What's Wrong with Nicollet Avenue?

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — For decades, Nicollet Avenue has served as a main artery of traffic for south Minneapolis. The quickest routes for residents to get to a freeway entrance from the west side of Interstate 35W typically involve Nicollet in some way. The avenue has relatively few stoplights and allows motorists to travel up and down the southern portion of the city with ease. That is, until one hits the massive Kmart parking lot at Lake Street.

To the north, Nicollet Avenue becomes car-prohibited Nicollet Mall downtown. To the south, Nicollet Avenue passes through Richfield and Bloomington and even picks again up across the Minnesota River in Burnsville.

Like many streets in the area, the landscape of Nicollet Avenue in south Minneapolis has change dramatically as the city has gentrified since the 1990s. For two decades, the segment of Nicollet north of 29th street has been known as "Eat Street" for its collection of eclectic places to eat. But over the years, new businesses and restaurants have flocked to other segments of the street, too, particularly in the Kingfield neighborhood.

While great for residents, the growth of a stable restaurant scene on Nicollet has exacerbated existing pedestrian safety issues. Nicollet is wider than most roads the city, which means pedestrians have a longer distance to cross from sidewalk to sidewalk. Combine that with the high speed of motorists, many fresh off the highway and sometimes traveling well over the speed limit, and you have a recipe for tragedy.

Around 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 27, Barbara Mahigel was walking across Nicollet Avenue South (at the intersection of 43rd Street) when she was hit by a vehicle traveling north. The car did not stop. Barbara was transported to the Hennepin County Medical Center where she died the next day. Family and police are still looking for the driver.

Well before the fatal hit and run, elected officials and neighborhood activists were working on improving pedestrian safety in the area.

On Sept. 28, members from Minneapolis public works and City Council Member Elizabeth Glidden held a meeting to discuss parking and safety issues occurring between 42nd and 46th streets and nearby areas east of Nicollet Avenue in Kingfield.

The meeting produced several possible next steps to be taken in order to improve safety in the area. The Kingfield Neighborhood Association told Patch that officials will consider installing signage on various corners indicating that cars must park 30 feet away from the corner.

Regardless of the corner, cars are not allowed to park within 30 feet, but the law is frequently ignored by motorists in the area. Illegally parked cars means its harder for pedestrians to be seen by drivers.

Additionally, next spring officials will test out "ballards" to reduce the traffic exposure of pedestrians walking across Nicollet. The ballads will protect the space at corners for pedestrians waiting to cross.

Part of the issue may be that many motorists who utilize the Nicollet don't live in the area and are unaware how their speed is harmful to residents.

There's no certainty in how well the proposed remedies will work. For now, pedestrians will have to exercise extra caution.

Photo by William Bornhoft/Patch.com