Hwy 8 study – Chisago City to Taylors Falls

In fall 2024, the Hwy 8 study team gathered public feedback on existing conditions along Hwy 8 from Chisago City to Taylors Falls. We hosted an in-person public meeting, attended three community events in the study area and facilitated stakeholder meetings. We also had an online comment map for people who were not able to attend our in-person events.

At the in-person events, a map of the study area was used to discuss conditions and document concerns. The online comment map allowed participants to share comments and concerns for specific issues. During the initial engagement phase, we identified 167 site-specific comments and concerns, including:

• Vehicle safety concerns: 47 comments
• Challenging access points: 27 comments
• Walking safety concerns: 20 comments
• Biking/rolling safety concerns: 5 comments
• Positive comments/what's working well: comments 4
• Destinations traveled to: 1 comment
• Freight/truck safety concerns: 1 comment
• Other: 60 comments

At the in-person events the study team also asked about top concerns for traveling on Hwy 8. Participants used 10 marbles to identify their top concerns. More than 130 people participated. The results were:

• Difficulty turning on/off Hwy 8: 224 marbles
• Peak-hour traffic issues: 176 marbles
• Vehicle speeds: 158 marbles
• Safer Hwy 8 crossings for pedestrians, bicyclists and other wheeled users: 149 marbles
• Safer biking options: 127 marbles
• Safer Hwy 8 crossings for drivers: 101 marbles
• Safer walking or rolling options: 81 marbles
• Pavement conditions: 79 marbles
• Sightline/visibility issues: 68 marbles
• Lighting: 50 marbles

The study team also engaged with local agencies and partners, including representatives from Chisago County: Chisago City; Lindstrom; Center City; Shafer; Taylors Falls; Chisago Lake, Shafer and Franconia townships; Chisago Lakes School District; East Central Regional Development Commission; Chisago Lakes Chamber and the Highway 8 Task Force. The agencies and partners also discussed conditions and shared their concerns.

Input from these discussions and engagement opportunities will be used to develop ideas for improvement, which will be shared with the community for additional feedback during a second engagement phase in summer 2025.

Study area needs

We also conducted an analysis of the existing conditions of Hwy 8 which included gathering and analyzing existing community plans, traffic counts, crash history and road operations. Based on the analysis and public input, we identified the following needs for the study area:

• Walkability/bikeability:
  • It is difficult for pedestrians and bicyclists to safely cross Hwy 8.
  • Traveling along Hwy 8 is difficult for pedestrians and bicyclists due to gaps in the trail network.
• Vehicle safety:
  • The study area has crash rates that exceed the statewide averages.
• Vehicle mobility:
  • Hwy 8 is an important route for campers, large vehicles and freight. The MnDOT Metro District Freight Plan has identified this highway as needing safety improvements.
  • Longer wait times at side streets in the future due to anticipated traffic increases.
  • Over half of the study area was noted to have denser driveway spacing than what is typical on MnDOT roads.
• Environmental considerations:
  • Many lakes, wetlands and floodplains are located throughout the study area, which could be impacted by road construction.

Get involved

Sign up for email updates to receive information on how you can share your input and stay up to date on this study. You can still share your feedback by leaving a comment or question or by reaching out to the study team.

We gathered feedback from the public on the current conditions of Hwy 8 with a public meeting, community events and an online comment map in September and October. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences of using Hwy 8 with us.

The study team is currently analyzing and summarizing the current conditions of the road and the feedback received from the public. We will use this information to develop ideas for improvements and get feedback from the public later in the study.

The comment map closed on Sun, Oct 27. If you missed the deadline or couldn’t make the public meeting, you can still share your feedback by leaving a comment or question or reaching out to the study team.

Sign up for email updates to receive information on how you can share your input and stay up to date on this study.

Public meetings and events

Upcoming

Information on upcoming meetings will be posted as details become available. Sign up for email updates to receive information on upcoming meetings and opportunities to provide feedback on this study.

Past

Oct. 6, 2024: In-person outreach, Franconia Art and Farmers Market, Franconia Sculpture Park

Oct. 1, 2024: In-person meeting, Lindstrom City Hall

Sept. 14, 2024: In-person outreach, Shafer Days

Sept. 13, 2024: In-person outreach, Chisago City Farmers Market, Moberg Park

Public meeting accommodations

MnDOT invites and encourages participation by all people in their programs, services and activities. If you need an ASL, a foreign language interpreter, or documents in an alternative format (such as braille, large print or in a different language) at no cost, please email your request to Janet Miller at ADArequest.dot@state.mn.us or call 651-366-4720. Relay service: 711.

If you need any other reasonable accommodation to participate (such as seating modification or auxiliary aids), please email your request to Accessibility.DOT@state.mn.us or call 1-833-400-8432. Relay service: 711.

Americans with Disabilities Act

All MnDOT projects - both new construction and rehabilitation projects - must include evaluation to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Components can include, but are not limited to adding curb cuts, truncated domes and accessible pedestrian signals. Read about MnDOT's transition plan to comply with the ADA.

Specifics for this study

• Determine what accessibility improvements are needed for a 2032 construction project.