The Complete Streets Policy helps the county:

• Improve safety, mobility, accessibility, and convenience for all road users
• Plan, design, operate, and maintain a network of roads that serve buses, bicyclists, and pedestrians as well as cars and commercial traffic
• Increase opportunities for people to be physically active through walking and bicycling

Our Complete Streets policy complements other work at the county, including:

• The Active Living initiative, which increases opportunities for people to integrate physical activity into their daily lives through policies and plans that encourage walkable communities and active transportation.
• The county pedestrian plan, which was adopted in September 2013 and focuses on increasing the safety of walking, increasing walking for transportation, and improving the health of county residents.
• The county bike plan, which is currently being updated; adoption is planned by the end of 2014.

A Complete Streets Task Force began guiding policy implementation in 2011. The task force includes elected, appointed and staff representatives from the county and other government agencies, as well as the business community, advocacy organizations and community leaders.

As improvements along county roads are needed or being planned, the county will work with local and regional partners on the following:

• Identify the needs (existing and future) of different transportation uses, including automobile, freight rail, transit, bicycle and pedestrian
• Consider the character of the project area, such as natural features and land uses

Because of our approach, Complete Streets will look different depending on where the road is located, e.g., roads in Minneapolis versus roads in rural areas where farm equipment might be driven. Funding will also come from a variety of sources, including the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Council and local municipalities.

Hennepin County developed tools to guide the development and review of projects in relation to the principles of Complete Streets.

Complete Streets project tools

These tools are used to ensure that project stakeholders understand a project's context and the types of improvements that are being proposed.

• Complete Streets project summary (PDF)
• Complete Streets checklist (PDF)

Related policy documents

Hennepin Cost Participation Policy (October 2020) (PDF)

In addition to the county Complete Streets policy, many cities in Hennepin County have adopted city level Complete Streets policies or resolutions.

Each city worked to establish a Complete Streets policy to suit their needs:

• Bloomington (PDF)
• Brooklyn Center (PDF)
• Edina – Living Streets policy (PDF)
• Golden Valley (PDF)
• Hopkins (PDF)
• Independence (PDF)
• Maple Plain (PDF)
• Minneapolis (PDF)
• New Hope (PDF)
• Richfield (PDF)
• Robbinsdale (PDF)
• St Louis Park – Complete Streets resolution (PDF)

View the map of Complete Streets policies throughout Hennepin County (PDF)

A Complete Streets task force was established to review and recommend the most effective use of funding streams available for Complete Streets; develop consistent implementation principles, practices and guidelines; and identify demonstration projects for Hennepin County's Complete Streets policy.

Documents

• Complete Streets task force overview (March 2011) (PDF)
• Complete Streets task force final report (PDF)

Upcoming meeting agenda

• To be scheduled

Prior meeting minutes

2013

• January 28 (PDF)

2012

• August 29 (PDF)
• March 19 (PDF)
• January 23 (PDF)

2011

• September 19 (PDF)
• May 16 (PDF)
• March 21 (PDF)

Presentations

2013

• Staff presentation (January 28) (PDF 7MB)

2012

• Staff presentation (August 29) (PDF)

2011

• Overview of the state aid program (September 19) (PDF)
• Complete Streets design and implementation (May 16) (PDF)
• Minnesota GO: a collaboration vision for transportation (May 16) (PDF)
• Mn/DOT Complete Streets initiative (May 16) (PDF)
• Complete Streets from planning through design, construction, operations and maintenance (March 21) (PDF)