Engaging with the community
Past events
As Hennepin County prepares for “mill and overlay” on France Avenue, county staff completed a comprehensive review to evaluate needs, possibilities and constraints along France Avenue. As part of this effort, staff attended the following events to inform residents about the repaving project and listen to comments and feedback on the striping options on France Avenue.
- Linden Hills (Minneapolis) on July 5
- Morningside (Edina) neighborhood association board members on July 14
- Fulton (Minneapolis) neighborhood residents on July 26
- St. Louis Park City Hall on July 28
Staff also received public comments through a variety of means including an online comment form, phone calls and emails.
At meetings, staff discussed the current conditions along France Avenue and asked for feedback on potential changes to the roadway. Participants expressed a range of views based on their current experiences using the corridor.
Among the top issues discussed was safety. Residents expressed a concern about high driving speeds on France Avenue and worry about including facilities for people biking. Some people who ride bikes regularly mentioned that they currently avoid France Avenue as a biking route and would continue to do so even if future improvements only included standard bike lanes. Some expressed a desire for a protected bike facility.
Residents also expressed concerns with the safety at several intersections along the corridor. People walking, rolling, and biking who attempt to cross France Avenue are having difficulties due to high speeds and erratic driving behavior. Finally, residents and business owners asked for consideration of accessibility and health service provider's needs that are currently utilizing the on-street parking in the area.
This feedback, along with comments received through the project website comment form, emails from stakeholders, and a review of related planning documents, was used by county staff to develop a recommendation.
Online engagement summary
406 online comments/emails were received on the project.
The top three topics mentioned were:
- Safety improvements
- Accessibility impacts
- Effect on businesses