Hwy 71 Corridor Study in Park Rapids

Where is the study now?

The project team will host the third community review panel meeting on Tue, April 7, and a public open house on Thu, April 9. At these meetings, the group will discuss design alternatives for the Hwy 71 study.

Project staff are looking for community and business input on the alternatives for north and south of Hwy 34 and keeping this study moving forward to a community-supported vision.

What's next?

We want your feedback. The project team will meet with local businesses to receive feedback on the proposed alternatives. Please review the images of the design alternatives on our interactive map.

Thank you to those who joined us at our first Highway 71 open house on Tuesday, Sept. 30. The event featured informational boards, a large map of the study area for input, and comment cards. The objective was to communicate the study's background and goals and solicit questions, concerns, and opportunities on current operations of the study area.

Crash Data Analysis board from September 30 Open House

View the display boards

View the full meeting summary

Why Now?

MnDOT has a reconstruction project for Highway 71 tentatively planned within the next 7-10 years. This study will identify additional improvements that can be included in this already scheduled project, making sure the area's roads are better and safer for all road users.

Corridor Needs

• Roadway pavement is nearing the end of its useful life
• Peak tourism and recreational traffic adds congestion and significant delay
• Analysis completed shows that traffic increases by over 20% during the summer peak times

Study Opportunities

• Safety improvements for vulnerable road users
• Crossing and connectivity enhancements
• Manage traffic and proactively reduce crash risk at intersections

We Want Your Feedback!

Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is conducting a corridor study to evaluate transportation and pedestrian needs within the Hwy 71 corridor in Park Rapids. This study will inform the reconstruction of Hwy 71 between 8th St. and south of 190th St., as well as identify other improvements along the corridor.

In order to work more closely with local leaders, residents and business owners, we are committed to work directly with a community review panel throughout the study. This partnership enables a direct connection to the community through a transparent and collaborative process. The committee will help identify the current issues and create a local vision for the corridor. These neighborhood leaders will ensure that community values are represented in the development and evaluation of project alternatives, while fostering conversations within the community.

This committee will consist of a diverse cross-section of community representatives that will study the project details in depth and help define a vision for the corridor.

• Along with learning more about traffic safety/engineering concepts, they will:
  • Take an in-depth look at the current issue's
  • Prioritize community needs and preferences
  • Develop and research possible solutions
  • Cultivate and represent community members input
  • Evaluate and prioritize preferred alternatives

MnDOT and its partners have committed to work with the City of Park Rapids to ensure that the community’s concerns and aspirations are directly reflected in the alternatives developed as part of the Highway 71 Study and to provide feedback on how the community influenced recommendations and decisions.