On the Way
Volume 1, Issue 12
November 2007

Snelling Avenue Green Median: Yes or No?

An action alert issued by Transit for Livable Communities made a major impact in the Mac/Groveland neighborhood of St. Paul.

A couple years ago, Macalester College asked its neighbors about the neighborhood's biggest livability challenge. Overwhelmingly, the response was "Do something about the safety of Snelling Avenue!"

In response, Macalester asked St. Paul Public Works to construct a green median--with grasses, trees, planters and historic lighting -- down the middle of Snelling Avenue from St. Clair Avenue to Grand Avenue. The median would provide pedestrians with a refuge at every intersection and would also support trees.

During October 2007, Public Works conducted a traffic flow test of a simulated median and collected public comments on the median. Transit for Livable Communities issued a neighborhood action alert, letting residents know how they could make an impact on the decision. Before the action alert was issued, public comment was two to one against the median, led by a minority of people who oppose traffic calming efforts. After TLC and the Midway Transportation Management Organization (Midway TMO) issued action alerts, the neighborhood's public comments are in favor of the median by a margin of more than three to one.

"Snelling Avenue is an incredibly dangerous place to cross on foot," says Tom Welna, Director of Macalester College's High Winds Fund. "Thanks to the efforts of TLC's action network, we may very well have a green median that provides a safer crossing.

The work isn't over yet. The Transportation Committee of the Mac/Groveland Community Council will hold a public hearing on the median on November 26, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in the 3M Auditorium of the Owens Science Building at the University of Saint Thomas. St. Thomas will not be enforcing the parking rules between 6:00 and 10:00 p.m. on the south campus parking lots that evening.

Not everyone needs to speak because it will be a big crowd and at some point the Transportation Committee Chair will simply ask for a show of hands. If the median receives a positive recommendation from the Transportation Committee, it is highly likely that the project will move ahead quickly. The full Community Council rarely reverses the recommendations of one of its committees, so the real battle will be at the November 26th meeting.

"At Transit for Livable Communities, we work hard to involve communities in transportation decisionmaking," says Lea Schuster. "We were pleased to let Mac/Groveland residents know about an opportunity to shape transportation in their neighborhood."