A Vision for the Future

Harrison and Near North were once centered around the vibrant 6th Avenue North. Today, the community lacks walkable access to grocery stores and local businesses, communal spaces, quality transit, and other core amenities. Instead of a highway, we could have:

The Highway Continues to Harm Near North Communities

Today, Olson Memorial Highway is a 6-lane wide highway that divides Near North Minneapolis. The speed limit on the corridor is 40 MPH, crossing locations are poorly regulated, and it is identified as a high-injury crash street. In fact, the intersection of Lyndale Ave N and Olson has the highest crash rate in all of Minneapolis. This highway fails to serve people who do not drive. Additionally, people living nearby face some of the worst air quality in the Twin Cities area. 

Housing and Community Development Benchmarks

Government agencies have created planning processes that overlook the voices of our immigrant, refugee, low-wealth, and BIPOC communities and cater to the economic interests of outside developers and affluent residents. These intentional choices about transportation projects have brought destruction and displacement to our communities — over and over again. 

As we begin to engage in conversations around removing Olson Memorial Highway, we see the same entrenched processes and political interests once again threatening the families and small business owners who are the fabric of our beloved neighborhoods. Our vision is a community-centered planning process that commits to a racial justice framework and restorative approach that intentionally directs economic, social, and environmental benefits of highway removal to immigrant/refugee, low-wealth, and BIPOC communities along the project corridor — and beyond. We demand that changes on Olson Memorial Highway intentionally seek to repair historic harms and invest in the well-being of our neighborhoods.

View benchmarks
 

"Is this vision really possible?" Yes!

The Minnesota Department of Transportation has a “Project Demonstration Fund” that would allow them to permanently install Phase 1 safety improvements along Olson Memorial Highway in a matter of months. Additionally, MnDOT has access to funds from the federal infrastructure bill that could be used for an Olson Memorial Highway project. Instead of reconstructing the highway and furthering harm, this money should go towards repairing and reconnecting the Near North community. 

"What about traffic impacts?" Studies show that much of the traffic disappears when a highway is removed. Instead, people change their destination, take a different route, or utilize another mode of transportation. This is referred to as traffic evaporation. The changes proposed in Bring Back 6th would only add a couple of minutes of driving time. Additionally, suburban commuters would have access to new transit and bike options. From improved health to economic outcomes, the benefits would far outweigh the costs, and the community would have an opportunity to sustainably reclaim land and spaces to restore their economic and cultural vibrancy. Would you give up a few minutes of driving time to help repair the community?

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