Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey vetoes proposal for bus-only lanes on Hennepin Avenue

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has vetoed a proposal that will create 24/7 devoted bus lanes on Hennepin Avenue as a part of its reconstruction.

Frey knowledgeable the council of the choice in a Friday letter. Council members had beforehand voted to incorporate the full-time bus lanes as a part of the Hennepin Avenue South reconstruction venture, which is able to have an effect on the road from Lake Road to Douglas Avenue.

The council voted so as to add the full-time bus lanes to the proposal after the Minneapolis Public Works Division’s remaining advice didn’t embrace them.

However Frey cited points with parking and issues from companies alongside the hall in his letter. He as an alternative voiced help for the Public Works advice, which does embrace an off-street bikeway and different security enhancements.

Below the Public Works proposal, the bus lanes would function in the course of the day and permit for parking throughout off-hours.

“I absolutely help a bus solely lane with specified hours of operation to cut back congestion and car miles traveled,” Frey stated. “I can not, nonetheless, help maintaining bus solely lanes 24 hours a day when buses don’t run 24 hours a day. This might ignore the numerous small companies, a lot of them BIPOC owned, who compromised each for the presence of a protected bike lane and prioritized bus lanes on the expense of a considerable quantity of parking.”

The Public Works proposal would save round 20 parking spots throughout off hours, in line with FOX9.

Metropolis officers in favor of full-time bus lanes say the change will help pedestrian security and marginalized communities, together with folks of shade and folks with disabilities.

Ward 10 Council member Aisha Chughtai, who supported the modification for twenty-four/7 bus lanes, criticized Frey’s veto on Twitter. 

Chughtai additionally stated the council would take up the matter once more on June 30 and stated she and different officers woll proceed to rally help for the measure.

Our Road Minneapolis, a nonprofit that helps improved transit, strolling and biking infrastructure, additionally urged residents to name on council members to override Frey’s veto.

The Hennepin Avenue reconstruction venture is about to be accomplished in 2026, with development beginning in 2024.