Kingfield Neighborhood Association

Pedestrian safety improvements coming this winter to 43rd and Nicollet

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Barbara Mahigel died days ago while crossing 43rd & Nicollet Ave in the Kingfield Neighborhood. As of today, despite public appeals, the driver of the vehicle that killed Ms. Mahigel has not been apprehended.

In July and late September of this year, the Ward 8 office, Public Works staff, KFNA and area neighbors met about traffic and pedestrian safety concerns at 43rd and Nicollet and nearby areas. After these meetings, Public Works agreed to install safety improvements at 43rd and Nicollet.

Neighbors and the Ward 8 office have requested that Public Works accelerate safety improvements at 43rd and Nicollet, to be installed as soon as possible. Public works has agreed.

What are the improvements?

Bump outs, designed with bollards, will be installed at the NE and SW corners at 43rd and Nicollet, with dimensions of 10’ by 8’. The bump outs will decrease crossing distance for pedestrians, increasing safety. The bump outs will be installed using a “bolt in” method, and can be easily removed or redesigned. Including timeline for ordering materials, the bollard bump outs should be installed around Jan 1.

Public works will also explore design for a median or pedestrian island for the intersection, working with neighbors and KFNA. A median (typically about 8 ft wide) would allow a refuge in the middle of the street for those crossing, increasingUp pedestrian safety. Issues relating to design must still be evaluated, including impacts of the two nearby bus stops.

Why did public works initially recommend installing the bump outs in Spring 2017, rather than immediately?
Public works recommended the Spring 2017 installation based on its experience that indicates there is greater positive impact within the first couple of months after an install; waiting until spring when there is more outdoor activity could have a greater benefit to driver behavior and pedestrian safety. As well, late fall/cold weather issues will mean that certain elements of the bump outs cannot be installed, including paint that shows the full design of the bump outs. Public Works has agreed with neighbors, KFNA, and the Ward 8 office that these benefits are outweighed by the need to have safety improvements installed as soon as possible at 43rd and Nicollet.

Thank you to all who have contacted the Ward 8 office about accelerating safety improvements at 43rd and Nicollet. We are continuing to work with Public Works on additional ideas to increase pedestrian safety here and at other locations.

Many neighbors have asked about their ability to offer condolences and support to the family of Barbara Mahigel. Below is information about Barbara Mahigel’s memorial service, provided by her family. If you would like to express condolences to the family, please mail your cards to Good Samaritan, 5730 Grove Street, Edina MN 55436.

“A public memorial service for Barbara Ann Mahigel will be held Saturday, December 17th at Good Samaritan UMC in Edina, Minnesota. The visitation will be at 10am followed by a service at 11am. All are welcome. Come as you are. Bring only yourself. Please respect the church and their neighbors.”

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This update has been provided by Elizabeth Glidden, 8th Ward Councilperson.  She can be reached at 612-673-2208 or Elizabeth.Glidden@minneapolismn.gov 

Council Member Glidden is also available to meet with residents every Monday morning, 9-11:00 am, at: Sabathani Community Center
310 E 38th Street, 1st floor hallway nearest to the parking lot.

Post-Election Reflection Week III: More Positive Actions You Can Take Now to Make a Difference in Our Community

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Many people have been looking for additional positive ways to engage in our community since the election, in the interest of building deeper connections and making sure all neighbors feel welcome to our neighborhood and city.  KFNA continues to compile a list of actions each person can take, in case these inspire you to get involved. Please contact the person listed for each action to offer your time or assistance. Thank you!

  • Download an App called “Countable”. It tracks all of the Congressional bills and votes and is basically a list of what laws are being proposed in Congress, who is sponsoring them, what the laws are trying to do, as well as a section on why people agree or disagree with the legislation. There’s also a feature where you can send a note to your representatives on whether you agree or disagree with the legislation. You can elaborate on why, you can just signify yes or no, or you can send a video message to your rep through the App and you also get notified every time one of your representatives votes on a bill. Anything that makes it easier for each of us to stay in touch with legislation and legislatures this year is worth a try.
  • Sign the petition that Facebook should help all Americans exercise their right to vote by implementing Election Day reminders for all local and state elections.  Giving voters more information is key to our democratic process and can help turn out voters to local races, where they are desperately needed. Our Democracy is stronger when everyone participates and a reminder is just plain a polite and responsible idea. Mark Zuckerberg (the owner of Facebook) has said: “our goal is to give everyone a voice.” It is up to us to hold him to that, by making sure that Facebook provides millions of voters with crucial information needed to gain their voice. We know that Facebook will listen, if we can demonstrate grassroots support from across the country. That is where we come in, using our community and our networks we need to get as many signatures as possible.   https://actionsprout.io/4BC49B?source=share
  • Write a thank you email or personal note to Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges or your councilperson, 8th Ward’s Elizabeth Glidden, for passing the Minneapolis resolution condemning violence and hate speech against Muslims and the complimentary Our One Minneapolis Resolution which reaffirms Minneapolis as a sanctuary city.
  • Food donations are being accepted now through January 16, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, for the 8th annual Minneapolis Park & Rec Board food drive. Neighbors can drop food at any MPLS Rec Center but the center with the most donations wins a free movie in the Park, so KFNA encourages MLK Park, at 4055 Nicollet.  Recipients of the donated food city-wide are again The Aliveness Project (38th & Nicollet) and Beacon Interfaith, the developing company of Nicollet Square (37th & Nicollet) and the owner of many other transitional housing options.
  • Read this article “Fake or Real?” published by National Public Radio that has some good tips on how to self-check facts in current news stories. Remember that “Stopping the proliferation of fake news isn’t just the responsibility of the platforms used to spread it. Those who consume news also need to find ways of determining if what they’re reading is true….” Before sharing it.

Stay Involved/Get Involved, Neighbors. KFNA is continuing to crowdsource ideas of what we can do together to make our community a better place. Please feel free to share your ideas on our Facebook page or email us directly at info@kingfield.org.

Standing with all members of Our One Minneapolis

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City commits to fight for Rights, Freedoms and Interests of All Minneapolis Communities

The Minneapolis City Council and Mayor Betsy Hodges adopted a resolution standing with all members of the one Minneapolis, rejecting the politics of division, bigotry, hate and fear. The resolution commits the City to fighting for the rights, freedoms and interests of all of the members of the Minneapolis community, no matter skin color, gender, the way of worship, birthplace, sexual orientation, or any other identity. The City Council and Mayor Hodges reaffirm their commitment to be a “sanctuary city,” building and maintaining positive relations between City employees and all of the members of our communities. [Read more…]

Blaisdell Protected Bike Lanes Completed

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This update has been reprinted from Council Member Elizabeth Glidden’s 8th Ward e-News.

In September 2016, protected bicycle lanes were installed on Blaisdell, from 29th Street to 40th Street.  

Why protected bicycle lanes?  The City of Minneapolis adopted a city-wide protected bicycle lane plan in 2015 as an update to its full bicycle master plan, which works to create a connected system of bicycle lanes and infrastructure throughout the city.  Protected bicycle lanes provide a safe ride for bicyclists by separating the bicycle lanes from traffic, more comfortable for casual bicycle riders; bollards are used to create separation on Blaisdell Avenue.  Blaisdell was analyzed along with other streets and found to present a good early opportunity for installing this portion of the citywide protected bicycle lane plan.  

Residents have been patient as the Blaisdell protected bicycle lanes have been installed, with many contacting the Ward 8 office to voice support for the finished product.  Details such as no parking signs in left turn lanes are now installed, helping with traffic during approximately one hour of evening “rush hour” traffic.  You can view the project page here.

Spring Kingfield News

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The Spring edition of the Kingfield News will be arriving in homes this week, but you can read it online right now!