Lessons for Hennepin Ave: A History of Dedicated Transit Lanes on Minneapolis Streets

John is joined by Peter Wagenius, legislative director for the Sierra Club Northstar Chapter, for a conversation about the history of dedicated transit space on Minneapolis streets and similarities with today's debate over bus lanes on Hennepin Avenue. We talk about what makes our transportation planning decisions so key to combating climate change. Peter recalls his experience, while policy director under former Mayors Rybak and Hodges, of the planning process for a series of bus lanes (most prominently Marquette and 2nd) and the Green Line to St. Paul (Washington and University Avenues). The common threads when it comes to dedicating lanes for transit on our streets: overstated doomsaying about parking, pushback from powerful interests, fierce opposition from Lisa Goodman, near on the council, and the eventual success of those projects. "When the City Council decided, 12 times, [to dedicate lanes to transit], it was successful afterwards. We had no regrets." Peter talks about Republicans' latest talking point against transit: Covid-19. John mentions he's heard that one before -- from our new Public Works director when she argued against immediate implementation of full time bus lanes on Hennepin Avenue. We talk about how unprecedented it would be to have a new department head, after years of work and public engagement, begin her tenure by discarding a staff recommended design at the last moment. John admits to enjoying the transportation options at Orlando-area theme parks. Peter seems not to understand what EPCOT is.

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