Penn Avenue community works

Penn Avenue community works has formed three working groups based on focus areas identified in the Penn Avenue Implementation Framework. Each working group advises and guides project implementation efforts, assists with community outreach and engagement efforts and provides community expertise. Learn more about the guidelines for these working groups (PDF).

Housing and economic development/redevelopment

• Develop land
• Housing cluster strategy
• Jobs
• Repurpose publicly owned lots
• Renter assistance
• Possible TOD allocation,
• And more

Livability and placemaking

• Play on Penn
• Community gardens
• Lincoln school
• 44th and Penn greening project
• Community building,
• And more

Infrastructure and transit

• Streetscape
• C Line bus rapid transit (BRT)
• Penn Avenue intersection reconstruction
• Road segment reconstruction
• Bicycle infrastructure
• Pedestrian lighting,
• And more

In the next five years, Penn Avenue will benefit from two major public investments: Metro Transit's C Line bus rapid transit (BRT) service and a coordinated redesign of the road that includes streetscape improvements. The Penn Avenue Vision and Implementation Framework leverages those investments with a series of recommendations that are designed to stimulate economic development, promote beautification and enhance livability along the Penn Avenue corridor.

The framework document is the result of more than two years of planning from Hennepin County, the City of Minneapolis, Metro Transit and communities in North Minneapolis. It is intended to guide decision-making and future investments in multimodal transportation, land use, economic development, housing and placemaking. While the Framework has been endorsed by the Penn Avenue Community Works Steering Committee and approved by the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners, its success depends on the commitment, focus and actions of all of the partners going forward.

The Penn Avenue Vision and Implementation Framework is available in chapters that can be downloaded separately:

• Cover and Table of Contents (PDF)
• Introduction (PDF)
• Corridor-Wide Land Use and Development (PDF 8MB)
• Commercial and Housing Development (PDF)
• Corridor-Wide Roadway Improvements (PDF 6MB)
• Intersection Specific Recommendations (PDF 17MB)
• Implementation Framework (PDF)
• Appendices (PDF)

Program goals

1. Re-envision Penn Avenue as a complete street with:

• Better bus service
• Pedestrian improvements and bicycle connections
• Streetscaping (landscaping the street with trees, planters, green space, etc.)

2. Promote economic opportunity and stimulating private investment by:

• Improving the street and public places
• Attracting housing and commercial development
• Supporting existing businesses and attracting new ones

3. Enhance the livability of corridor communities by:

• Developing better connections to key destinations
• Improving public places and supporting activities that encourage community gathering and ownership

Program history

The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners established the Penn Avenue community works program in May 2012 to stimulate economic development, beautification, livability and job creation along the Penn Avenue corridor in North Minneapolis.

Program partners

• Hennepin County
• Metro Transit
• City of Minneapolis
• Stakeholders, including neighborhood and other community organizations
• People who live, work, play, visit and worship in the corridor

Penn Avenue Inventory and Assessment – Fall 2014

This report addresses a broad range of topics including relevant past plans, demographics, transportation, housing, economic development, corridor character, utilities, and land use. This information establishes a foundation of facts, figures, and preliminary findings that support the next phase of Penn Avenue Community Works, which will focus on options and alternatives for future corridor improvements.

Executive summary (PDF)

Complete Inventory and Assessment report (PDF 20MB)

The full report is also available in chapters:

• Cover and table of contents (PDF)
• Introduction (PDF)
• Key findings (PDF)
• Community engagement (PDF)
• Existing plans and programs (PDF 6MB)
• Demographic data (PDF 5MB)
• Transportation (PDF 6MB)
• Property conditions and development (PDF 7MB)
• Housing (PDF)
• Economic development (PDF)
• Corridor character (PDF 12MB)
• Public utilities (PDF)
• Precedents and best practices (PDF 8MB)
• Appendix Community survey results (PDF)

Past and related planning efforts

Many of the project partners have been planning and studying this area of Minneapolis for some time. While not all of these documents have been adopted into policy, they can help inform our efforts on Penn Avenue and provide examples of the kind of changes the community and other partners would like to see.

• Bottineau Transitway Health Impact Assessment – summary report (PDF)
• Lowry Avenue Strategic Plan, Rezoning Study, and Comprehensive Plan Modifications
• Penn Avenue Community Works Humphrey School Student Report (PDF 14MB)
• Penn Avenue Green Line (Southwest) Station Plan (PDF)
• Penn Ave North Redevelopment Plan (PDF)
• Metro Transit Arterial Bus Rapid Transit Study
• West Broadway Alive

There are many other plans, studies or reports that might be helpful to our work. A more complete list of these documents can be found in the Humphrey School Student Report (PDF 14MB).

C Line bus rapid transit (BRT) on Penn Avenue

This new transit service will provide fast, reliable bus service with enhanced station amenities similar to those of a light rail transit (LRT) line. The C Line does not require street widening or wide-scale removal of parking lanes. It does offer:

• Buses that arrive often and make fewer stops, so you'll be moving more of the time.
• Faster boarding (since you pay your fare before you get on) and fare enforcement by the Transit Police (like the train).
• Stations with heated shelters, transit information and maps, and real-time departure signs, so you'll always know when the bus is coming.
• Amenities such as security cameras, emergency phones, and improved lighting to make stations safer.
• Different, recognizable buses, including wider aisles and additional doors to allow more people to get on and off easily.

More information on BRT, including the proposed C Line route and station locations, is available online from Metro Transit at www.metrotransit.org/c-line-project.

About Route 19 and the C Line:

• Most current users of route 19 will be served by the new C Line.
• Route 19 will continue to run along Penn Avenue at revised frequencies to meet riders’ needs.

About BRT and the planned Southwest LRT/Green Line Extension:

• A strong connection to Southwest LRT is planned at Royalston Station, optimizing better service along Olson Memorial Highway and faster travel for most users’ trips.
• As part of the connecting bus route planning phase for Southwest LRT, other connecting bus service from North Minneapolis to the Penn Avenue LRT station will be considered.