This summer, MPHA residents and the Minneapolis Highrise Representative Council (MHRC) are joining staff from MPHA and Minneapolis’ Health and Public Works Departments to help ensure residents have safe active transportation routes available near MPHA buildings. Through the Safe Routes to Public Housing (SRTPH) initiative, MPHA residents will provide feedback and insight into the barriers they face walking, rolling or riding around their buildings. Because so many MPHA residents rely heavily on the bus, ride shares, and Metro Mobility, these active transportation routes are essential connections to critical destinations such as parks, transit stops, healthcare services, and grocery stores.

Funded through a Minnesota Department of Transportation active transportation planning grant, SRTPH is modeled after the City of Minneapolis’ successful Safe Routes to School framework. The initiative aims to improve the safety, social connections, and health outcomes of residents through safe transportation access. The initiative could also inform how the city works to improve active transportation routes near other MPHA buildings.

The project focuses on two transportation corridors near MPHA buildings that are slated for upcoming capital improvement projects by the city. Through SRTPH, resident feedback and insight will help inform city project staff about mobility considerations for the upcoming work at 13th Avenue Northeast (between Water Street Northeast and Second Street Northeast) and Seventh Street North (between 10th Street North and East Lyndale Avenue North). Some of the potential issues may include a lack of accessible/ADA infrastructure, poor road conditions, and inadequate lighting.

The 13th Avenue Northeast corridor is near MPHA’s Friendly Manor, Alice M. Geronsin Apartments, and Dickman Park Apartments. The 13th Avenue Northeast corridor is slated to receive full street reconstruction in 2029. The project will include pedestrian and ADA upgrades along with traffic control enhancements. The insights from SRTPH will help inform future corridor design and project development in the area.

The Seventh Street North corridor is near MPHA’s Art Love Manor, Heritage Commons, and Thomas Feeney Manor. The Seventh Street North corridor is receiving a major infrastructure improvement, including new sidewalks and ADA-compliant curbs, safety lighting, bicycle infrastructure, and roadway reconfiguration. Because this planning work is further along, the engagement with SRTPH will focus on identifying safer routes for residents rather than providing input for the ongoing project.

The Safe Routes to Public Housing team will engage the public housing community in various ways, including attending resident council meetings, encouraging resident participation in walk audits, in-building listening sessions, and attending their resident advisory groups. By participating in the SRTPH project, residents will get information about safer routes, be encouraged to walk together, and make more trips walking or rolling over the next several months.