New Flashing Pedestrian Signs Installed On Washington
A dangerous area for pedestrians trying to cross Washington Avenue is now a little bit safer, thanks to a couple of push-activated flashing signals next to the crosswalk at 8th Avenue.
And according to Minneapolis city council member Michael Rainville, they’re the first of several that should be coming to the North Loop in the near future. He also hopes to get concrete “pedestrian refuges” installed on Washington at 8th and 7th Avenues.
It’s been a long, drawn-out struggle since Washington Avenue is not a city street, it belongs to Hennepin County. As Rainville has explained to the North Loop Neighborhood Association, the county initially supported these flashing signals and pedestrian refuges, but then withdrew that support because they intend to reconfigure Washington Avenue in a few years to allow for Bus Rapid Transit lanes, so they decided to pause new short-term improvements like this.
But Rainville, working with Minneapolis Public Works, found a way to get the first flashing signal installed at 8th Avenue without needing the county’s support, and intends to do a second one as soon as possible at 7th Avenue.
One note of caution about the flashing signals–drivers aren’t used to them yet. We’ve seen several of them roll through the crosswalk without slowing down, even as the lights were flashing, so pedestrians should still be very careful here.
This particular area of Washington Avenue is wide and especially busy with pedestrians, since popular spots like Bar La Grassa, Snack Bar, Borough, Parlour and Bunkers–not to mention a number of residential buildings–are on either side. The closest stop lights are at 10th and 6th Avenues.
The North Loop Neighborhood Association has persistently pushed our local officials for help with pedestrian safety and appreciate the continuing efforts of city council member Rainville to make these incremental improvements.
By Mike Binkley, North Loop volunteer