Hwy 71 Corridor Study in Park Rapids

At the April 9 open house, project staff presented design alternatives for the Park Rapids Hwy 71 Corridor Study. Two types of options were presented for Hwy 71 south of Hwy 34: pedestrian refuges with indirect lefts and roundabouts. 

Please provide your feedback on design alternatives for Hwy 71 concepts south of Hwy 34.

Background information on design options: 

Roundabouts

Since the 90's, roundabouts have been built across the state by MnDOT, counties and cities and as of October 2024, there were more than 530 roundabouts across the state. They have become an increasingly popular intersection type by traffic engineers, communities and transportation officials, because they work well. A roundabout used at the right location will let drivers get through the intersection more safely and in less time. There has been an 86% decrease in fatal crashes, an 83% decrease in life-altering injury crashes and a 42% overall decrease in the injury crash rate at intersections with roundabouts. They slow traffic so entering and exiting are easier and more efficient, and where roundabouts replace signals, idling decreases and reduces vehicle emissions and fuel consumption by 30 percent or more. Read more about roundabouts.

Median with pedestrian crossing island 

Median crossing islands visually narrow the roadway, which helps slow motorists. They also turn one longer crossing into two shorter ones, giving pedestrians and bicyclists refuge while they wait for an opportunity to complete the crossing. This makes crossing the street much easier, safer, and less stressful, especially for children, seniors, and people with mobility challenges. Read more about design and engineering for walking and median crossing islands.