February 16 meeting to address decision not to extend bike lanes.
A plan to remove a layer of pavement on Cleveland Avenue between Bohland and Randolph avenues and replace it with new pavement, street markings, crosswalks and sidewalk ramps will be addressed in a public meeting from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, February 16, at the Highland Park Community Center, 1978 Ford Pkwy.
The meeting will be conducted by the Ramsey County Department of Public Works. Cleveland is a county road. The county typically does not hold public meetings on mill and overlay projects, but is doing so in response to local concerns.
This stretch of Cleveland is one of two county roads in the area slated for “pavement preservation” improvements this year. The other is Randolph Avenue between Cleveland and Brimhall Street. The two streets are among 10 in the county that will be seeing mill and overlay improvements through a $7.7 million program paid for with county, county-state aid highway, and other local funds. Cleveland is penciled in at $285,000 and Randolph at $540,000. Abutting property owners will not be assessed for the improvements.
HDC committee members objected to losing any on-street parking to the bike lanes in three-block stretch between Ford Parkway and Eleanor Avenue, saying it would hurt businesses and discourage shoppers from traveling to Highland Village.
The two local projects were reviewed last fall by the Highland District Council (HDC) Transportation Committee, and some changes were made. Cleveland is the focus of the public meeting because of questions raised about the changes. One of the biggest points of debate was the area between Ford Parkway and Eleanor Avenue. County officials considered extending the Cleveland Avenue bike lanes through that area, but opted not to do so.
HDC committee members objected to losing any on-street parking to the bike lanes in that three-block stretch, saying it would hurt businesses and discourage shoppers from traveling to Highland Village. Bicyclists can still use Cleveland, but it will be without the benefit of bike lanes.
New traffic signal, corner bumpouts
As part of the repaving project, the traffic signal at Cleveland and Highland Parkway will be replaced. Corner bumpouts will be installed at Bayard Avenue, which is an intersection that is often crossed by Horace Mann Elementary School students. Other crosswalks would get new striping and other improvements.
New 6-foot bike lanes will be added on Randolph between Cleveland and Macalester Street. The street will also be striped with 8-foot parking lanes and two 11-foot traffic lanes. The striping is expected to reduce the speed of traffic on Randolph. Corner bumpouts would be added on the northwest corner of Randolph and Prior, and the southwest corner of Randolph and Davern Street. New traffic signals are planned for Randolph and Fairview along with corner bumpouts.
— Jane McClure
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