Coordinated Street Furniture Program
The City has a strong interest in developing a citywide Coordinated Street Furniture (CSF) program that would improve the public amenities on sidewalks. Similar programs in cities across the United States and Canada have resulted in high quality street furniture design, reduced sidewalk clutter, and increased city revenues. The Citys CSF Program Guidelines call for a city-wide ensemble of functional furniture placed in the pedestrian right-of-way to serve the daily needs of transit riders and citizens. The program is intended to meet the following objectives:
- coordinate the design of selected street furniture elements for improved appearance and quality
- create a set of street furniture that reflects the character of Minneapolis and its neighborhoods
- enhance pedestrian circulation and safety
- achieve a higher standard of service and maintenance of street furniture, while enhancing City revenues
The street furniture elements that would be included in a Coordinated Street Furniture program are:
- benches
- transit shelters
- trash/recycling receptacles
- information/wayfinding structures
- multi-publication structures (newspaper corrals)
- neighborhood information kiosks
- bicycle parking units
- public washrooms (should revenues allow)
The City initiated a competitive bid process in early 2008 with a Request for Proposals (RFP) to install and maintain street furniture city-wide over a long term time frame of 15 years in exchange for the right to advertise, and collect revenue, on select CSF elements. Three vendors responded with proposals, and the City initiated negotiations with Clear Channel Outdoor. City staff and Clear Channel were making timely and productive progress toward an agreement when the global financial and economic conditions changed in late 2008. Due to these conditions, Clear Channel notified the City that it was withdrawing from the RFP. After review of the other two proposals in light of global economic conditions, the Department of Public Works recommended that all vendor proposals be rejected. The City Council approved this recommendation and authorized Public works to negotiate with CBS Outdoor to extend their current franchise agreement. That negotiation is currently underway.
When the economic conditions have changed, Public Works will return to the City Council to restart the RFP process. In the interim, Public Works will continue to use the CFS Program Guidelines related to the ongoing street furniture adjustments, modifications and right-of-way placement through its integration into Access Minneapolis – Ten-Year Transportation Plan.
This site will continue to provide you up-to-date information on the development of the Coordinated Street Furniture Program, including project documents and opportunities for public input.
Last updated Sep. 27, 2011