Rochester Active Transportation Connections: Linking with 2nd Street SW

The planning team identified 11th Avenue NW as a key connection to 2nd Avenue and a priority corridor for active transportation improvements. To test a bikeway concept, the City of Rochester will be implementing a separated bike lane demonstration project in late May! Bicycle lanes will be painted along 11th Avenue NW between 2nd Street SW and the Cascade Creek Trail crossing near 3rd Street NW. Painted curb extensions will be installed at the intersections of Center Street and 2nd Street NW. The goals of this project are to:

• Improve Safety and Accessibility – Create a bikeway on 11th Avenue to enhance safety and encourage more biking.

• Enhance Trail Crossing – Shorten the crossing distance at Cascade Creek Trail for a safer, better user experience.

• Reduce Vehicular Speeds – Slow motorists to improve overall corridor safety.

• Strengthen Connections – Prioritize people biking and walking to key transit and bike routes (e.g., Center and 1st Street SW bike routes).

The City will be collecting data to evaluate the success of the demonstration project. This will include:

• Motorist Speed – Do speeds change with the installation of bike lanes?

• Bicycle Counts – How many people are biking in the street before the project? During the project?

• Driver Yield/Stop Compliance Tally – Does shortening the crossing distance with curb extensions at Cascade Creek Trail crossing improve motorists’ yielding/stopping for trail users?

• User Perception – What do people walking, biking and rolling think of the changes? What do residents/property owners think?

The planning team will discuss the results of the demonstration project early in fall 2025 and determine next steps.

Join the Rochester Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee for a walking audit along 11^th Avenue SW/NW to talk about opportunities to improve the corridor for people biking and walking. Afterwards, join the Community Visioning and Quick Build Workshop to identify issues and opportunities along three priority corridors linking to 2^nd Street SW: 11^th Ave SW/NW, 3rd Ave SE, and 4^th St SE. One of these corridors will be selected for a quick build demonstration project to take place next spring!

These events are family friendly, and snacks will be provided. → Register now!

Saturday, August 10

11th Avenue SW/NW Walking Audit

9:00 to 9:45 AM – Washington Elementary School (1200 11th Ave NW)
Sign-in starts at 8:30 AM

Community Visioning and Quick Build Workshop

10:15 AM to 12:15 PM – Washington Elementary School (1200 11th Ave NW)

RSVP now to reserve your place at the Summit

We hope to see you there!

This project is led by the City of Rochester’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee (PBAC), which includes residents focused on the needs of people walking, biking, using transit, and public health. This Active Transportation Action Plan is funded through MnDOT’s Active Transportation Program.

We created a vision and set of goals to guide the future of Active Transportation Connections to the 2nd Street SW Corridor.

Vision

Calm and complete streets allow anyone to comfortably and conveniently walk, bike and roll throughout the 2nd Street SW Corridor and surrounding neighborhoods, safely accessing the Link Transit System and destinations beyond.

Goals

• Provide safe and high-quality first and last mile connections to the 2nd Street SW Corridor and the Link BRT.
• Generate infrastructure solutions serving multimodal connectivity improvements throughout the 2nd Street SW Corridor and surrounding neighborhoods.
• Ensure equitable access to transportation options for those who rely upon it most.
• Create safe and seamless biking, walking and rolling transitions to each transit station.
• Foster connections and bridge physical and social barriers between the wealthiest areas and the historically disadvantages areas.
• Support the citywide goal to shift 50% of commuter trips to Rochester’s downtown by modes other than single-occupancy vehicles by 2040.