PVAC Meeting Summary - January 13, 2026

The Professional Advisory Committee for Active Transportation (PVAC) convened on January 13, 2026, to address an opening in board membership, review public comments on downtown mobility, and deliberate on two distinct but related bicycle infrastructure projects: "Reimagining Sixth Avenue West" and "Reconnecting the Downtown Mobility Network." Following agenda adjustments and leadership votes, the committee provided a formal letter of support for the Sixth Avenue project but deferred making a final recommendation on the broader downtown network due to unresolved concerns regarding parking turnover, street surface conditions, and timeline constraints. The committee requested a further meeting to address the second half of the mobility network project before the February City Council meeting.

Consent Calendar

• Reviewed and voted to approve the minutes from the December 8th meeting without objection.
• Approved the City Council's request to move agenda items regarding the Chair/Vice Chair appointment and a grant support letter to the "New Business" section, as well as moving informational items 7A and 7B to New Business.
• Adopted a motion to adjust the consent agenda structure to ensure clarity on recommendations versus informational items.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Barry (Resident of Sixth Avenue): Expressed strong opposition to the Sixth Avenue bike lane proposal, characterizing it as a "waste of money" due to the steep grade and lack of utility for the route. Stated there was no wide support among bikers for the corridor south of Second Street and argued that staff misrepresented community engagement. Advocated for alternatives on Broadway or Second Street instead.
• Grace (First Presbyterian Church Representative): Expressed concern that the proposed move to First Avenue would negatively impact downtown business viability by displacing traffic to a corridor with insufficient infrastructure. Argued the city and Mayo Clinic have been disingenuous by sacrificing First Avenue businesses; stated the project should be moved west of First Avenue or postponed until Broadway is utilized.
• Michael Lojak (Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota): Expressed significant concern that the public has not had adequate engagement on the preferred route. Stated that while Sixth Avenue West (Civic Center to 2nd) is good, the route south of 2nd Street is not "all ages and abilities" compliant due to steep grades. Argued that First Avenue lacks a complete safe route and has huge concerns regarding safety and accessibility. Expressed that the bicycle community is "not sold on First Avenue" and remains agnostic as long as a safe, complete route is provided, preferring Second Avenue as a viable alternative.
• Advocacy Committee Representative: Stated that a few blocks of bike lanes do not create a usable network and stressed that First Avenue is not a complete route. Noted that Option B's proposed 8+2 foot lane width is below the NACTO minimum for a two-way cycle track and recommended making First Avenue one-way to allow for a wider, safer track.
• Jennifer Personer: Expressed confusion regarding the comparison table in the project packets, stating that the information was weighted toward First Avenue despite the description acknowledging it is not a "complete route" due to gaps. Argued that the route is not ADA compliant and criticized the lack of clear explanation for why the flawed alternative was preferred.
• Lizzie Krieg: Expressed that no solution is perfect and acknowledged that businesses are struggling with parking. Emphasized the need for continuity, predictability, and safety for all users, including those with mobility aids. Stated a preference for Second Avenue or a route that encourages new commuters, rather than a "blueprint" that feels disconnected.

Discussion Items

• Board Appointments (New Business): The committee voted to elect Mike Schmidt as Chair and Dave Cash as Vice Chair for the 2026 year.
• Grant Support (New Business): Staff requested a letter of support for a Minnesota Department of Transportation (MDOT) Active Transportation Planning Assistance Grant. Staff clarified that the community does not receive money directly; funds go to a consultant to develop an implementation action plan. The committee voted to approve the letter of support.
• Reimagining Sixth Avenue West: Staff presented a conceptual design for the corridor between Civic Center Drive and 2nd Street Southwest. The proposal includes 10-foot travel lanes, widened sidewalks, and a protected two-way bikeway. Staff noted the narrow lanes are a traffic-calming measure to target 25 mph speeds. A motion was made and passed to formally recommend proceeding with the conceptual design via a letter of support to City Council.
• Reconnecting the Downtown Mobility Network: Staff presented options for connecting the network from 2nd Street to 4th Street Southwest, including routes via First Avenue, Second Avenue, and Sixth Avenue. Staff stated they are leaning toward First Avenue as a recommendation but do not yet have a formal recommendation due to complex factors: high parking occupancy (85-95%), low turnover rates (employees parking all day), and the need to coordinate with $38 million in Mayo Clinic infrastructure work starting in 2027. Staff proposed an "interim build" using paint and planters to test the concept before permanent construction.
• Parking & Turnover: Staff acknowledged that current parking turnover does not support local retail and is being compromised by employees of the Mayo Clinic and construction contractors who stay for long durations. Explored strategies such as signage improvements, ramp access (which is free for the first hour), and business validation programs. It was noted that eliminating fees or offering free parking would require significant revenue offsets or council policy changes.
• Route Surface Concerns: Committee members raised concerns about the paved surface at Peace Plaza being uneven and difficult for bicycles. Staff confirmed there are no current plans to modify the surface but acknowledged it would be evaluated during the 10-20% design phase, though it may exceed the current budget.
• Timeline Constraints: Staff emphasized that a December 26th deadline prevents a delay in presenting a recommendation to City Council for the network project, as the design and bidding for the 2027 construction cycle are time-sensitive. Staff argued that the "Sixth Avenue" project and the "Network Connection" project cannot be entirely separated without jeopardizing the 2027 timeline.

Key Outcomes

• Agenda Motion: Approved moving the Chair/Vice Chair appointment and the MindOT grant letter request to New Business (now item 6A and 6B) and moving informational items 7A and 7B to New Business.
• Leadership Elected: Mike Schmidt elected as PVAC Chair for 2026; Dave Cash elected as Vice Chair.
• Grant Support Approved: PVAC voted unanimously to approve a letter of support for the MDOT Active Transportation Planning Assistance Grant application.
• Sixth Avenue Recommendation: PVAC voted unanimously to formally recommend proceeding with the "Reimagining Sixth Avenue West" conceptual design and request a letter of support from the committee to the City Council.
• Network Recommendation Deferred: PVAC voted to defer making a collective recommendation on the "Reconnecting the Downtown Mobility Network" (specifically the Sixth Avenue south segment and First/Second Avenue options) due to a lack of consensus on parking impacts, route continuity, and surface conditions.
• Next Steps: The committee resolved to request a special meeting (potentially in late January) with staff to continue deliberations on the mobility network before the City Council meeting, though staff noted the February 2nd Council agenda is already finalized with limited flexibility for new recommendations. The committee will provide individual comments on the pros and cons of the options to the Council.
• Adjournment: Motion to adjourn the meeting was approved. }