11-26-2024 WS City Council Agenda W ORK SESSION
RICHFIELD MUNICIPAL CENTER, BARTHOLOMEW ROOM
NOVEMBER 26, 2024
5:30 PM
Call to order
1.Discussion on Hennepin County roadway speed limits within Richfield.
Adjournment
Auxiliary aids for individuals with disabilities are available upon request. Requests must be made at least 96
hours in advance to the City Clerk at 612-861-9739.
AGENDA SECTION:Work Session Items
AGENDA ITEM #1.
WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT NO.
WORK SESSION
11/26/2024
REPORT PREPARED BY: Matt Hardegger, Transportation Engineer
DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR REVIEW: Kristin Asher, Public Works Director
11/19/2024
OTHER DEPARTMENT REVIEW:
CITY MANAGER REVIEW: Katie Rodriguez, City Manager
11/20/2024
ITEM FOR WORK SESSION:
Discussion on Hennepin County roadway speed limits within Richfield.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
During previous meetings to discuss the citywide speed limit reduction, Council Members expressed a desire
to request that Hennepin County lower speed limits on the County roads that run through Richfield. City staff
have since met with County staff to discuss what the County would be open to implementing on their system
within the context of the relevant Minnesota Statutes. Staff are seeking direction from the City Council on
which roads to request the County take action on and what actions to request.
DIRECTION NEEDED:
Determine which sections of Hennepin County roads within Richfield that the city should recommend
speed limit adjustments be considered on.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
A.HISTORICAL CONTEXT
In 2023, City Council approved lowering the citywide speed limit on local, residential roads to 25 miles per
hour. This change was implemented in June, 2024. Council Members also expressed a desire to lower the
speed limits on 76th/77th Street (City-owned) and Hennepin County roads.
The reduced speed limit on 76th/77th Streets was passed by the City Council in December 2023, and was
recently implemented.
Since then, city staff met with county staff to discuss options for the county roads. Under Minnesota Statutes,
cities have more ability to set speed limits on local facilities than counties have to set speed limits on county
roads. Counties have the following options for setting speed limits:
Statutory limits in section 169.14, subdivision 2
Request that MnDOT complete a speed study under section 169.14, subdivision 4
Set a safe speed not less than 25 miles per hour on a road with a bike lane under section 160.263,
subdivision 4.
Listed below are all sections of Hennepin County roadways within the city that will be discussed at the work
session. Staff is looking for specific direction on how to proceed with these requests.
66th Street (Xerxes to Highway 77)
Existing speed limit: 35 mph
County does not interpret the cycletrack to be an eligible facility under section 160.263 to reduce
the speed limit.
City could request that the County perform an updated speed study to lower the speed limit or
confirm the appropriateness of the existing speed limit.
Portland Avenue (77th Street to Highway 62)
Current speed limit: 35 mph
Existing road has on street striped bike lanes in both directions.
Existing bike lane would make roadway eligible for reduction under section 160.263.
City can request a reduction in the speed limit via County action.
Nicollet Avenue (77th to 66th)
Current speed limit: 35 mph
Existing roadway has a striped shoulder with no parking (except Sundays).
Due to upcoming construction in 2026, County will not consider any changes at this time.
Following construction, speed limit will not be signed on the roadway until after the completion of
a speed study (2027-2028).
Nicollet Avenue (66th to Highway 62)
Existing speed limit: 35 mph
Existing roadway has a striped bike lane north of 66th Street.
Speed limit on Nicollet Ave in Minneapolis north of highway 62 is 25 mph with an on-street bike
lane.
Existing bike lane would make roadway eligible for reduction under section 160.263.
City can request a reduction in the speed limit via County action.
Penn Avenue (south of 68th Street)
Existing speed limit (north of 68th Street): 30 mph
Existing speed limit (south of 68th Street): 35 mph
Existing roadway has a striped shoulder with no parking (except Sundays).
Roadway is listed as a planned route in the City's Bicycle Master Plan.
County would consider conversion of the existing shoulder to a bike lane.
Likely would require City action to remove the Sunday exemption to the parking
restrictions.
City could request County convert shoulder to bike lane, then lower speed limit under section
160.263.
B.EQUITABLE OR STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS OR IMPACTS
Equity: All four of the County corridors are residential streets, with housing occupying most stretches of the
streets. The Penn Avenue and 66th Street corridors contain a significant portion of the City's Naturally
Occurring Affordable Housing. Lowering speed limits in these areas has the potential to create a safer
community for residents who live on these corridors or cross these corridors during their daily activities.
Strategic: This action meets the City's strategic goal of City infrastructure that supports service needs.
C.POLICIES (resolutions, ordinances, regulations, statutes, exc):
The relevant Minnesota Statutes are sections 169.14 and 160.263. The original changes to lower speed limits
elsewhere in the City were passed under Ordinance 2023-17.
D.CRITICAL TIMING ISSUES:
N/A
E.FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No financial impact to the City. The County would be responsible for furnishing all regulatory signs on their
roadways for these changes.
F.LEGAL CONSIDERATION:
ALTERNATIVE(S):
PRINCIPAL PARTIES EXPECTED AT MEETING:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Existing Speed Limits Map Exhibit