🔭 Sentinel Intelligence

Monitoring governments, non-profits, and business developments

Initial Intelligence Report — Cycling Infrastructure

2025-01-11

Sentinel Initial Intelligence Report — Cycling Infrastructure

Date: January 11, 2025 Focus: Cycling & Transportation Infrastructure

🔴 Major Findings (Tier 1 Priority)

Midtown Greenway to Become Regional Trail

Source: Midtown Greenway Coalition — https://midtowngreenway.org/ Related Project Page: Midtown Greenway Regional Trail Master Plan Date: Fall 2024 (Master Plan completed) / Early 2025 (Met Council approval expected) Impact: Major infrastructure milestone, formal regional trail designation unlocks regional funding and planning authority

Summary: The Midtown Greenway Coalition has completed and approved its Master Plan in Fall 2024. The organization expects Met Council approval for the Greenway to officially become the "Midtown Greenway Regional Trail" in early 2025.

This designation is significant because:

What to watch: Met Council meeting agendas for approval vote, implementation timeline announcements, connection project proposals

Minneapolis Protected Bikeways: $20M Vision Zero Funding & 25-30 Major Projects (2025-2029)

Sources:

Date: 2024 (funding announcement) / 2025-2029 (project implementation window) Impact: Accelerated protected bike lane construction citywide; formal $20M Vision Zero commitment

Summary: Minneapolis has been awarded $20M in Vision Zero road safety funding and has 25-30 major biking projects planned between 2025-2029. The Protected Bikeways Program (BIK28) implements protected bikeways identified in the Minneapolis Transportation Action Plan.

Key Active Projects Identified:

  1. N 2nd St Bikeway

    • Project Page: https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/n-2nd-st-bikeway/
    • Scope: Connects to new bike path at Dowling and 2nd Street N; connects to Upper Harbor Regional Park; connects to protected bike paths along 26th Ave N and Lowry Ave N
    • Status: In implementation phase

  2. Hennepin Avenue Protected Bike Lanes

    • Project Information: Covered in PeopleForBikes "Best New U.S. Bike Lanes of 2025" — https://www.peopleforbikes.org/news/best-new-bike-lanes-2025
    • Scope: Curb-level protected bike lanes from West Lake Street to Douglas Avenue; includes wider sidewalks, raised medians, traffic calming, upgraded transit infrastructure
    • Recognition: Ranked #2 best new U.S. bike lanes of 2025
    • Status: Construction likely complete or in progress

  3. Midtown Greenway Resurfacing

    • Project Page: https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/midtown-greenway/
    • Scope: Resurfacing 2.6 miles of Midtown Greenway between Burnham Trail and 5th Ave S
    • Purpose: Extends trail life, improves surface quality for cyclists
    • Status: 2025

  4. Pillsbury Ave S Bridge

    • Project Page: https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/pillsbury-bridge-midtown-greenway/
    • Scope: Bridge over Midtown Greenway in Whittier neighborhood; original structure built 1916 by Chicago, Milwaukee, and Saint Paul Railroad
    • Timeline: 2025-2026 (tentative)

What to watch:

Hennepin County East Hennepin Avenue Bike Lanes

Sources:

Date: 2025 Impact: Key protected lane connecting Minneapolis neighborhoods, improves bike access to regional infrastructure

Summary: Hennepin County is executing a repaving and restriping project that adds bike lanes on East Hennepin Avenue between 8th Street Southeast and Johnson Street.

Additional improvements by City of Minneapolis:

What to watch:

Midtown Greenway: Short Line Bridge Conversion Project

Source: Midtown Greenway Coalition — Greenway Improvements: https://midtowngreenway.org/projects-and-programs/greenway-improvements/ Date: Pending Impact: Critical East-West cycling connection over Mississippi River

Summary: The project would convert the Short Line Bridge over the Mississippi River into a bicycle and pedestrian trail. Currently, CP Rail owns and operates the bridge, which has an average of one train per day serving three remaining customers.

Significance:

What to watch:

🟡 Important Infrastructure Updates (Tier 2)

Hennepin County 2025 Construction Projects with Biking Components

Source: Hennepin County Transportation — Current Construction Projects: https://www.hennepin.us/residents/transportation/construction-projects

Active 2025 Projects:

Future Projects (2027+):

Hennepin County Biking Infrastructure Context:

Active Transportation Committee (ATC):

Crow Wing County Highway Program 2026

Sources:

Date: March 10, 2025 (program published) Impact: Road projects may affect cycling access and connectivity in Cuyuna region

Summary: Crow Wing County has published its 2026 highway construction program with a project map available. The county is actively seeking public comments on construction projects.

Contact for feedback:

What to watch:

🟢 Entity Discovery (Tier 4)

Newly Identified Cycling Advocacy Organizations

  1. Our Streets Minneapolis (formerly Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition)

    • Website: https://www.ecolibrium3.org/our-streets-minneapolis/
    • Focus: Equitable and inclusive access to streets and trails in Minneapolis
    • Structure: Volunteer-driven, community-supported advocacy
    • Source: Saint Paul Bicycle Coalition resources page — http://www.saintpaulbicyclecoalition.org/resources/

  2. Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota (BikeMN)

    • Website: https://www.bikemn.org/
    • Scope: State-level bicycle advocacy and education
    • Resources: MN Bicycling Handbook, Ride Minnesota Hub, advocacy guides
    • Source: BikeMN website

  3. Move Minnesota

    • Website: http://movemn.org/
    • Focus: Transportation system reform (transit, walking, bicycling, thoughtful development)
    • Source: Saint Paul Bicycle Coalition resources page

  4. Midtown Greenway Coalition

    • Website: https://midtowngreenway.org/
    • Focus: Protect and enhance Midtown Greenway
    • Projects: Regional Trail Master Plan, Short Line Bridge conversion
    • Source: Midtown Greenway Coalition website

  5. Minneapolis Bike Parks

    • Reference: Twin Cities Biking resources — https://www.twincitiesbiking.org/more_resources
    • Focus: Organizing safe, family-friendly off-road biking options in Minneapolis parks
    • Scope: Parks-focused mountain bike and skills park development

Regional Transportation Bodies Identified

  1. Hennepin County Active Transportation Committee (ATC)

    • Website: https://www.hennepin.us/bac
    • Schedule: 3rd Monday every month, 4:00-6:00 PM
    • Scope: Reviews infrastructure projects, bike/walk/roll issues, policies, plans, studies
    • Significance: Key decision-making body for county cycling infrastructure investments

  2. Three Rivers Park District

    • Biking Page: https://www.threeriversparks.org/activity/biking
    • Mountain Biking Page: https://www.threeriversparks.org/MountainBiking
    • Scope: 240+ miles of off-road bike/hike trails throughout Twin Cities metro area
    • Key Trail: Monarch Singletrack Trail at Carver Park Reserve — 14+ miles of MTB trails (https://www.threeriversparks.org/location/monarch-singletrack-trail)
    • Regional Trails Master Plan: https://www.letstalkthreerivers.org/nine-regional-trails-master-plan

  3. Crow Wing County Highway Department

    • Current Projects: https://www.crowwing.gov/149/Current-Projects
    • Future Projects: https://www.crowwing.gov/150/Future-Projects
    • Engineering/Construction: https://www.crowwing.gov/115/EngineeringConstruction
    • Scope: Highway improvement projects; partnership with City of Baxter and MnDOT

  4. Aitkin County Highway Department

    • Website: https://www.co.aitkin.mn.us/departments/highway/
    • Scope: 510+ miles of roadway, 111 bridges/culverts
    • Road Restrictions: https://www.co.aitkin.mn.us/departments/highway/highway-road-restrictions.php

  5. Minnesota DOT (MnDOT) Bicycling Division

    • Main Page: https://www.dot.state.mn.us/bike/
    • Statewide Bicycle System Plan: https://www.dot.state.mn.us/bike/statewide-bicycle-system-plan.html
    • U.S. Bicycle Route System: https://www.dot.state.mn.us/bike/route-system.html
    • Bicycle Facility Design Manual: https://www.dot.state.mn.us/bike/bicycle-facility-design-manual.html
    • District 2 Bicycle Plan (covers central MN): https://www.dot.state.mn.us/bike/documents/planning-research/district-2-bicycle-plan.pdf

🎯 Action Items

Immediate (This Week)

Ongoing Monitoring

Discovery Phase

📊 Data Gaps

Missing Information:

Sources Requiring Resolution:

Workaround Strategy:

🔗 Source Index

All sources cited in this report:

Government Sources:

Non-Profit/Advocacy Sources:

Regional/State Sources:

News/Community Sources:

Report End — All claims documented with source citations