Hwy 8 study – Chisago City to Taylors Falls
We are studying Hwy 8/Lake Blvd. from Chisago City to Taylors Falls to understand what needs and opportunities exist in the study area to inform future projects along the highway, including a pavement resurfacing project planned for 2032.
This study will look at ideas to improve vehicle safety and mobility, access management as well as safety and connectivity for people walking, biking, and rolling along and across the road. We will engage with local partners including Chisago County, Chisago City, City of Lindstrom, Center City, City of Shafer, City of Taylors Falls, and Chisago Lake, Shafer and Franconia Townships. Elected officials, residents, businesses, commuters, commercial operators, and other users will also be engaged.
Summary of work
- Assess and document existing conditions
- Engage with people to share their transportation experiences
- Identify transportation needs and opportunities in the study area
- Develop and evaluate recommended ideas for improvements and get public input
- Develop next steps for advancing potential improvements
- Create a project development plan to inform and guide future projects along Hwy 8
Get involved
As a part of this planning study, we will be gathering input from community through public meetings, events and surveys.
- Share your feedback with an online survey until Sun, Aug. 24
- Attend a public meeting on Mon, Aug. 4 or Wed, Aug. 6
- Visit us at a community event
- Sign up for email updates to receive information on how you can share your input and stay up to date on this study
- Leave a comment or question
We are studying Hwy 8/Lake Blvd. from Chisago City to Taylors Falls to understand what needs and opportunities exist in the study area to inform future projects along the highway, including a pavement resurfacing project planned for 2032.
This study will look at ideas to improve vehicle safety and mobility, access management as well as safety and connectivity for people walking, biking, and rolling along and across the road. We will engage with local partners including Chisago County, Chisago City, City of Lindstrom, Center City, City of Shafer, City of Taylors Falls, and Chisago Lake, Shafer and Franconia Townships. Elected officials, residents, businesses, commuters, commercial operators, and other users will also be engaged.
Summary of work
- Assess and document existing conditions
- Engage with people to share their transportation experiences
- Identify transportation needs and opportunities in the study area
- Develop and evaluate recommended ideas for improvements and get public input
- Develop next steps for advancing potential improvements
- Create a project development plan to inform and guide future projects along Hwy 8
Get involved
As a part of this planning study, we will be gathering input from community through public meetings, events and surveys.
- Share your feedback with an online survey until Sun, Aug. 24
- Attend a public meeting on Mon, Aug. 4 or Wed, Aug. 6
- Visit us at a community event
- Sign up for email updates to receive information on how you can share your input and stay up to date on this study
- Leave a comment or question
-
Engagement summary and study area needs
Share Engagement summary and study area needs on Facebook Share Engagement summary and study area needs on Twitter Share Engagement summary and study area needs on Linkedin Email Engagement summary and study area needs linkIn 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.
-
Study update
Share Study update on Facebook Share Study update on Twitter Share Study update on Linkedin Email Study update linkWe 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.
-
Meetings
Share Meetings on Facebook Share Meetings on Twitter Share Meetings on Linkedin Email Meetings linkPublic 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.
Mon, Aug. 4
In-person public meeting
5:30-7:30 p.m., Brief presentation at 6 p.m.
Chisago Lakes Area Library (11754 302nd St., Chisago City, 55013)Wed, Aug. 6
In-person public meeting
5:30-7:30 p.m., Brief presentation at 6 p.m.
Taylors Falls Community Center (312 W Government St., Taylors Falls, 55084)More about the meetings
Attendees will have an opportunity to share feedback on the ideas for improvement and ask questions of the study team. There will be a brief presentation at 6 p.m. The same information will be presented at both meetings. The public is invited to stop by anytime. We encourage you to attend an upcoming public meeting and provide feedback if you live, work or travel in the area.
Community events and pop-ups
Visit us in the community to learn more about the study, the ideas for improvement and share your feedback.
Sat, July 19
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Wannigan Days, Family Fun Fest
Next to The Drive Inn (572 Bench Street Taylors Falls, 55084)Wed, July 23
3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Brinks Supermarket (11460 Brink Avenue, Chisago City, 55013)Wed, July 23
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Harmony in the Park
Lions Park Band Shell (13292 Sylvan Ave., Lindström, 55045)Sat, July 26
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Center City Days
Center City Fire Department (335 Burns Ave., Center City, 55012)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.
-
Accessibility
Share Accessibility on Facebook Share Accessibility on Twitter Share Accessibility on Linkedin Email Accessibility linkAmericans with Disabilities Act
Speakers and raised arrows on APS signals provide information about the intersection to pedestrians with hearing and visual impairment. 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.
Sign up for the email list
More information
Location
- Hwy 8/Lake Blvd from Karmel Ave. in Chisago City to Taylors Falls, Chisago County
Benefits
- Understand peoples’ travel needs
- Understand types of improvements that people need and want
- Build stronger relationships with community partners, residents and their elected representatives
Cost
- $550,000
Schedule
-
August 2024 through December 2024
Hwy 8 study – Chisago City to Taylors Falls has finished this stageAnalysis of existing conditions
- Identify existing and future traffic and safety issues
- Understand highway issues, concerns and priorities
- Develop a vision for the highway
Stakeholder and public engagement
-
January 2025 through August 2025
Hwy 8 study – Chisago City to Taylors Falls is currently at this stageDevelop, evaluate and refine potential ideas for improvements
- Identify ideas for improvement
- Develop evaluation criteria for improvements
- Evaluate and compare ideas for improvement
Stakeholder and public involvement in summer 2025
-
September 2025 through December 2025
this is an upcoming stage for Hwy 8 study – Chisago City to Taylors FallsFinalize study recommendations
- Develop recommendations to be carried forward for possible projects
- Develop an implementation plan
- Finalize study recommendations
Stakeholder and public engagement
-
2032
this is an upcoming stage for Hwy 8 study – Chisago City to Taylors FallsConstruction
Related studies and nearby projects
Connect with us
Contacts
-
Phone 612-505-4594 Email alyssa.kruzel@state.mn.us