
other segments have risen or fallen in priority. Based on resident feedback, staff analysis, and
best practices, the following routes were identified as focus areas for this planning cycle:
1)Roads
minor expander streets (see Appendix A, Figure 4).
2)Sidewalks adjacent to high density residential or employment areas, including along
Fireside Drive, 83 rd Avenue, and Main Street (see Appendix A, Figure 5, 6, and 7).
3)Sidewalks and trails identified in Safe Routes to Schools plans or other destinations of
interest
4)Sidewalks within the Transit-Overlay District
These routes were evaluated for bi-directional walking and bike facilities, and then prioritized
based on the following categories (Appendix E):
The service level along the existing route
The number of connections made within the active transportation network
7
Destinations of interest along the route including employment centers, transit stops,
high density housing, commercial areas
Based on each attributes, it was assigned a point score on a 0-3 scale for each of the
categories (see Table 3). Segments with a total of 6-9 points were deemed highest priority
during this plan cycle and are bolded. However, other routes within this list or identified in
Appendix D may be pursued based on factors such as new development or road construction.
Existing facilities (0 = Trail Demand (0= no
facility exists on connections (0= demand- 3= high
focus side of the no trail demand based
road; 1= comparable connections on number of
facility on other side formed -3= destinations,
of road; 2= safe multiple transit,
shoulder; 3= no connections employment,
Route Form facilities) formed) density) Total
East-West Routes
83rd Avenue
(Springbrook
Apartments to
University) Walk 3 1 2 6
Osborne Rd (Central
Ave to City border) Walk 1 1 1 3
Fireside Walk 3 1 2 6
Bike (or
expand
southside
73 avenue; trail) and
rd
northside walk 1 3 3 7
Mississippi St Bike 3 3 3 9
East Moore Lake
(Highway 65 to Old
Central) Walk 1 1 2 4
8
Rice Creek Rd Bike and walk 2 3 1 6
61st Avenue Bike 3 3 3 9
Gardena Avenue Bike and walk 2 1 3 6
60 Avenue (Main St
th
to 3 St) Walk 1 1 2 4
rd
59 Avenue (Main St
th
to 3 St) Walk 1 1 2 4
rd
58 Avenue (Main St
th
to 3 St) Walk 1 1 2 4
rd
57 Place (Main St to
th
3 St) Walkin 1 1 2 4
rd
Bike and
walk except
where
57th Avenue existing 3 3 3 9
North Park
Elementary Sidewalks
(Lynde, Filmore and
Regis) Walk 3 1 2 6
Bike and
walk except
where
53rd Avenue existing 3 3 3 9
49th Avenue Bike and walk 3 2 1 6
Bike and
44th Avenue walk 3 3 2 8
North- South routes
9
East River Road Walk 1 2 3 6
(Osborne Rd to
Manomin Park)
East River Road Bike and 3 3 3 9
(Manomin Park to Walk
Mississippi St)
East River Rd Bike and 3 1 3 7
Mississippi St to walk
River Edgeway)
Main Street (83 Bike and walk 2 2 2 6
rd
Avenue to Osborne
Rd)
Main Street (61 Ave Walk 1 1 2 4
st
to 57 Ave)
th
2 Street (61 Ave to Walk 1 1 2 4
ndst
57 Ave)
th
2 ½ Street (61 Ave
Walk 1 1 2 4
st
to 57 Ave)
th
3 Street (61 Ave to Walk 1 1 2 4
rdst
57 Ave)
th
University Ave Walk 1 3 3 7
(Osborne Rd to
69th); eastside
University Ave (69th Bike and walk 1 2 2 5
to Mississippi St);
westside
University Ave Bike and 3 3 3 9
(Mississippi St to
walk
57th); westside
10
7th St (Mississippi Bike and 3 3 3 9
to 53rd) walk except
where
existing
Central Ave (Osborne walk 1 2 2 5
Rd to Highway 65);
eastside
Matterhorn Drive Bike and walk 2 1 2 5
Table 3. Identification and prioritization of focus areas
Transit Overlay District
The Transit Overlay District is an overlay zoning district surrounding the NorthStar Commuter
Rail Station. The purpose of this zoning district is to encourage dense, mixed use, pedestrian-
friendly development, increase multi-modal connections, and decrease automobile use. In order
to achieve these goals, this zoning overlay district has different requirements related to active
transportation infrastructure including:
Decreased setbacks
Reduced parking
Improved lighting
Required installation of minimum six-foot sidewalks by developer
Sidewalk installation is a necessary component to achieving the goal of the Transit Overlay
District; however, a patchwork of sidewalks creates an unsafe walking experience. When a
property is developed within the Transit Overlay District in a manner that would require
installation of minimum six-foot sidewalks, the City will require the installation of sidewalks at
the property if there will be a connection formed with an existing sidewalk or imminently
planned sidewalk. If there is no existing sidewalk or imminently planned sidewalk, the property
owner shall grant the City an easement sufficient for installation of the six-foot sidewalk as well
as a fee equal to the cost of installation of that sidewalk based on standard square footage
rates. This fee shall be kept in a separate fund and used exclusively on sidewalk installation
within the Transit Overlay District.
Design Options
nd biking on
both sides of a given roadway in order to reduce unsafe crossings and provide convenient
access to destinations. However, occasions may arise where it is not feasible either financially,
logistically, or spatially to accommodate infrastructure on both sides. In these cases, the City will
seek to provide infrastructure of sufficient width to accommodate users in both directions as
well as provide adequately spaced crossing facilities.
11
Providing active transportation infrastructure that allows users of all ages and abilities to feel
safe and comfortable extends beyond simple installation of a trail or sidewalk. The experience of
the user must be incorporated into the design in order to avoid non-functional facilities.
Examples of undesirable design flaws include conflicts with other modes or users, barriers in the
travel path, or unsafe/nonexistent termini and connections. When trails and roadways are
designed or reconstructed, these barriers should be reduced and eliminated to the extent
feasible. Examples of such design features include:
Pedestrian crosswalks that require crossing more than two lanes of traffic at a time
Lack of facilities on one side of the road, without sufficient crossing facilities
Narrow sidewalks (less than 5 feet in width)
Narrow shared-use paths (less than 8 feet for one-way traffic or less than 10 feet for two-
way traffic)
Roundabouts without designated crosswalks
Short signal times without pedestrian refuges
Lack of buffer zones between sidewalks and fast-moving street traffic
Obstruction of walkways due to telephone poles, signage, etc.
Trails or sidewalks that terminate with unsafe landings or subsequent connections.
Bike lanes with insufficient bicyclist protection on high traffic streets (i.e. sharrows only)
12
practices
pedestrian facilities
raffic intersections
13
Fridley will follow
High pedestrian
Roundabouts in
Areas with high
for installing
intersections
speed issues
High traffic
accepted
experience.
t
Use
or bicyclist
Decreased wait times at intersections
Creates additional public space that Creates additional public space that
Pedestrian barrier if crosswalks are
Prevents parking near intersections
Increased green space to maintain
visibility
pace requirement
can be used for stormwater can be used for stormwater
landscaping
management or landscaping
Decreases crossing distance
pedestrian
Conflicts with turn lanes
Improved flow of traffic
Advantages/Disadvantages
pedestrian
Pavement reduction
Cost of new curbingCost of new curbing
may be employed to improve the
management or
not installed
Increased s
Increases
DisadvantagesDisadvantages
Advantages:Advantages:
design options
types of
)
MnDOT.org
(nacto.org)
he following
Design
Photo
(
Infrastructure
roadway at the
narrowing the
a
Additionally, t
Roundabout
:
method of
on
physically
extensions
i
intersect
Curb
Type
volume streets that Intersections where cross more than two adjacent to schools. Areas with excessive
g
Residential or low
measures such as
need traffic calmin
pedestrians must
lanes of traffic or
extends past the
using temporary
Medians should
an be created
road widths
cross walk
bollards
have a
C
Creates additional public space that Creates additional public space that
Potential for less impervious surface
Increased green space to maintain
Accommodation of emergency
vehicles
Decreased exposure time for
management or landscaping
intersection
can be used for stormwater can be used for stormwater
Decreased wait time for cars
management or landscaping
Reduced crossing distances
Decreased driving speedsDecreased driving speeds
Maneuverability of plows
pace
lanes
Increased public space
duty
Increased available s
stripe
Cost of new curbingCost of new curbing
Conflicts with turn
-
pedestrian in the
heavy
-
Low cost to re
Use of space
vehicles or
DisadvantagesDisadvantagesDisadvantages
Advantages:Advantages:Advantages:
nacto.org)nacto.org)
(nacto.org)
((
Islands/Medians Decreased lane
Chicane: offset curb extensions
width
14
streets with speeds
walks; roads where
be achieved using
calming methods;
of under 30 miles
often used as cut
High traffic cross
per hour; streets
xed use areas road Mixed use areas road
conventional
--
such as onsuch as on
bike lanesbike lanes
throughs
Mi
Increased visibility and protection
Installation/uninstallation time or
Increased awareness of illegal
Potential for decreased driver
Increased pedestrian visibility
snowplows
Interrupted trail flow
Decreased speeds
Increased visibility
Increased signage
Difficulty plowing
Decreased speed
Increased cost
conflict with
comfort
parking
DisadvantagesDisadvantagesDisadvantages
Advantages:Advantages:Advantages:
(dezignline.com)
nacto.org)nacto.org)
((
crossing/speed
Protected bike
Colored bike
facilities
Raised
tables
lane
15
LPIs should be used
(i.e. University Ave;
and turning traffic
heavy amounts of
intersections with
ian traffic
in signalized
Highway 65)
High traffic
crosswalks
pedestr
May substitute for stop signs where
Shown to reduce collisions as much
Requires retiming other signals
intersections
warranted by traffic counts
Advanced warning for cars
pedestrian priority
Increased delay for cars
visibility visibility
as 60% in treated
Increased cost
(nacto.org)
Increases Increases
Low cost
DisadvantagesDisadvantages
Gives
Advantages:Advantages:
(fhwa.dot.gov)
(nacto.org)
for pedestrians
: A
7 head start
entering an
(lpi)
pedestrian
Pedestrian
intersection
Leading
flashing
beacons
interval
-
3
16
Living Streets
Often, the most cost-effective time to install pedestrian and bike facilities, or supporting
infrastructure, is during road reconstruction. -wide
rendering them suitable candidates for conversions. For this reason, the City has adopted the
following Living Streets Policy to guide the City in road-redesign.
Living Streets refers to streets designed to be safe, efficient, balanced, and environmentally
sound. Living Streets create more livable communities by promoting the mobility, accessibility
and convenience of all modes, purposes, and users while also mitigating the environmental
impacts of impervious surface.
Components of a Living Street
The components of Living Streets include infrastructure that allows for the safe transportation of
all modes, purposes, and users as well as the accompanying landscaping and stormwater
management facilities. Within the City of Fridley, there is no singular design prescription for
Living Streets. Each Living Street will be designed based upon the unique characteristics of the
project area. Examples of the components of a Living Streets include:
Trails, sidewalks, and on-street, striped bike lanes
Median islands
Accessible pedestrian signals
Curb extensions/bump outs
Narrower travel lanes/road diets
Speed limits and other traffic calming improvements
Safe crossing facilities, including pavement markings
Safe and effective lighting
Diverse tree plantings
Stormwater management
Pollinator-friendly/water efficient landscaping
Bike racks
Benches
Water fountains
Waste receptacles
Public art
Project Triggers
The City will incorporate Living Streets components into the C
new construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, and changes in allocation of pavement space on
an existing roadway or following a corridor study.
17
Factors for analysis
The City will use the Policy and the attached Living Streets worksheet included in Appendix F to
determine if incorporation of Living Streets components is practical and feasible for each
project. The worksheet will be presented to Council and included with the project file.
Exceptions
The City will incorporate Living Streets Components in all projects except for the following
reasons:
A)The project involves a transportation system on which certain modes and users are
prohibited either by law or significant safety reasons
B)The street jurisdiction (Anoka County of the State of Minnesota for non-city streets)
refuses suggested plans
C)The cost of accommodation is excessively disproportionate to the need or probable use
D)The corridor has severe topographic, environmental, historic or natural resource
constraints
E)There is a well-documented absence of current and future need
F)Other exceptions are allowed when recommended by the Public Works, Building &
Community Standards, Parks and Recreation, and Police and Fire departments, and
approved by the City Council
Where segregated facilities cannot be provided for pedestrians and cyclists, the constructed
roadway shall reflect the character of shared space, with appropriate mechanisms to calm
vehicular traffic and provide a safe, reliable, integrated, and interconnected surface
transportation network.
Jurisdiction:
Where projects involve other jurisdictions, such as Anoka County or the State of Minnesota, the
City will fully work with those jurisdictions to ensure compliance with this policy.
Winter Maintenance
Maintaining passable sidewalks and bus stops in the winter is essential to ensuring that
residents can live car free and pursue active lifestyles year-round. Additionally, Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II Regulation §35.133 requires maintaining ADA-compliant access to
walkways year-round, which includes snow and ice clearing.
As sidewalks and trails directly benefit public users rather than just the immediate property
undertake a municipality-led snow removal program. Under this program, the City takes
responsibility for clearing snow and ice from all City-owned sidewalks and trails using municipal
staff.
The City prioritizes snow removal in the following order:
1)Collector streets (red lines)
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2)Local streets and priority sidewalks and trails (i.e. trails leading to schools)
3)Remaining sidewalks and trails
4)Bus stops
Appendix G. As new trails and sidewalks
are constructed, they will be incorporated into this policy.
Infrastructure Maintenance
Trails, sidewalks, and bike lanes require regularly scheduled maintenance to remain functional.
Potential trail maintenance includes repainting, seal coating, crack sealing, pavement patching,
resurfacing, reconstruction, vegetation removal, etc. The City has developed the following
maintenance schedule for active transportation infrastructure:
Activity Description Frequency
Trail and bike lane Physical removal of debris in Three times a year minimum
sweeping trails and bike lanes that can and in response to known
pose safety hazards; bike lanes issue
positioned next to the gutter
line frequently accumulate
gravel and other debris
Vegetation removal Physical removal of vegetation Two times per year and
that overhangs onto the response to known issue; in
sidewalk poses a safety hazard cases in which vegetation
originates from private
property will be referred to
the Neighborhood
Preservation Specialist
Restriping Striping of bike lanes and Every year for latex; for other
crosswalks can deteriorate materials as identified by
overtime, reducing visibility inspection
Pavement condition Inspection of pavement and Bi-annually
inspection and rating striping using a standardized
inspection method to
determine needed
maintenance
Seal coating Seals the surface and small Based on pavement condition
cracks of existing asphalt rating and programming
pavement to prolong
pavement life
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Crack sealing Material application to seal Based on pavement condition
cracks in order to prevent rating and programming
intrusion of water and debris
and create a smooth riding
surface
Pavement patching Material application to patch Following reported issue
potholes in order to prevent
intrusion of water and debris
and create a smooth riding
surface
Resurfacing Removal and replacement of Based on pavement condition
the top layer of asphalt rating and programming
Reconstruction Full removal and replacement Based on pavement condition
of asphalt or concrete rating and programming
Implementation
During this plan cycle the City will implement the following activities:
1)Install active transportation infrastructure in conformance
Provide funding through the Capital Investment Program
o
Pursue grant funding to support the construction of active transportation
o
infrastructure
2)Evaluate zoning code language to ensure conformity with Plan
3)Implement Living Streets policy within street reconstruction projects
4)Develop and fund pavement maintenance plan to program trail and sidewalk resurfacing
5)Perform winter maintenance of trails and sidewalks in conformance with the goals
outlined in this plan
6)Develop wayfinding for trail system as part of Parks Master Plan
Sources
City of Fridley. 2040 Comprehensive Plan. 2019
Metropolitan Council. Regional Bicycle Barriers Study.
https://metrocouncil.org/Transportation/Planning-2/Transit-Plans,-Studies-Reports/Bike-
Pedestrian-Planning/Regional-Bikeway-Barriers-Study.aspx. Accessed October 14, 2019.
20
Minnesota Department of Health. 2017 Minnesota Statewide Health Assessment.
https://www.health.state.mn.us/statewidehealthassessment. Accessed September October 14,
2019
Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota Safe Routes to Schools. Hayes Elementary Safe
Routes to Schools. https://springbrooknaturecenter.org/DocumentCenter/View/4702/Hayes-
ElementaryFinal-Plan?bidId=. Accessed October 14, 2019.
Minnesota Department of Transportation. Minnesota Walks, 2016.
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/peds/documents/planning-research/minnesota-walks-2017-final.pdf.
Accessed October 14, 2019
National Association of Realtors, 2017 National Community and Transportation Preference Survey.
https://www.nar.realtor/reports/nar-2017-community-preference-survey. Accessed October 14,
2019
United States Census Bureau. 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.
https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/technical-documentation/table-and-geography-
changes/2017/5-year.html. Accessed October 14, 2019
21
Appendix A. Figures
(Page Intentionally Left Blank)
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Figure 1: Map of Social Pinpoint Comments
23
Figure 2. Map of existing active transportation network
24
Figure 3. Trail conditions
25
Figure 4. Existing and Planned Functional Class Roads
26
Figure 5. Relative Employment Density
27
Figure 5. Relative Transit Ridership
28
Figure 6. Relative Population Density
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Appendix B. Social Pinpoint and Polco Survey
The City of Fridley is taking a close look at our parks and trails as part of a new campaign
Finding Your Fun in Fridley. We want to know more about how and where you find your fun in
Fridley parks, trails and other outdoor spaces. We are asking for feedback through an optional
recreation areas. Your feedback will be used to help guide our programming, amenities, and
future development make sure parks and trails meet the needs of all residents. Thank you!
How often do you/your family visit a Fridley Park?
Daily Weekly Monthly A few times a year Never
Where are your favorite parks and trails outside Fridley? What do you love to do there?
What improvements or additions to existing parks and amenities would you/your family
support in Fridley parks? Circle all.
Improve playgrounds
Improve wayfinding signage
Expand/improve walking loops in parks
Add/improve picnic shelters and benches
Provide shared equipment/ability to check out recreation equipment (lawn games, paddle
boards, canoes, sports equipment, kick sleds, ice skates, sleds)
Add park buildings with community gathering rooms and bathrooms
Add dog park
Add splash pad
Add wading pool
Add community gardens
Add pickleball
Add multi-use fields/courts for all sports
Add frisbee golf
Other: _____________________________________________________________
How you you/your family like to utilize Fridley parks in the wintertime? Circle all.
Ice Skating Hockey Sledding Cross-County Skiing
Warming House Hiking/waling/snowshoeing Broomball
Other: _____________________________________________________________
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Where do you/your family prefer to ride your bikes in Fridley? Circle all.
On the road
Striped on-rod bike lane
Protected on-road bike lane (separated from cars with posts)
Off road bike lane (separated from road by boulevard)
What recreation and community programs would you like to see in Fridley parks and
facilities?
Looking ahead 10-
facilities?
What other comments, ideas, concerns, or suggestions do you have regarding Fridley
parks, trails, and recreation programs?
Do you live and/or work in Fridley? Circle all.
I live in Fridley
I do not live in Fridley
I work in Fridley
I do not work in Fridley
Please circle all the age groups that include your you/your family.
5 and younger 6-9 10-13 14-17 18-24
25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74
75 and older
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Appendix C. Social Pinpoint and Polco Comments Trail Comments
Location Comment
44th Ave bridge A protected bike path over the 44th Ave bridge would be a
great connector between Main and the River Road.
44th Ave bridge This bridge has too wide of lanes for 30MPH cars - it also
has too narrow a sidewalk for *anyone*. Reduce the lane
sizes and increase the sidewalk and/or add a bike lane.
Also, there's consistently a huge pile of sand on the east
side of the bridge where the sidewalk begins.
49th Ave HORRIBLE CROSSING UNIVERSITY
53rd Ave 53rd desperately needs a sidewalk to connect the bus route
with retail between university and central.
53rd Ave Bus stops along 53rd are an embarrassment prioritizing car
to the safety of those who take the bus is an equity issue.
Putting a sign on the side of the road without any place to
stand but in the street is awful and keeps people from
getting out of their cars to take public transit.
53rd Ave Crossing the street from Sullivan Lake to Target is extremely
dangerous.
57th Ave Dedicated bike/walking paths along 57th would help
connect the neighborhoods to the new shopping at Fridley
Market
57th Ave This is a statement from this website. It appears that the city
agrees with you on this issue. The City has received grant
funding for a future trail on the east side of 7th Street from
53rd Avenue to 61st Avenue, and on the north side of 57th
Avenue from 7th Street to University Avenue. This
construction is currently planned for 2021. Open houses will
occur during the design phase of the project prior to
construction.
61st Ave A dedicated set of bike trails between the NorthStar line
and shopping off 65 would benefit all the new housing at
61st and University.
61st Way by Tri-Star Insulation I know this isn't the city directly but the section of the trail
directly North of this business was not plowed at all for the
last 2 or so months of snowfall this year. How is anyone
supposed to safely use the Fridley Station/Run/Park and
walk their children across to Stevenson from the park and
ride lot?
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69th Ave trail at Shamrock Lane I know it's not a "park" area, but Shamrock Lane is a
deadend that is hidden from view and has frequent....
issues....at the end of the road after dark. Needs to be either
closed completely off, better patrolled, or developed. Is it
city-owned land? Could housing go here? At the very least,
some street lighting could go a long way.
69th Ave trails at Shamrock The trail on the north side of 69th ends right before the
Lane tracks at the edge of the city. Would be great if it extended
all the way to Shamrock and could connect with the
Moundsview sidewalk on the other side. Really unsafe for
pedestrians that get squeezed into oncoming traffic at the
RR crossing here, especially in winter.
69th Ave trails at Shamrock The sign here needs to be much better to indicate which
Lane direction is for the rice creek trail and which is for the
southbound trail.
73rd Ave Bike path/trail in poor shape, needs
improvement/resurfacing.
73rd Ave I bike-commute to work and agree: this trail is in poor
shape. I'd bike in the road, but right east-bound lane is
almost as bad as the trail.
73rd Ave Idea: create a "neckdown" here on 73rd where traffic
temporarily reduces to two lanes using bollards. People
using this trail could travel directly to Madsen Park which is
about to get a shiny new basketball court.
73rd Ave If you ever see bicyclists (including kids) riding in the road
instead of on the trail that is immediately adjacent - it is
likely because the road is like glass - kept in pristine shape,
but the trail is sadly neglected.
7th St 7th could use a dedicated, and separated bike/walking lane
on its entire length.
7th St I wish Columbia Heights would change the curbing here to
make it clear to cyclists that it's OK to continue 7th St.
Central Avenue Trail Would be awesome if the Old Central trail could be a
"raised path" - one that eliminates the "whoops" of going
up and down through the driveways and intersections. The
trail itself would act as a wide speedbump. There is only
one stoplight along its entire stretch, and it wouldn't
interfere. All other intersections are 4-way stops.
City-wide Add more sidewalks between parks
City-wide I wish there were safer ways to cross the roads that the bike
trails are on. Cars frequently ignore the crosswalk signs and
drive right through as our family is preparing to cross.
City-wide Install Emergency Call Boxes in appropriate parks/places
around town (picture is from UMN Campus).
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City-wide Work with Columbia Heights/Minneapolis to connect us to
the downtown skyway system. Central Ave would never
need plowing again.
L1: Vehicles/Rail/Bike/Peds
L1.5: Bike Expressway (optional)
L2: Bikes/Pedestrians
Roof: Walkway/Park/Gardens
Or, go all out on an artery and push rail underground with
parking/utilities/water storage/emergency shelter. We
should build underground more in MN...
Construct it all in logical phases. Plan a hyperloop phase,
and Elon might be onboard...haha!
City-wide As the transportation department does road renovation, I
would like to see more parks and neighborhoods being
connected to the Rice Creek and Mississippi trail systems.
City-wide Please plow the trails in the winter. A lot of people use
them year around, but they get very dangerous in the
winter.
City-wide Add accessible spaces, and perhaps electric vehicles, on a
rental basis if needed, to convey people without mobility,
or who have no ability to walk so far to enjoy what others
can enjoy, at community gardens, docks to fish, paths to
enjoy (even if those path times are restricted with vehicles
with wheels).
City-wide Connect the parks to one another via improved or
additional trails so we can bike further as a family. I would
like to bike from where we live (near Fridley high school) to
the Mississippi River but crossing University is dangerous.
City-wide More dedicated bike paths that connect all of the parks,
including Anoka County Locke Park
City-wide Keep bikes off the road
City-wide just keep the trails maintained
City-wide Add lighting through the trails so our community feels safe.
Community Park Continue the trail north to connect to spring brook and
continue the flow of bike/pedestrian traffic off of East River
Road and University.
Connection between Rice Creek Trail is in need of maintenance
Trail and 73rd Ave Trail
East River Rd This section of the trail along E. River Road (from Ironton
Street to Osborne Rd is never cleaned in the winter. Why? I
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noticed that other parts of the trail further south are kept
open and cleared.
East River Rd finish the trail or sidewalk down to Mississippi St.
East River Rd We really need to connect this area to Manomin Park along
the west side of ERR as well without the need to cross ERR
and then back over again. Actually, this is a problem all
along the western side of ERR going north to Osborne.
Walking in general in this part of Fridley is frustrating at
best.
East River Road Trees and brush need to be trimmed. Trees have dead
branches hanging from them and could fall on somebody
using the Mississippi River trail. Brush is growing out into
the trail.
East River Road Bush growing through someone's fence on the west side of
East River road and Glencoe street. Blocks the sidewalk and
makes it unsafe.
East River Road There is a stretch with no sidewalk from Mississippi Street
to Rice Creek Way. I extremely dangerous walking on East
River Road with traffic.
East River Road While I would dance a happy dance if a sidewalk was put in
here (on the western side of EER), I'm sure that's unlikely. So
how about a segregated walking / biking lane to keep
traffic and pedestrians / bikers safe? People do it anyway,
so some safety features would be amazing.
East River Road Bike trail along East River Rd
East River Road north of No sidewalk on this stretch of East River Road.
Mississippi St
Edgewater Gardens Connect trail to the street with a paved path
Edgewater Gardens Connect trail to street with a paved path
Flanery Park Perimeter paved trail, as there are no sidewalks or
shoulders for passing walkers to travel safely on.
Fridley High School This asphalt path needs to be replaced. We use this quite
often for biking and walking and it is in really bad
condition.
Harris Park Harris Park would really benefit by having a crossing area
on Mississippi St. This park doesn't have a parking area and
the sidewalk on Mississippi is across the street. It would be
much safer for walking/biking families if a crosswalk existed
here.
Highway 65 Could there be sign telling drivers on Hwy 65 to yield to
pedestrians in crosswalk? I have seen someone hit when a
driver didn't stop behind the crosswalk.
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Innsbruck Nature Center The signage within the park needs repair. Would suggest
that local schools field trip here to learn more about the
local ecosystem, and possibly to facilitate a clean up effort.
Innsbruck Nature Center Too hidden.
Ironton Street NE to 85th Ave We need a path from end of Ironton Street NE to 85th Ave
so this neighborhood can safely access the nature center
and cross the railroad properly. Clear out the woods/
homeless at the end of Ironton Street. Alcohol usage and
drug sales is very apparent at Ruth circle and in the woods.
Making a bike / walking path for children is very necessary.
Bringing more people outside will help keep this activity
down.
Islands of Peace Regional Park IT's too secluded for me to feel comfortable there alone.
Islands of Peace Regional Park Enjoy walking the paths at Islands of Peace
Islands of Peace Regional Park Great access over River for biking and Is of Peace Park
offers a unique water level view of River, which makes you
feel one with the River at the shoreline. City should
promote the unique access/views for the handicapped at
this park. Group homes for the handicapped would love to
come here if there were accessible restrooms.
Islands of Peace Regional Park I don't feel safe walking here.
Lifetime Fitness Would like to create a shortcut trail here to connect Old
Central and East Moore Lake for walkers and cyclists that
don't want to go all the way around Moore Lake Commons.
Locke County Park This is another part of the trails that can be quite secluded,
maybe a few blue posts in the more secluded areas?
Locke County Park Enjoy the access to both paved and dirt trails, dirt trails
were kept well groomed last year. Keep it up!
Locke County Park Really like these trails
Locke County Park I parked here once to access the Rice Creek trail (had to
jump through the woods to get to the trail). Felt very unsafe
- it feels secluded and not well cared for. Noticed a car
loitering when I got back. Might have been nothing but felt
like an unsafe situation for sure.
Locke County Park This parking area is closed. There is also no parking along
either Old Central or 69th Ave. This makes it pretty difficult
to find and get to an entrance to these trails if you don't
live in the neighborhood. I know the parking area is Anoka
Cty and that it is closed due to dumping. But I'd like to
think there is a better solution than just closing it.
Locke County Park I did notice some homeless men at this point in the woods
30 Apr 19. They didn't seemed to be causing issues but still
i would keep an eye open for them if you have Kids.
Locke County Park The entrance to the trails here could be clearer
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Locke County Park Definitely agree it would be nice to be cleared of ice in the
winter
Locke County Park I would like it if the trail in Locke Park was cleared in the
winter. However I realize that it is a county park and is also
not heavily used.
Locke County Park Locke Park needs more lighting and less vangrences.
Locke Lake Strongly agree! This is the perfect place to add a bridge
over the tracks and create a loop walk for Locke Lake
Locke Lake Circular path around Locke Lake
Locke Lake neighborhood Neighborhood does not have a safe way to connect to the
trail and park on the other side of the train tracks.
Main St trail Please continue the great new bike path on Main further
south.
Main St Trail Right now on the walking path along the side of main
street. Looking to expand that area
Main St trail at 49th Ave trail does not connect with street.
Main St trail at 49th Ave Would be nice to connect the new trail on Main with some
other major roads. 49th between is very dangerous with
cars and semis.
Manomin Regional Park I love the trails at Manomin.
Medtronic Parkway This bike path along Medtronic pkwy needs
repair/repaving. Maybe Medtronic $$$ can "adopt" it and
fix it up with a grant/donation to the city?
Mississippi St Sidewalks on Mississippi are so close to the road! They can
feel very unsafe when walking or running, especially with
small children. Lower the speed limit, make a 2 lane with
the shared center turn lane or widen the boulevard
between the sidewalk and the road.
Mississippi Regional Trail at 694 Trail under the bridge and just before and after could use
some attention, The mirror that was on the north side of
the bridge was great for seeing around the bend, I would
love to see that replaced (recently disappeared.)
Mississippi Regional Trail along The Mississippi River Regional Trail is poorly lit and can be
East River Road creepy.Tonight from my house, I saw a woman walking
strictly on the center median down East River Road; I
assume she felt unsafe on the trail.
Mississippi St Would be nice to see blinking lights around the stop signs
for drivers on Mississippi. Recently I saw a driver run this
stop sign. They were approaching fast, and I believe they
did not see the sign in time to stop.
Mississippi St I agree, the water needs to run under the sidewalk and the
sidewalks should be cleaned often.
Mississippi St I rode my bike here several times a week and these
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the sidewalk.
Mississippi St With dense residential, several N/S crossings, the library
and Hayes, Mississippi is heavily used by pedestrians.
Sidewalks are narrow and deteriorated. They are unfit for
bikes. It's terrifying to ride a bike E/W on Mississippi for the
entirety of the 4-lane part, there is no where to go except in
the right traffic lane. Widen the north sidewalk (Hayes
school side) to a full shared-use bike path from E River Rd
to Old Central or reduce Miss St. to 2 lane with center L/R
turn lane + bike path.
Mississippi St The sidewalk under the railroad bridge is so dangerous. It is
slippery with algae all summer and super icy in the winter.
Mississippi St Many of us agree with this statement. These are some of
the most heavily used sidewalks in Fridley.
Mississippi St I agree with this as do many others. The sidewalk is very
narrow and old. The traffic on Mississippi Street is traveling
bikers. I have noticed a lot more people walking, running
and biking on this street and the sidewalk than had been
using it in years past.
Mississippi St Mississippi Street feels very unsafe as a biker. Please
consider changing it to a single lane each direction, with a
center shared turn lane, and adding protected bike paths
along it to connect with the River Road
Mississippi St Sidewalks on Mississippi are so narrow and traffic is so fast!
Mississippi Regional Trail under The walking path, under the road, looks like a spook house.
East River Rd between Locke Any chance it could be hosed down? Thank you for
Lake and Manomin Regional painting over the graffiti.
Park
Mississippi Regional Trail under I'd prefer an over-the-road option here anyway. I won't use
East River Rd between Locke this area for safety reasons.
Lake and Manomin Regional
Park
Mississippi St Take Mississippi Ave down to 3 lanes (center turn lane) the
entire stretch from East River Road to Old Central.
Mississippi St at Monroe St Possibly a sign for drivers saying "yield to pedestrian in
crosswalk". I recently was walking in the crosswalk across
Mississippi when a driver essentially tried to beat me
through the intersection instead of let me finish crossing.
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Mississippi St It also has a small pebble problem which is quite dangerous
esp. when I'm running with my double wide stroller. I
would also like to emphasize the MAJOR ice/snow build up
problem besides for my selfish running reasons there is NO
WAY anyone in a wheelchair would be able to use this
entire section from 2nd St to Hickory St during the winter, I
often have to run ON Mississippi for that entire section
during the winter.
Mississippi St On Mississippi - traffic is 4 lanes which seems unnecessary
and encourages higher speeds, yet leaves little room for
peds and bikes.
Moore Lake Dr trails I agree with the other commenter - this trail is in terrible
condition. My son (age 10) and I ride in the road on E
Moore Lake as it's smooth as glass compared to the trail.
Also this small section of road DOES NOT need to be 4
lanes - two would be just fine.
Moore Lake Dr trails The trail along this road seems to be old and the asphalt is
really starting to disintegrate.
Moore Lake Park There is not sufficient lighting to make the park safe for
evening walks.
Moore Lake Park I would like to see a full walking loop around Moore Lake
Moore Lake Sand Dunes I'd love to see more science or historical info here (what are
we protecting? Why?)
Moore Lake Sand Dunes Add pathways, signage, historical info, and parking
North of Little League Fields This asphalt path needs to be replaced. We use this quite
often for biking and walking and it is in really bad
condition.
North of Little League Fields The asphalt sidewalk along the north side of the Little
League fields is crumbling and badly needs repair. This
sidewalk connects 59th Ave. with the road on the south
side of the High School, and is frequently used by bikers,
joggers, and students walking to FMS & FHS. It is also
frequently used by Little League baseball & High School
softball fans.
Old Central Ave at Moore Lake Need a trail here - it's a busy interchange
Park
Osborne We enjoy walking and biking a lot. The trail along Osborne
is abysmal, and really needs improving, and I'm
disappointed with the lack of sidewalks and paved paths in
general.
Plaza Park This is the one and only place I've experienced an event
where I felt threatened, ONE TIME ONLY. This is a place I
run 3x a week and I'm confident on the trial overall but
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having a 'blue post' light/emergency button/camera in this
secluded of an area would be great!
Plaza Park Connect trail to street with a paved path
Railroad In general, I'd like to see more and safer railroad crossings
for bikes. There are only a few and using the underground
situation at the station with a bike is both annoying and
creepy when there are few other people around. Seems like
an assault waiting to happen.
Rice Creek The Rice Creek Water Trail is a beautiful asset, but be
warned: it is treacherous in spots with downed trees.
Rice Creek Rice Creek Water Trail needs some attention. Two of us
tried kayaking it from Long Lake to Locke Lake in May (yes,
the water is much higher than most years), but it is really
treacherous. This is where we both were dumped out of our
boats by 3 downed trees spanning the creek (picture shows
a tree that was maneuverable).
Rice Creek Trail between Trail from Edgewater Gardens Park to Community Park is
Edgewater Gardens and very scary the way it is designed with chainlink fence on
Community Park both sides of trail - no where to escape an
attacker/secluded.
Rice Creek Trail underpass The lights haven't been on for a few years now. Vandals
under 65 broke them and no one seems to realize how important
they are to the safety of the users. I have gone through this
wet and dark tunnel many times passing other people who
would also appreciate some lighting to see what we are
stepping in.
Rice Creek Trail underpass As a female who walks alone, I don't feel safe using the
under 65 underpass. The only other option is crossing the road.
Traffic speeds horribly here, so I would prefer a crosswalk
(even just a painted one with flashing warning lights).
Rice Creek Trail underpass The tunnel under 65 needs lighting turned back on.
under 65 Additionally, with a bus stop located on either side of 65,
the tunnel need to be cleared and maintained throughout
the winter. I've seen people trying to cross 65 through the
median, and it's horribly unsafe.
Rice Creek Trails I enjoy running on these trails
Rice Creek Trails Like hiking here and it is supposed to end up at MS river.
Signage is very poor, confusing which way to go or no
directions. No clearing during winter which is very
dangerous when icy.
Rice Creek Trails Like hiking here, but is should be connected to other trails.
Signage is very poor, confusing which way to go. No
clearing during winter which is very dangerous when icy.
40
Rice Creek Trails Need regular police patrol. A kid swung a branch at me
while biking through the trail one Saturday morning.
Rice Creek Trails One time I biked there, I met up with a bunch of kids
walking there. One of the kid made some racial gesture at
me and one of the kid swung a branch at me. Fortunately,
he missed. I am a trained 5th Degree Black Belt so I was not
afraid. However, after that incident, I feel safety is an issue.
Law enforcement should regularly patrol the area. It's just a
matter of time before a crime occur.
Rice Creek Trails Lack of parking to trail seen from central/69th ave near
Medtronics. I drive by there daily, see there is a trail and
would like to walk, but never have because I don't know
where to park.
Rice Creek Trails The trail along the train tracks is nice but needs to be
repacked and needs more lighting.
Rice Creek Trails in Community Or a pedestrian bridge over the tracks to the Mississippi
Park River Regional Trail (there are city-owned parcels to the
west side of the tracks where a non-existent road was
planned).
Rice Creek Way and 66 1/2 Ave Wayfinding for Mississippi River Trail when it leaves the
path and follows the road (like here) is not easy to see or
follow. Perhaps something right under the street sign with
clear north/south direction markings would be better.
River corridor It would be AWESOME if there were bike trail along the
whole river corridor through Fridley. The lack of
connectivity seems really limiting for anyone looking for a
long ride.
River Edge Way How do you get here? Only by boat, or along the shoreline
from the Islands of Peace? I didn't even know the park
existed until this map illuminated it.
Riverfront Regional Park I like Riverfront Park, but sometimes I feel safety can be a
concern.
Ruth Circle Park We need to have Ruth Circle Park updated and added a
walking/bike path around the Green space for children to
be safe. These business's trucks drive fast. No place for kids
to ride bikes safely. A lot of drug and alcohol usage and
sales at Ruth Circle. We need a safe path from Ruth Circle
to Springbrook Nature Center. Please clear out
homelessness and trash at the end of Ironton St NE by Ruth
Circle. Doesn't feel safe here. We need to bring up the
value and safety of this neighborhood!
Springbrook Nature Center love walking the boardwalk loop
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Sylvan Hills Park Traffic always speeds by park and runs stop sign.
Dangerous for children who wander to close to road.
Nearby neighbors trying to help to no avail
University Ave at 57th Ave Very dangerous pedestrian intersection
University Avenue at 57th Ave Agreed to "Very Dangerous Pedestrian Intersection"
University Ave at 69th Ave I would like to see a safer crossing here for bikers and
walkers
University Avenue at Mississippi Seems either the move of the fire station the service road
could be closed and turns on red allowed.
University Ave Trail Looks like there are some signs in place and there is some
progress on the new road and trail! As someone that is in
the new housing, I hope people will use the trails instead of
cutting through our back yard like they have been.
University Ave Trail Trail or sidewalk on both sides of university so you don't
need to cross back and forth as you walk or bike.
University Ave Trail This trail is in poor condition
University Ave Trail Agreed especially currently as it is the only way to get into
the Locke park trail system unless you want to run/walk
along 71st Ave
University Ave Trail Maybe it is already in the works but adding the last stretch
of trail to be able to walk to city hall - not really sure what
to do in the roundabout when I am on foot.
University Ave Trail The trail is pretty bad. Tree roots are pushing up through
the path and the asphalt is crumbling.
University Ave Trail I have seen a lot of families and individual bikers, walkers,
and runners trying to get use this trail that has been closed
for quite a while now. It seems that it could be reopened a
lot sooner if the city chose to make it happen. It is a vital
link between University, Locke Park, and points east and
west.
University Ave Trail Excited to see how this trail gets repaired/replaced as the
new housing goes in and city hall is completing. Hoping it
is well-integrated with existing trails! In the meantime, it
would be nice to have some "trail closed ahead" signs as a
courtesy.
University Ave Trail Trail is in need of maintenance and repaving
University Ave Trail Trail is in need to maintenance
University Ave Trail Trail is in horrible condition and needs to be resurfaced.
University Ave Trail The university trail could use some trees to provide shade
and also maybe block some wind.
University Ave Trail The bike trail that is along University Avenue around Rice
Creek and Mississippi is in bad shape. I would like to see
the black top kept free of mud, sand, small branches,
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leaves. Maybe sweep once in awhile because it's a great
bike path system.
University Avenue On the walking trails... from Peace Islands all the way to
Medtronic park and beyond. Love the walking and biking
trails. WOULD LOVE to have biking trails that go over/under
University Ave. Very
dangerous intersection to go with families
University Avenue General Comment: I realize this may fall under Metro
Transit, but as a former transit-user, it would be great to
make the crosswalks on University safer for transit users at
the bus stop locations.
University Avenue Trail in Send this section of University Ave underground to connect
Community Park the Fridley Civic Complex to the Community Park.
Survey Results- Where do you wish you could walk/ride your bike but don't feel safe
Sidewalk by Park Plaza Cooperative
7th St south of where the sidewalk ends
Drainage under Highway 65 underpass
49th between Main and University
Anywhere near Cub foods
Around Flanery Park
Gardena, Old Central Ave corridor
East River Road
Under pass under ERR to Manomin
A route over railroad not shared by cars on Mississippi and Manomin
Crossing 73rd to walk on the trail between University and 65
The underground tunnel at the North Star.
Crossing University
The grocery store (57th ave).
We enjoy biking and would like to see more bike amenities
Crossing university to continue on the Rice creek trail - I wish there was a pedestrian/bike
bridge
Osborne Rd, trails to coon rapids dam regional park
Moving north and south across Rice Creek and 694 requires biking in traffic or following a
winding route
We don't feel safe anywhere in the city. We do not want to walk or bike anywhere we have a
automobile!
Crossing Hwy 65 and University.
The trail through the woods by Locke Park is secluded with no lights and can be unnerving
even during the day
Crossing University at 61st is very dangerous. I would love to go to the other side and walk
but I usually stay on one side because it is safer not to cross University.
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Springbrook - The bike path along University is unpleasant and has too many busy crossing to
be usable by families. Ideally, the bike path that enters the SW corner of Community park
would continue to follow the train track to the SW corner of Springbrook. But that is maybe a
long term pipe-dream. Also, the bike path from Riverfront Regional Park connects well to the
694 bridge but needs to continue North to Chase Island and Manomin Park. The existing
connections are embarrassments and basically unusable by anyone not intimately familiar
with the neighborhood. From 61st (Northstar) north to Manomin the only options are to bike
on University (not safe for adults let alone kids) or have enough knowledge to be cross to the
station, use the bike path to Rice Creek Way, and be able to bike through the neighborhood.
There are few sidewalks/paths in almost any area that are good for running/biking. We run
around the community center in the winter and while the path near Medtronic is good,
everything else is mostly on the streets. The path on Osborne is terrible, we tried to bike to
Bob's Produce last summer and the potholes made it not worth it to use the path, even with
little kids with us. Rice Creek Trail is wonderful, but I don't always feel safe in that area due to
a lot of questionable characters around. I hope the new center in place of the arena will help
with that, and I'm happy to see patrol cars going through there every so often.
The bike tunnel under Hwy 65 needs lighting and is almost always flooded, especially in the
Spring. I can't ride thru there without getting splattered and dirty.
I feel safe throughout Fridley.
Nowhere
The bike tunnel under Hwy 65 needs lighting and is almost always flooded, especially in the
Spring. I can't ride thru there without getting splattered and dirty.
On the Mississippi River trail, but it's so dark.. Not many street lights and trees are over grown
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Appendix D. Streets Designated for Trails/Sidewalks
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Appendix E. Focus and Priority Areas
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Appendix F. Living Streets Worksheet
Project Narrative
1)Project Name:
2)Roadway Jurisdiction:
3)Project Boundaries:
4)Project Manager
5)Is the project area, or streets it intersects, referenced in any of the following plans?
Safe Routes to School Plan (Hayes, North Park, Stevenson, Fridley Middle)
Roadway Corridor Study (ex: East River Road corridor study, TH 47/65 corridor study)
Transit Overlay District
Parks Master Plan
Local Water Management Plan
Watershed Management Plans
Emerald Ash Borer Mitigation Plan
Other
6)If so, how does the plan reference Living Street components within the project area or
streets it intersects?
Existing Conditions
7)Describe existing and projected modal volumes, if available:
Volumes Existing Projected (Year)
Average Daily Traffic
Pedestrian Counts
Bicycle Counts
Truck Volumes
Transit Volumes
Speed Conditions
8) Detail crash data, if available, and known conflict locations:
a.Do crashes tend to be between certain modes?
b.Are there known conflict points between specific modes?
9)Who are the users of the project area and through what mode do they travel?
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10)How does the existing area accommodate different modes travelling north-south and/or
east-west?
11)Describe any public transit facilities along the project area:
12)Describe any significant destinations along the routes or for which the project area is a
connector (schools, parks, libraries, Civic Campus, commercial corridors):
13)Are there areas of identified speeding or other dangerous driving?
14)Describe any barriers to pedestrian/bicyclist movement in the project area:
15)How does the existing area manage stormwater?
16)Are there known water quality or quantity concern in the project area or downstream of
the project area?
17)Describe the existing landscaping:
18)Mark any Living Streets components exist in the project and on streets that it intersects?
_____ Trails, sidewalks, and on-street, striped bike lanes
_____ Median islands
_____ Accessible pedestrian signals
_____ Curb extensions/bump outs
_____ Narrower travel lanes/road diets
_____ Speed limits and other traffic calming improvements
_____ Safe crossing facilities, including pavement markings
_____ Safe and effective lighting
_____ Diverse tree plantings
_____ Stormwater management
_____ Pollinator-friendly/water efficient landscaping
_____ Bike racks
_____ Benches
_____ Water fountains
_____ Waste receptacles
_____ Public art
standards
19)-
20)Describe any user needs/challenges along the project corridor that you have observed or
been informed of:
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Proposed Conditions:
1)What public engagement has been done or is planned related to Living Streets
components?
2)What additional bike/pedestrian connections does the proposed facility accommodate?
3)How does the proposed facility accommodate different modes north-south and/or east-
west?
4)How does the proposed facility assist different modes in reaching significant
destinations?
5)How does the proposed conditions align with any applicable long-term plans?
6)How does the proposed conditions address any areas of identified speeding or driving?
7)Does the project propose any tree removal? How does the proposed landscaping
enhance the urban forest or promote pollinator habitat/water-efficient landscaping?
8)How does the proposed project improve any identified water quality or quantity
concerns within or downstream of the project area?
9)Does the proposed project remediate any design challenges that prevent
pedestrian/bicyclist movement?
10)Provide an alternative cross section that was considered, list trade-offs associated with
alternative cross-section:
11)If Living Streets components are not included, mark and explain which exception under
the Living Streets policy is the motivation to not include the components:
_____ The project involves a transportation system on which certain modes and users are
prohibited either by law or significant safety reasons.
_____ The street jurisdiction (Anoka County of the State of Minnesota for non-city streets)
refuses suggested plans.
_____ The cost of accommodation is excessively disproportionate to the need or probable
use.
_____ The corridor has severe topographic, environmental, historic or natural resource
constraints.
_____ There is a well-documented absence of current and future need.
_____ Other exceptions are allowed when recommended by the Public Works, Building &
Community Standards, Parks and Recreation, and Police and Fire departments, and
approved by the City Council.
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Appendix G. Winter Maintenance Policy
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Memorandum
Planning Division
_____________________________________________________________________
DATE: November 7, 2019
TO: Environmental Quality and Energy Commission members
FROM: Rachel Workin, Environmental Planner
Energy Action Plan
SUBJECT:
th
On November 26 the City Council approved an Energy Action Plan for the City of Fridley. In order to
achieve the goals of the plan, an implementation plan was drafted. The below is a monthly update to the
EQEC on progress toward completing the implementation plan:
October 2019
2 social media posts
Tabled at new resident mixer
Presentation to Senior Center
Table at Fare for All
Calling religious groups
Finished calling all Multi-Family with sustainability intern
Upcoming Events
Presentation at landlord meeting 11/7
Door knocking at restaurants and gas stations