I-35 Study

Community engagement summary

June 2023

The main goals of public engagement for this phase of the project were to inform people about the study and collect input on the types of improvements they would like to see prioritized. This information will inform the I-35 and Kenwood Trail interchange reconstruction design, pavement improvements, and other potential corridor improvements.

Engagement activities included tabling at a variety of community events in both Lakeville and Burnsville. An online survey was created to gather input on travel habits, general priorities, specific improvement areas, and demographic information. An online comment map was also available for the public to pinpoint and comment on locations along the road.

Public communication materials included a website, an informational handout, and an email update sent via GovDelivery. Advertisements on Facebook and Instagram were purchased that targeted zip codes along the study area. These communications focused on informing the public about the study and encouraging them to participate in the online survey and comment map. View examples of communication materials.

Key findings

The following public engagement data was collected through in-person events, an online survey, an interactive comment map, and emails to the project team. View detailed data for each engagement question.

Improvements by topics

Participants were asked to indicate the top improvements they would like to see on I-35 between Burnsville and Lakeville with a multiple-choice question in the online survey and at in-person events. The improvement options were traffic flow, safety, transit, bicycle, pedestrian, other, and none. Participants were allowed to select more than one type of improvement.

Of the 1,537 responses received for this question, 84% chose traffic flow improvements (Figure 2). The second-highest rated priority was safety improvements, which was chosen by 37% of respondents. The third-highest priority was transit improvements, which was chosen by 15% of respondents.

When asked for specifics about what they would like to see changed or improved in the online survey, in the online comment map, or at in-person events people mentioned many different topics. Comments collected during engagement were coded by topics and the top five themes were: adding lanes (50%), congestion (38%), ramps (31%), merging (23%), and safety (17%). Figure 3 shows the full list of topics from open-ended comments throughout engagement, organized by the frequency of which the topics were discussed.

Adding lanes

Overall, the most common comment was about adding lanes to the corridor, which 50% of respondents mentioned. Most comments were about specific locations, which are noted in the “Improvements by location” section. Comments about adding lanes often also referred to congestion issues and trouble with merging.

Congestion

The second-most common theme, mentioned by 38% of respondents, was congestion. Congestion comments were a mix of overall corridor congestion and location-specific congestion caused by high speeds, merging issues, visibility issues, and poor driver behavior. Specific congestion issues are described below in the “Improvements by location” section.

Ramps

Ramps were mentioned by 30% of respondents and often together with congestion and merging onto or off of I-35. Many people had specific ramps they would like to see improved, the most frequent of which are discussed in the “Improvements by location” section below.

Merging

Merging, a topic closely tied to congestion and ramps, was mentioned by 23% of participants. Merging issues were described as a result of too many drivers on the road, not enough time to accelerate, and poor driver behavior.

Safety

Safety was the fifth most common theme, mentioned by 17% of respondents. Change in speeds, congestion, and I-35 in general were the most common contexts where safety was mentioned, however safety was also mentioned in terms of poor pavement conditions, poor driver behavior, and poor weather.

Improvements by location

When asked for specifics about what they would like to see changed or improved, respondents mentioned many different locations. There were four locations in particular that received the most attention: Kenwood Trail/Co. Rd. 50/Co. Rd. 5, I-35 East and I-35 West split, Juniper Way/Co. Rd. 70/210th St., and Co. Rd. 60/185th St. The following list represents areas from north to south that were mentioned by 1% or more of respondents.

Co. Rd. 42/Eagan Dr.

Five percent of respondents commented on Co. Rd. 42/Eagan Drive. Ramps were the most popular topic, followed by merging and congestion.

“The off-ramp from I-35E southbound to CR42 is regularly a problem. The ramp should be longer, have an added slow down/ backup lane, etc. as people slow down dramatically before exiting, causing dangerous conditions on the highway…”
– Online map commenter

Buck Hill

About 4% of respondents mentioned Buck Hill, with many of them noting issues with snow and ice on I-35 from Buck Hill’s snow production.

“I love Buck Hill. I have skied there all my life. I’m a season pass holder. But sweet Jesus, when they’re making snow during rush hour (am and pm), it makes traffic an even bigger nightmare while trying to drive through the blizzard.”
– Survey respondent

Co. Rd. 46/162nd St.

Five percent of respondents mentioned the Co. Rd. 46/162nd St. area. Their comments focused on adding lanes, congestion, and merging.

“On ramp from Co Rd 46 onto northbound I -35 does not seem safe. Merging is always scary. Not enough room for northbound traffic to move over.”
– Survey respondent

Juniper Way/Co. Rd. 70/210th St.

Thirteen percent of respondents mentioned Juniper Way/Co. Rd. 70/210th St., making it the third-most noted area for improvements. Over half of the respondents that commented on this area expressed a desire for another lane of traffic, and over 25% noted congestion issues. Twentythree percent mentioned ramps. Those that wanted additional lanes noted the growing population towards the south end of the corridor as well as increased freight traffic.

“With the growing population in Lakeville and continued expansion of the Airlake business park I think now would be the time to widen I-35 to three lanes all the way to Co. Rd. 70/210th St. exit Lakeville.” – Survey respondent “The number of trucks entering and exiting along the way has increased dramatically, especially at 210th. The safety of non-commercial traffic is at risk.”
– Survey respondent

Crystal Lake Rd./150th St.

Almost 4% of respondents mentioned Crystal Lake Rd./150th St. Almost half of these respondents mentioned ramps as an area for improvement.

“Add on and off ramps going north and south at Crystal Lake Rd. The on and off ramps at Highway 42 are so congested; if we’re going to a business south of 42 it’s very inconvenient to have to get off at 42.”
– Survey respondent

I-35E and I-35W split

Sixteen percent of respondents mentioned the area where I-35 East and I-35 West split, making it the second-most mentioned area along the corridor. Congestion and merging were the top two issues, mentioned by 39% and 33% of respondents, respectively. One-quarter of respondents mentioned adding lanes, and 17% mentioned safety concerns. Specifically, commenters noted issues with getting up to speed with traffic while merging, trouble navigating, drivers not zipper merging, and freight traffic. Suggestions included lengthening the merging lane.

“At the split going north, there is not enough time to make the shift and people are always cutting each other off. At the merge of 35 going south, the bridge going over 42 does not allow for a full view and when you get to the top of the bridge, you often have to slam on your breaks because it’s a blind hill. It’s a disaster!” – Survey respondent “Semi-trucks especially also have a hard time in this area, most notably with moving left a lane before the CR50 exit-only lane.”
– Online map commenter

Kenwood Trail/Co. Rd. 50/Co. Rd. 5

The Kenwood Trail interchange was the most noted area along the corridor, with almost one-quarter of respondents mentioning it. Congestion and ramps were the top two types of improvements for this area (38% each), followed by adding lanes (28%) and merging issues (25%). Specific suggestions included lengthening the ramp onto Northbound I-35, adding another lane between Kenwood Trail and Co. Rd. 70, and widening the bridge over the highway.

“Expanding to three lanes and longer on and off ramps at Kenwood Trail exits. South Metro is growing exponentially, and it can’t handle the traffic volume. Also, the ramps are unsafe; too short to get up to speed and merge…” – Survey respondent “Lakeville and the southern areas are growing and improving this length of road is a great idea.”
– Survey respondent

Co. Rd. 60/185th St.

Ten percent of respondents mentioned Co. Rd. 60/185th St. as an area for improvement. Of these respondents, 44% mentioned congestion and 36% mentioned ramps. Another quarter mentioned adding lanes and 14% mentioned merging. Congestion between Co. Rd. 60 and Co. Rd. 50 was noted a number of times as well as accidents on the onramp going northbound. Suggestions included adding a lane to allow for more room to accelerate and decelerate. A few people noted 185th St. as a good way to cross the highway while walking, rolling, or biking.

“Northbound exit causes delays on frontage road during rush hour. A 3-way stop or directly exiting onto 185th would help traffic flow.”
– Online map commenter

Improvements by mode

Although a majority of respondents indicated their most frequent mode of transportation on the corridor was driving alone in their car, many other modes of travel were discussed.

Transit

Transit was mentioned by just over 4% of respondents. Many expressed a desire for more transit routes and connections, with some mentions of a rail line from the southern suburbs. A few expressed a stance against a rail line.

“In general, I’d love a safe transit option from Lakeville to the cities, like a rail line.”
– Survey respondent

Pedestrians

Almost 4% of respondents commented on pedestrian conditions. Specifically, people expressed a desire for a more comfortable pedestrian experience. They mentioned wanting better pedestrian connections, including around shopping areas like Burnsville Center and Target.

“We want more pedestrian access near I-35.”
– Event participant

Biking

Just over 3% of respondents mentioned biking. A majority of these comments noted a desire for more bike connections and more bike-friendly environments.

“I drive the corridor and also, recreationally, I bike on designated bike trails and lanes. I would be very appreciative if there were good and safe connections to bike in Burnsville/Lakeville that are connected to south metro trails/lanes.”
– Survey respondent

Demographics

Both the online survey and the in-person events provided opportunities for respondents to indicate their demographic information. Zip code and race/ethnicity information were collected through both the online survey and the in-person events. Gender, age, disability, language, and education questions were only asked on the online survey.

View detailed data for each demographic question.

Engagement

Online survey and comment map

An online survey and comment map were available on the website between February 11 and May 19 for community members to provide feedback on their priorities for types of corridor improvements. The survey asked where people typically travel to, what mode(s) of transportation they use most often, and what specific improvements they would like to see. The survey also included optional demographic questions.

The comment map used drag-and-drop icons to capture what types of improvements respondents want MnDOT to prioritize and where. The icons reflected the improvement types listed in the survey. The map also provided reference information about the corridor, such as congested areas; high-crash areas; bicycle, pedestrian, and transit connections; and the upcoming construction at the Kenwood Trail intersection.

The survey and comment map were promoted on the project handout, at engagement events, and in email updates and social media advertisements.

The results of the survey and comment map are very consistent with the key findings above, as they make up about 80% of the overall engagement data.

View detailed data for the results of each engagement question by source.

Burnsville Polar Fest

The City of Burnsville hosted the Burnsville Polar Fest at North River Hills Park on Saturday, February 11 and promoted it as a family-friendly event with winter activities. The I-35 Study team set up a table at the event and talked to 119 people. Of those who talked with staff and chose to self-identify using the tabletop activity, the most selected races/ethnicities represented were white (13), Asian (7), and Hispanic (6), and the most represented zip codes were 55037 in Burnsville and Bloomington (14), 55306 in Burnsville (4), and 55044 in Lakeville (4).

People who stopped by the I-35 Study table were asked to select priorities for improvements on I-35; the overwhelming priority of people at the event was improved traffic flow in the I-35 study area (64) followed by safety (13) and bicycle improvements (9). In terms of traffic flow, many participants talked about congestion issues and difficulty navigating at the East/West split on I-35, especially during rush hour. Many said that I-35 and roads around I-35 are unsafe for everyone, including pedestrians, and that lowering speeds and improving sudden stops on I-35 would make for safer travel. Some people also talked about the lack of bicycle connections through the area, especially around the Burnsville Center. Several said they would not walk in the area due to safety issues crossing busy, high-traffic roads. There were also a handful of people who mentioned a lack of lighting as an issue at night—both for cars and pedestrians.

"[The] markings on pavement are hard to see at I-35 split."
– Event participant

Lakeville Landscape, Home, and Consumer Expo

The Lakeville Chamber of Commerce hosted the Lakeville Landscape, Home, and Consumer Expo at Lakeville North High School on Saturday, March 18 for home and landscape consumers and exhibitors. The project team staffed a table at the expo and talked to 152 people. Of the participants who interacted with I-35 staff and chose to self-identify using the tabletop activity, the most selected race represented was white (35) and the highest zip code represented was 55044 in Lakeville (35).

People who interacted with staff at the I-35 Study table said they would prioritize improving traffic flow in the I-35 study area (42) followed by safety (16) and transit (8). Many people agreed that I-35 is too congested and feels unsafe. People said there is poor driver behavior on I-35 with speeding drivers and difficulty merging at many of the on-ramps around major interchanges. A handful of people expressed a desire for more transit routes through Lakeville, including along I-35, and to improve the pedestrian experience crossing busy roads and ramps around I-35.

"[There are] so many apartment complexes going up in Lakeville. Need to build roads to accommodate it."
– Event participant

Burnsville MVTA Transit Station

The project team talked to 30 commuters at the Burnsville MVTA Station near the I-35W and Hwy 13 interchange on Wed, April 19. Staff set up a table during the morning commute to catch people as they waited for the bus. Of those participants who chose to self-identify using the tabletop activity, the races represented were white (6), Asian (2) and Black or African American (2) and the zip code most represented was the “other” option (5) indicating that people were traveling from further outside the study area.

The highest priority for I-35 improvements for people who participated in the priority activity was traffic flow (5), followed by an even split for transit improvements, safety, and pavement improvements (2 each). A few people talked about merging being unsafe on I-35, along with safety issues, traffic congestion and pavement maintenance. A couple of people talked about how much they like the bus system, although they said it can take longer to commute with traffic congestion. Improving pedestrian and bicycle connections along and across I-35 was also mentioned.

"Having a dedicated bus lane [is my priority]! The bus takes forever."
– Event participant

Apple Valley High School One District Many Voices

Project staff hosted a table at the One District Many Voices cultural night event at Apple Valley High School on Friday, May 5 and talked to 48 people. The event was hosted by the Rosemount-Apple Valley- Eagan School District to promote student connectedness and inclusion. Project staff chose this event to better reach diverse audiences in the study area. Of those participants who chose to self-identify using the tabletop activity, the races represented were Asian (6), Black or African American (6), and “other” race(s) (5), and the highest zip codes represented were 55124 in Apple Valley (11), an “other” zip code outside the study area (8), and 55044 in Lakeville (3).

Unlike other in-person events, safety was the highest priority for improvement on and around I-35 for participants at this event (20), according to those who participated in the priority exercise. People wanted improved safety for all road users including pedestrians, drivers, and bicyclists. After safety, the highest priorities for improvement on I-35 were traffic flow (14) and transit (10). Many students said they carpool or get rides from family or friends to get to school or other destinations in the area and that there are many new or inexperienced drivers in the area. A few people said they do not walk because there aren’t many comfortable places to walk nearby, and they wish they could walk to places near the Burnsville Center.

"We want more pedestrian access near I-35."
– Event participant

Conclusion

The results of this phase of engagement highlighted a number of key issues, with traffic flow and safety rising to the top of the priority list. The most noted areas for improvement were Kenwood Trail/Co. Rd. 50/Co. Rd. 5, I-35 East and I-35 West split, Juniper Way/ Co. Rd. 70/210th St., and Co. Rd. 60/185th St.

The level of engagement from the public so far has shown a strong investment in this corridor from a variety of stakeholders. Although there was a broad range of ideas and issues presented, including some that conflicted with each other, it was clear throughout the process that respondents appreciated the opportunity for their voices to be heard.

"Thanks for opening this up to hear our voices."
– Survey respondent