Committee Feedback

On September 16, the Mapleton Active Transportation Committee met at the Mapleton Community Center to identify and prioritize the locations, routes, and connections where Mapleton can provide safer, more comfortable walking and biking. Ten locations were identified, shown on the map. The numbers labeling each location are for identification purposes only, and do not represent importance or priority.

For each of the project locations please read the description of the suggested improvement, see the photo example of what the suggested improvement could look like, and answer the following questions:

• What level of priority should this location be assigned? (i.e., when should actions be taken to implement this suggestion?)
• What questions or changes do you have concerning this location and suggested improvement?

This suggestion is to install a painted walking and biking lane on one side of either 1^st Ave or 2^nd Ave to provide a safe link between existing sidewalks and the school.

This suggestion is to install a biking and walking path connecting Maple River Schools and the Dollar General Market. A short-term solution is a painted walk/bike lane on 4^th Ave and Troendle St. A long-term solution is a paved trail along Borchert St and 8^th Ave.

This suggestion is to visually reinforce the section of Grove St within Heritage Park as a shared “plaza” for people to walk, bike, or very cautiously drive. A short term solution is to use paint, bike racks, and concrete barriers or planters to slow vehicle traffic. A long-term solution could be to install a gate or bollards to discourage vehicles from cutting through the park.

This suggestion is to create high-visibility crossings of Central Ave for people to get to Heritage Park by walking or biking. Improved crossings could be located at Grove St, Lincoln St, or both. This improvement will require coordination with Blue Earth County.

This suggestion is to reallocate width on Silver St (Hwy 30) to install a comfortable bikeway separated from vehicle traffic. This improvement will require coordination with MnDOT.

This suggestion is to install safer, more comfortable crossings of Silver St (Hwy 30) at Central Ave and 2^nd Ave, and potentially other cross-streets. Short-term solutions could use paint and flexible delineators to shorten crossing lengths, and install additional signage. Long-term solutions could modify the curb line to narrow the roadway and shorten crossing lengths, and install flashing pedestrian beacons. This improvement will require coordination with Blue Earth County and MnDOT.

This suggestion is to use upcoming reconstruction of Hwy 22 to install safer crossings of Hwy 22 and eliminate the intersection skew at Central Ave, Silver St (Hwy 30) and Borchert St. This improvement will require coordination with Blue Earth County and MnDOT.

This suggestion is to install a separated walking and biking bath along County Road 7 and 111^th St to connect Mapleton to Daly Park. This improvement will require coordination with Blue Earth County.

This suggestion is to install a feature that welcomes people to Mapleton and slows vehicle traffic near the Mapleton’s southern city boundary adjacent to Maple River Schools. This feature could include signage, landscaping, narrowing the width of the roadway, installing a roundabout at the Maple River Schools driveway entrance, or other improvements. This improvement will require coordination with Blue Earth County.

This suggestion is to implement a safer biking and walking route along Troendle St. This route would make it easier for people to walk and bike east and west across Mapleton. A short-term solution could be a painted walking and biking lane. A long-term solution could be construction of continuous sidewalk and bike lanes.