Proposed final design
We have proposed a final design layout for Robert St., which was informed by technical analysis and input from thousands of community members. The design is focused on improving safety for everyone – whether walking, bicycling, rolling, using transit or driving. Design and safety features include:
- Converting Robert St. to a three-lane road throughout the project area, with
one traffic lane in each direction and a center turn lane. - Medians along Robert St. to improve safety by shortening pedestrian crossings
and calming traffic speeds. - A two-way separated bike lane on the east side of Robert St. from Cesar
Chavez St. to Kellogg Blvd. to make travel safer for both bicyclists and
motorists. - Parking bays at select locations along the road to rightsize parking with
demand, based on the results of a recent parking study and conversations with business owners. - A roundabout at Robert, State, and Sidney streets to make it safer and easier
for cars to turn left onto Robert St. and to reduce speeding, making it easier for
pedestrians to cross the street. - Deactivating and potentially removing the signal at Curtice St. A different form of intersection control would be installed for pedestrian safety. Traffic data shows the number of vehicles traveling through the intersection does not support a signal.
- Design for the viaduct between State St. and Cesar Chavez St. is underway.
Changes made from community input
In fall 2024, we shared a proposed design for Robert St. focused on improving safety for everyone – whether walking, bicycling, rolling, using transit or driving. We received comments from hundreds of community members. Below is a summary of what we heard from the community and how we incorporated this feedback in the final design. The images from the design layout are current as of April 4, 2025. We continue to revise the concept plans and will post any changes to this website.
Pedestrian and bike safety
What we heard:
- More property owners along Robert St. from Cesar Chavez St. to Kellogg Blvd. like bike lanes than oppose them. Several business owners consider it beneficial to have a safe way for bikers to access their business.
- We heard from two property owners who are opposed to bike lanes because they are concerned about potential impacts to on-street parking.
- The remaining property owner feedback is mixed – “Not opposed to it, but don’t see the need for it either” or “It’s a good idea but I’m concerned this will create conflicts with pedestrians.”
What we did about it:
- We revised the bikeway design to better prevent conflicts between bicyclists and pedestrians, and we added more on-street parking in places like the block between Cesar Chavez St. and Isabel St. East.
What we heard:
- Some people are concerned about medians leading to dangerous U-turns or creating other unintended challenges.
- Some property owners were concerned about the impact of medians on their driveways.
What we did about it:
- Medians are intended to provide safer crossing opportunities for pedestrians and help reduce travel speeds on the road. We are looking to place them appropriately on Robert St. to serve this function.
- We revised median designs at Morton and Baker streets to reduce impacts to driveways while still providing improved pedestrian crossings.
What we heard:
- Some people shared that the signal at Curtice St. helps regulate traffic on Robert St., so they want to keep it.
What we did about it:
- Curtice St. does not have the traffic volumes to support a traffic signal. When traffic signals are installed at low-volume intersections, they can actually increase crashes compared to using stop signs.
- We will test this change by turning off the Curtice St. signal a year ahead of project construction before deciding whether to permanently remove it and install another form of intersection control. Alternatives might include rapid flashing beacons for pedestrians, lighting, a median refuge island, and/or enhanced pavement markings and signing. We will study the appropriate crossing treatment to meet the needs of the community and encourage pedestrian safety.
Traffic layout
What we heard:
- Some people shared general concerns about how these changes could negatively impact traffic on Robert St.
- We also heard that some people find it hard to turn on Robert St. from stop sign-controlled streets.
What we did about it:
- The improvements included in the final design will help improve traffic on Robert St. by:
- Promoting slower travel speeds. In addition to improving overall safety, this will also make it easier to turn left onto Robert St. Our goal is to design the street for 25 miles per hour to improve safety and traffic flow.
- Designing Robert St. based on current traffic volumes and planning for future growth.
What we heard:
- Most property owners are not concerned about the loss of on-street parking because they have lots, alleys or driveways/garages.
- Some property owners did express concerns, including a business near Cesar Chavez St. and those located from Morton St. to Elizabeth St./Baker St.
What we did about it:
- On-street parking makes the road wider and reduces the amount of green space along the corridor, which makes it harder to plant large trees and reduce vehicle speeds. We're trying to strike a balance between parking needs and safety improvements.
- We added parking back in near Cesar Chavez St. and from Morton St. to Elizabeth St./Baker St., where feasible. We continue to evaluate options to add parking back in. We will revise the final design and post any changes to the website.
What we heard:
- Most people gave us positive feedback about increased boulevard widths.
- Several people also gave ideas about what could go in the boulevard.
What we did about it:
- We have tracked people’s ideas for the boulevards. We will start dedicated engagement with the community on these design elements in fall 2025. It will build on and be informed by the West Side Community Organization’s “Destination Robert Street” plan.
What we heard:
- There were concerns about traffic delays due to buses stopping in the traffic lane.
What we did about it:
- We analyzed traffic operations on Robert St. with in-lane bus stops during peak rush hour and found that the in-lane bus stops will not lead to major delays (watch the video below to see this modeling).
- In the West Side Flats, Robert Street doesn’t need five traffic lanes to function efficiently. Too many traffic lanes can result in higher speeds and safety concerns.
- With bus rapid transit (BRT), riders pay before they get on the bus, resulting in shorter stops. On average, BRT buses stop for only seven seconds to load and offload passengers.
What we heard:
- Most people support the idea of a roundabout.
- Some people are concerned about roundabouts causing back-ups or that roundabouts negatively impact pedestrian safety.
- Some wondered if a signal would work here.
- We spoke with three of the four property owners who will be affected by this roundabout (we are still trying to connect with the fourth property owner). They like the idea of the roundabout. Where they have property-specific issues or concerns, we have a solution and are working with them.
What we did about it:
- This roundabout is the best way to improve safety, make it easier for cars to turn left onto Robert St., reduce speeding and make it easier for pedestrians to cross the street.
- We have a lot of data on roundabouts in Minnesota. They are proven to reduce serious crashes and are safer for pedestrians. Learn more about roundabouts.
- Roundabouts are a better option than adding a traffic signal. There isn’t enough traffic at this intersection to justify a signal. Like at Curtice St., if a traffic signal were to be installed here, it could increase crashes and drivers running red lights.
Viaduct area
What we heard:
- There have been some concerns about adding a “slip lane” or right-turn lane at Cesar Chavez St.
- Feedback around shortening the northbound service road is generally positive.
- We received mixed feedback around removing the connection from the southbound service road to Robert St.
What we did about it:
- The design of the right turn lane at Cesar Chavez St. has been revised as a “pedestrian smart channel” design to improve safety for people walking.
- We plan to disconnect the northbound service road due to existing safety problems at the Cesar Chavez St. intersection.
- In response to community concerns, the southbound connection from the service road to Robert St. will remain. We will redesign the intersection to improve sight lines and pedestrian safety for people crossing at King St.
We are developing design concepts and will share them with the community for input in 2025. Construction of the viaduct and roadway improvements between State St. and Cesar Chavez St. is anticipated for 2028-2029.
What we heard:
MnDOT foresters have analyzed every single tree in the public right-of-way along Robert St. Please do not remove these tree tags.
- Community members are concerned about losing trees on Robert St. during construction.
What we did about it:
- We are working closely with our forestry experts to understand the health of trees along Robert St. and how natural factors and construction might impact them.
- Our foresters have analyzed every single tree in the public right-of-way along Robert St. Some of the trees are in good health, while others are in poor health due to factors like emerald ash borer or poor pruning practices around power lines. These trees in poor health will likely not survive construction.
- We work hard to minimize the impact on trees. Reconstruction projects involving utility replacements are harder on root systems because we need to dig deeper and wider to rebuild the road.
- We will replant the area with a diverse range of resilient trees appropriate for boulevards, overhead power lines and changing weather patterns.
- The design of Robert St. – along with the trees that are anticipated to be planted along the road – is more conducive to supporting healthy trees in the long term. Wider boulevards allow for larger trees with more room for their root systems to grow.