Advocates push MnDOT to consider replacing I-94 with Boulevard

Editor’s note: This story, which first appeared in MinnPost on June 20, has since been updated with comments from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT).

Our Streets hosted a Rethinking Interstate 94 rally on June 13 at the MnDOT office in St. Paul, which brought together a coalition of community members, activists and public officials advocating for transformative changes in the I-94 corridor.

At the event, Yasmin Hirsi, Advocacy Coordinator at Our Streets, highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach that prioritizes community well-being and equitable infrastructure. Hirsi spoke about the negative impacts of I-94 on public health, neighborhood economies and social cohesion. She also read a statement from Minneapolis City Council member Robin Wonsley supporting the Twin Cities Boulevard project, which calls for a shift from car-centric infrastructure to investments in public transit and climate-friendly alternatives. pedestrians and cyclists.

“I-94 passes through Ward 2, and my residents are among those who experience the disproportionate impacts of the highway,” Hirsi read from Councilmember Wonsley’s statement. “Our public health, our neighborhood economies and our social fabric are undermined every day by the highway. That’s why I have always supported Twin Cities Boulevard and the vision of a multimodal corridor that invests in healthy, safe, equitable and prosperous communities.

A MnDOT spokesperson told MinnPost via email that two of the proposed alternatives shared in 2023 included an at-grade road. “This alternative most closely resembles the so-called Twin Cities Boulevard concept promoted by Our Streets,” said MnDOT spokesman Ricardo Lopez.

Segregation, inequality, displacement

The rally highlighted the historical injustices associated with highway construction, particularly the displacement of low-income and minority communities. Hirsi drew parallels to the civil rights era, pointing out that highway projects have long reinforced racial segregation and economic inequality by destroying neighborhoods and displacing families, particularly in black and immigrant communities.

“Real progress is measured not just by the number of lanes or the speed of traffic, but also by the health, prosperity and equity of our communities,” Hirsi said.

Speakers at the rally also expressed concerns about current plans for the I-94 corridor. Nathan Kroschel of the I-94 Rail Coalition advocated for the inclusion of a regional rail system in the project, highlighting the unique opportunity to create a grade-separated transit corridor connecting the Twin Cities and beyond.

Before the June 13 rally, Streets.mn published an article by Seth Bose advocating for the construction of a rail system connecting downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. “MnDOT has released a Rethinking I-94 survey on the submitted projects, with an optional written response. The number one written suggestion was rail transportation, with a total of 359 respondents out of approximately 3,500,” Bose wrote.

Community member Ted Ryan spoke about the inefficiencies and dangers of the current highway system, urging MnDOT to consider rapid rail and bus transportation in the I-94 corridor. He argued that I-94, as it exists today, is an inefficient use of space and that expanded rail and bus transportation would better serve the community.

“There are so many other opportunities for public transportation because we know I-94 is not an efficient transportation option. It’s incredibly expensive, incredibly dangerous, and doesn’t serve our residents in the metro area well,” Ryan said.

Hirsi also expressed concerns about MnDOT’s current investments. “We learned a few days ago that the state’s current transportation improvement plan calls for an $80 million investment in bridge rehabilitation along the I-94 corridor,” he said. she declared. “This $80 million investment in the highway before a decision has been made on its future is truly concerning. We don’t want that to be the reason they justify maintaining this highway.

MnDOT spokesperson Lopez said the agency does not yet have a cost estimate for any of the proposed ideas and no funding has been identified for construction while MnDOT evaluates plans alternatives. “A preferred alternative will be identified later in the environmental review process,” Lopez wrote.

The rally ended with a call to action for MnDOT to listen to the communities most impacted by the project. Hirsi called for proactive anti-displacement policies and real community engagement in the decision-making process. Ryan echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the opportunity for transformative change.

“The Reconnect Rondo proposal, Twin Cities Boulevard, the potential of train or bus — there’s a ton of space available for us to give back to the community,” Ryan said. “This could be the start of repairs for many of these communities. We should demand more, and this is our opportunity to do so.

Lopez said public input in the form of comments was “incorporated into the purpose and needs document and helped shape the habitability framework.”

“We appreciate the community’s deep interest and involvement as we work to plan for the future of this vital corridor,” Lopez said in a statement to MinnPost. “MnDOT is considering a wide range of alternatives for the future of this corridor, which have been developed in partnership with federal, state and local governments, as well as countless technical experts and community input. Unlike the initial creation of Highway 94, MnDOT is committed to continuing our community-focused approach to reconnecting neighborhoods and ensuring community members have a meaningful voice in transportation decisions that affect their lives. We look forward to continued engagement from all members of the community as we continue to plan our future project.

Thanks, MinnPost!

This article first appeared on MinnPost and is republished under a Creative Commons license.

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