Alta assisted the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to develop a one-mile-long interim pedestrian safety project along Olson Memorial Highway in Minneapolis, with the goal of reducing vehicle speeding and improving pedestrian crossings. This project uses a quick- build approach with lower-cost materials to pilot solutions that improve safety and mobility prior to constructing permanent, long-term improvements along the highway. The project is anticipated to remain in place for up to four years and included two phases: first, lanes were reduced to two lanes in each direction and narrowed from 12 feet to 10 feet using bollards. An ultrathin bonded wearing course was also applied on the inside two lanes of the highway, including pavement markings (symbols, linear yellow and white lines, and high-visibility crosswalks) to update the traffic pattern. The second phase included narrowing pedestrian crossing distances by adding painted curb extensions and medians, flexible delineator posts, plastic curb separators, crosshatch markings, and signs. Bus, truck, and winter maintenance vehicle turning movements were taken into consideration to see that the improvements maintain highway functionality and operations. The project concept layout was developed with input from the City of Minneapolis, Metro Transit, and MnDOT staff. This included maintenance staff for assistance to see that the project accommodates the needs of snow removal and winter maintenance vehicles. As a next step, MnDOT will be developing a preferred alternative and preliminary design for a permanent roadway project with associated multimodal improvements.
