Committee advances resolution urging MnDOT to increase outreach on Highway 280 redesign

Chair Wansley introduced a resolution expressing concern about the Highway 280 redesign and inviting MnDOT to increase engagement with Minneapolis neighborhoods. Peter Bennett (Public Works) and Ryan Wilson (MnDOT deputy district engineer) briefed the committee on the multiagency effort to address pavement, bridge and intersection improvements along the 280 corridor.

Wilson described a two-part project and said MnDOT proposes to close the northbound 280 to westbound Broadway movement as part of the 2028 project; he acknowledged that "we did not do as much outreach as we probably should have in Northeast Minneapolis" and described a revised engagement plan starting in June to reach additional neighborhood associations and stakeholders.

Julie Aldrich (Park Board) emphasized the Grand Rounds missing link project depends on multiagency partnership and said MnDOT's work on the Broadway–Industrial intersection represents a significant in-kind contribution that would otherwise have cost the Park Board more than $1 million.

Council Member Rainville, a coauthor of the City resolution, said the intent was to support park board engagement and ensure community participation. Rainville moved approval of the resolution; the chair indicated the item moved forward (details of the committee vote are not fully recorded in the excerpt). The committee asked MnDOT to continue and broaden outreach and offered staff assistance to coordinate local engagement.