Community engagement for the future of University Ave. Northeast
In winter 2025, more than 2,500 people shared their feedback on proposed design options for changes on the intersections of Broadway St. Northeast and Lowry Ave. Northeast. Thank you to everyone who shared their input and helped inform what improvements should be made in these key intersections.
Input shared at Lowry Ave. Northeast:
- The concept design shifting Lowry Ave. south is the most popular, with many favoring its safety benefits and potential reduced impact on businesses.
- Overall, community members prioritize safety improvements most, followed by reducing property impacts and improving the pedestrian experience. Driver and bicyclist convenience is less of a priority at this intersection.
- The community strongly supports selecting a design that would not significantly impact businesses. While support for businesses was shared in 72% of all comments and survey responses, 5% of comments indicated that property impacts should not take precedence over the safety of the intersection. This sentiment was echoed at neighborhood pop-up events.
Input shared at Broadway St. Northeast:
- The community is split regarding keeping the traffic signal or adding a roundabout at this intersection. Those in favor of a roundabout feel it will make the intersection safer for vehicles and pedestrians, while those opposed generally feel a roundabout may be difficult to navigate for vehicles and less inviting for pedestrians, especially those with disabilities.
- People generally prioritize improving safety and the pedestrian experience. Fewer people prioritize improving driver experience and reducing property impacts in this intersection.
Past community engagement
In spring and summer 2024, we heard feedback from over 2,000 people about proposed changes. Thank you to everyone who shared their input. This feedback helps us understand what improvements should be made to University Ave. N.E.
Feedback on bike improvements
People largely support raised/separated bike lane improvements on University Ave. N.E. between Central Ave. and 1st Ave. The most common concerns shared were potential parking and traffic impacts.
Feedback on making University Ave. three lanes
The majority like the proposed designs for a 4-3 lane conversion of University Ave. N.E. Those in favor liked the design’s potential safety, efficiency and walkability, and believe it can help reduce speeding. A smaller percentage of people are opposed, sharing concerns they felt reducing lanes would be inefficient, confusing or dangerous, and that vehicles may use the center lane to pass others.
Feedback on adding medians at key intersections
Most people agree that medians at key intersections would provide safer and easier pedestrian and bike crossings. However, some in the community shared concerns that restricting left turns on University Ave. N.E. would reduce neighborhood access for drivers and could encourage dangerous driving.
Feedback on removing on-street parking
The community is split as to whether street parking belongs on University Ave. N.E. Many believe that the current parking is unsafe and unnecessary due to the amount of nearby neighborhood parking and would prefer to use this space to widen sidewalks and increase green space. Others believe that parking is important for local businesses, including the Northeast Farmers Market and those on Hennepin and 1st Ave.
