Leave it better: green under the gridlock: a renovated train corridor lets bikers travel non-stop across Minneapolis.

Project:

Minneapolis Midtown Greenway Minneapolis, Minn.

Problem:

A dilapidated freight train corridor became a haven for criminal activity. Also, traffic in south Minneapolis has become heavier, highlighting a need for alternative transportation.

Partnerships:

The Midtown Greenway is a multiagency project composed of the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA), which owns part of the corridor; the City of Minneapolis, including the Minneapolis Police Department; the Midtown Greenway Coalition, a grassroots organization representing the community; and the Midtown Community Works Partnership, which is promoting high-profile investments in the area. The Code Blue Corporation and Electronic Design Co., a local authorized Code Blue dealer, worked with Minneapolis police to implement safety solutions.

Solution:

In order to rehabilitate the train corridor, which runs parallel to Minneapolis's 29th and 27th Streets, the city teamed up with other agencies to link the suburbs to the city in a safe and aesthetically-pleasing way that would reenergize the area. The plan has created walking and biking paths along the corridor, which run from the western boundary of the city to the Mississippi River. Code Blue emergency phones with immediate two-way 911 capabilities and closed-circuit television were also installed so police could monitor the areas.

Lead Time:

HCRRA purchased the western side of the corridor in 1993 to add to its railroad properties. A master plan was established in 1996, and by 2000, the first phase was completed. The second phase, completed in 2004, extended the greenway further east. The third phase will complete the easternmost section by the end of 2006. Planners are still looking toward the future, hoping to re-establish vintage trolley cars that stopped running in 1956 to co-exist with foot and bike traffic.

Community Impact:

The Greenway is now a place where families play and once-neglected residential and commercial areas are flourishing. The space is welcoming to cultural events and has been home to a Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) parade and celebration. The greenway provides more than just a bike path--cyclists can buzz along nonstop on the "bicycle superhighway" under city streets.