Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Commission Meeting - August 11, 2026

The Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Commission (PBAC) met on August 11, 2026 (agenda listed as August 10, 2026 due to time zone differences) to receive updates on mode shift and transportation demand management, and a project update on the Reimage 6th Avenue West corridor. Seven commissioners were present; two were absent. One public comment was heard.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of June 8, 2026: Approved as official record.
• Bike to Work Day 2026 Recap: Received as information; no action taken.
• Multimodal Parking Inventory Update and Routine Audits: Received as information; no action taken. The consent agenda was approved unanimously by a voice vote (7-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Barry Skolnick, a frequent attendee of commission meetings for over eight years, raised three concerns: (1) Meeting agendas should be posted earlier (ideally Wednesday or Thursday before Monday meetings) to allow time for corrections; (2) Mode shift presentations should use plain language rather than trade jargon to be accessible to the public and committee members; (3) New construction projects (e.g., the planned reconstruction around Charterhouse) disproportionately burden disabled residents and the committee should be cautious about adding construction. He also reiterated a long-standing request for enforcement of no-motor-vehicle rules on trails.

Discussion Items

6.A Mode Shift and Transportation Demand Management: From Plans to Practical Choice

• Matt Lynch, Mode Shift Coordinator, presented a non-policy proposal focused on making existing transportation choices safer and more reliable.
• Key data shared:
  • Commute mode share (American Community Survey 5-year estimates): Driving alone dropped 10 percentage points since 2013, but this was largely due to an increase in remote work, not actual mode shift. Walking grew slightly; transit commuting declined since 2019.
  • The city now has 12 multimodal counters (85% walking, 12% cycling, 2% scooters in spring 2026). Four more counters are planned, including at school crossings and a rec center.
  • Low counts at a location may indicate a barrier (e.g., unsafe crossing) rather than lack of demand.
• Commissioners provided input on blind spots for counters:
  • Sarah Stevens suggested a location on West Circle Drive, where the trail is poorly maintained and intersections are busy.
  • Mike Zhu proposed placing counters to measure before/after impacts of infrastructure projects (e.g., new bike lanes).
  • Paige Burgess raised data privacy concerns about the counters; staff clarified that devices only tally counts and do not store images.
• Matt Lynch committed to bringing a quarterly multimodal count report to the September 14 meeting, and will also present a TDM framework scope to City Council on September 28.

6.B Reimage 6th Avenue W. - Project Update

• Steve Sampson Brown (Public Works) and Mitzi Alex (Toole Design) presented the design update.
• The $38 million city-led project will upgrade underground utilities and reconstruct the street with a two-way protected bikeway, raised intersection crossings, wider sidewalks, green space, and seating.
• Design has reached 30%; 60% milestone expected by October 1, 2026. Construction is planned to start March 15, 2027, with completion by early August 2027.
• Key design features:
  • Signalized intersections at 2nd Street NW and Center Street (previously considered for roundabouts).
  • Mixed-use path on the south side of 2nd Street NW to implement the active transportation plan.
  • Pocket park extended through 7th Avenue West intersection.
  • Public art and visual interest points are being considered.
  • Coordination with Mayo Clinic projects, including the North Arrival ramp and logistics site.
• Commissioners asked about:
  • Integration with Link BRT (platform at 2nd Street SW, which will be temporary relocated during Osmond building construction).
  • Pedestrian/bike crossing at Civic Center Drive (not part of this project, but city plans a future reconstruction of Civic Center).
  • Impact of parking garage access patterns and anticipated BRT ridership (projected 11,000 daily riders).

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken on the two new business items (information only).
• Future discussion items were identified for the September 14 meeting:
  • Motorbikes on trails (illegal motorized vehicles on paths) – staff will bring information.
  • Pedestrian data privacy related to automated license plate readers (flock cameras) and their placement.
  • 311 maintenance reporting – commissioners will be provided with the city’s reporting tool details.
• The next regular meeting is scheduled for September 14, 2026 at City Hall (Room 320), with location subject to change.
• Meeting adjourned at approximately 8:15 p.m. (unanimous vote).