How to Keep a Statewide Plan off the Shelf; Pedestrian Planning in Minnesota 

So, MnDOT has its first pedestrian plan; now what? We'll cover implementation activities on increasing safety, developing climate resilience for people walking, and keeping facilities usable year-round. Each of these initiatives advances a critical part of MnDOT's Statewide Pedestrian System Plan. Between 2016 and 2018, nearly half of pedestrian crashes occurred in Minnesota's highest priority need areas for improvements to walking. This is even though the highest-need areas are only 0.2% of the state's geographic area. MnDOT is working with its districts on pedestrian safety action plans that address high need locations in the next decade. Minnesota's climate is changing, and these changes will have the greatest impact on vulnerable users, especially those who are walking. MnDOT does many things that promote resiliency, but not often together in coordination. This collaborative project will identify how to tie critical elements together to improve pedestrian system resilience to high heat and flash flooding. The top item on Minnesotans' wish-list during pedestrian plan engagement was improved winter maintenance. MnDOT is engaged in a pilot project to understand the cost of maintenance needed to keep the system clear year-round, and avenues for getting this maintenance done. This pilot will eventually be expanded statewide.

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