Project Manager Newsletter
September 2024
Some of you may have seen recent media coverage of Hwy 252 in the Star Tribune, CCX Media and KSTP-TV recently. I’m glad to see the interest in the Hwy 252/I-94 environmental study, as we want to engage as many people as possible as we seek feedback on our work. Safety was a focus of the coverage, and I want to take this opportunity to address some of the comments made and restate our commitment to improving safety on Hwy 252, which has a well-documented crash problem.
First, the environmental process is a long and rigorous process to get through. My job is to lead a study with a lot of data, show people what the tradeoffs are in decision-making, and determine if the benefits of those decisions outweigh the impacts. I ask that you keep an open mind, let MnDOT share those tradeoffs with you, and engage in opportunities for feedback.
Second, humans make mistakes. As an agency, we are working toward reducing crashes with fatal and serious injuries. That is the foundation of how the Project Team is approaching our work on this study. If someone tells you that MnDOT doesn’t care about safety or doesn’t design safe roads, bridges, trails, etc., that simply isn’t true. As I shared with you previously, my son was struck by a vehicle this past spring on a Minnesota road. To me, people aren’t statistics.
MnDOT’s mission is to connect and serve all people through a safe, equitable and sustainable transportation system. We build safety into everything we do. We are not going to achieve zero deaths and zero injuries on this corridor. It is not possible…but I wish it was. So we must do the next best thing and improve safety as much as we can.
Third, MnDOT is listening. We do this through engagement opportunities like open houses/workshops, surveys, and pop-up events. We listen to our partners through Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) meetings.
These committees are made up of local and state elected officials from Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Metropolitan Council, MnDOT, FHWA, and others.
You may not always agree with what we are saying, but that doesn’t mean MnDOT is not listening. We have received over 800 comments on this study since the scoping process started. All those comments are read, analyzed, and thoughtfully considered for the next course of action. You all have a voice and we appreciate all of you who take the time to give us your thoughts. I strive to create communication that is a two-way street, so please take in all that we show you, ask us your questions and give us your input so we can design alternatives that best serve you.
I hope you can see how passionate I am about this study with the points I made above. There are a lot of tough decisions ahead for us to work through. As always, please continue to reach out to us with your comments, questions, and thoughts. Hope you all are enjoying September.