Transportation CommissionItem 5.aApproved
Penn Avenue - Parking and Bikeways
Hennepin County and consultant staff presented preliminary design updates for the Penn Avenue (CSAH 32) reconstruction between 75th Street and Highway 62, covering four candidate bikeway configurations and on-street parking options for the Penn-Central business district between 66th and 68th Streets. The Commission voted to eliminate Option 4, a single-sided shared-use path mixing bikes and pedestrians, from further consideration. This narrows the bikeway choices heading into Phase 3 public engagement, with construction still tentatively planned for spring 2028.
Passed 7-0
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Key figure: $1.9 million — Additional conceptual construction cost estimated for the multi-lane roundabout alternative at 66th Street, which was ultimately dismissed
Potential benefit
Eliminating the least protective bikeway option keeps a dedicated, separated space for people biking versus walking on Penn Avenue, and the county is continuing to evaluate keeping the 25 existing on-street parking spaces used by Penn-Central businesses between 66th and 68th Streets.
Concern to consider
The three remaining bikeway options range from $$ to $$$$$ in relative cost and require 67 to 73 feet of right-of-way, meaning some property or boulevard space along the corridor could still be affected before a final design is chosen, with construction not expected until spring 2028.
What happens next: Hennepin County and consultant staff will bring refined bikeway and parking concepts into Phase 3 public engagement, returning to the Transportation Commission on April 27 and August 5, 2026, with a City Council layout concurrence vote targeted for October 27, 2026.
Sources: Transportation Commission agenda (city portal) ↗
Transportation CommissionItem 6Discussed
City Staff, City Council, and Liaison Updates
City staff gave construction updates on Nicollet Avenue, I-494, Highway 77, the Sheridan Hills Safe Routes to School project, and Metro Transit Route 14 stop changes, plus design updates on the 2026 sidewalk projects and 69th Street. Council Member Sean Hayford Oleary reported on continuing impacts of Operation Metro Surge relevant to the Commission.
informational or procedural item — no vote taken
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What happens next: No formal action was taken; staff will continue providing project updates at future meetings.
Sources: Transportation Commission agenda (city portal) ↗
Transportation CommissionItem 7Discussed
Future Agenda Items - May 6th Penn Avenue Phase 3
Staff informed the Commission that the next scheduled meeting on May 6, 2026 would continue focusing on Penn Avenue reconstruction planning.
informational or procedural item — no vote taken
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What happens next: The Commission's May 6, 2026 meeting will continue Penn Avenue Phase 3 discussions, pending any rescheduling.
Sources: Transportation Commission agenda (city portal) ↗
Transportation CommissionItem 8Discussed
Upcoming Meetings and Scheduling
Staff asked the Commission to consider rescheduling the May 6, 2026 meeting to avoid a conflict with Hennepin County staff availability, and the Commission agreed to have staff send a poll to find alternate dates over the next six weeks.
informational or procedural item — no vote taken
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What happens next: Staff will send commissioners a poll to determine a new meeting date if the May 6 meeting is rescheduled.
Sources: Transportation Commission agenda (city portal) ↗
Transportation CommissionItem 9Discussed
Other Business - Public Comment
Transportation Engineer Matt Hardegger noted that a public comment submitted to the Commission was included in the meeting packet.
informational or procedural item — no vote taken
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Sources: Transportation Commission agenda (city portal) ↗