Hennepin and First avenuesQuestions and answersWhat happened? What’s happened?Hennepin and First avenues, two major Downtown streets, have switched from one-way to two-way traffic. This conversion included:
Why the big switch?This change is a key step in revitalizing Hennepin and First avenues, making them even more vibrant “main streets” for Minneapolis that showcase what’s best about our city. This change recognizes that theatres, restaurants and other businesses along Hennepin and First avenues are destinations. Two-way traffic is better suited to get people to these places. There is now far less circling of blocks to get to our Downtown businesses and entertainment. How is this changing Downtown?The switch is all part of the Downtown Action Plan, a ten-year transportation plan that outlines specific actions the City and partner agencies need to take to make our Downtown more accessible to vehicles, public transportation, bicycles and pedestrians. Having Hennepin and First avenues as two-way streets makes Downtown destinations more accessible. Along with the switch, improvements for bicycle commuters are also in place along Hennepin and First avenues. How does the conversion improve driving?With Hennepin and First avenues as two-way streets, traffic moves at reduced speeds at times. However, you can now get more directly to your destination because two-way streets decrease the need for “around the block” trips required on one-ways. Trips that used to take four or six blocks of driving can now be done in just one or two blocks. How is the conversion improving biking and walking?There are now important enhancements on Hennepin and First avenues that make biking and walking Downtown a better option than ever. New traffic signals include pedestrian countdown timers, and bike lanes on First Avenue, shared bus/bike/right turn lanes on Hennepin Avenue, and new “bike boxes” make bicycling more efficient and attractive to commuters. What are “bike boxes” and why were they added to intersections?
Bike boxes are 10-foot deep areas between crosswalks and stop bars where left-turning bicycles can pull ahead of traffic stopped at a red light (see image on right). They are marked with a large bicycle symbol, and are located at intersections where bicyclists are likely to make left turns onto intersecting bicycle routes. Drivers are not allowed in bike boxes during yellow and red stoplight phases. Why were Hennepin and First avenues made into one-way streets in the first place?Hennepin and First avenues became one-way streets back in 1980. This change was made to help Minneapolis improve air quality. Since then, improvements to vehicle emissions and other initiatives to improve air quality have negated the need for one-way traffic. A recent study has found that air quality standards can be maintained under two-way operation. Don’t one-way streets move traffic more efficiently?One-way streets do move traffic more efficiently than two-way streets. However, studies have shown that most drivers on Hennepin and First avenues are headed to and from Downtown destinations. Fewer vehicles are using these streets to pass through Downtown. The goal of the project was to modify these streets to improve circulation and access to Downtown destinations rather than having them primarily function as through streets. How does the shared lane on Hennepin Avenue work?
The shared lane on Hennepin Avenue is a lane that bicyclists, buses and right-turning vehicles will share. The shared lane is marked on the pavement with a “sharrow” (see the symbol to the right). Keep in mind that, while bicyclists are encouraged to use the shared lane, they may still use other lanes for moving, passing, and turning. How do the curbside bicycle lanes on First Avenue work?
Bicyclists on First Avenue can use bike lanes located between the curb and parallel parking spaces. During peak travel times, when the on-street parking spaces become driving lanes, parking in these spaces is not permitted. The bike lane is unaffected by that change. How does the offset parking lane on First Avenue work?Parallel parking spots are marked on the pavement. No parking is permitted in these spots during the peak hours. Vehicles that are stopped or parked in the curbside bicycle lane can be ticketed and/or towed. No-Parking hours on First Avenue:
Any vehicle parked in the off-set parking lane during these hours will be towed. |
