If you’ve traveled along Aldrich Avenue recently, you may have noticed some new features aimed at slowing down traffic and improving safety. Last summer, Minneapolis Public Works installed speed humps on the 3100 and 3400 blocks of Aldrich, as well as a traffic circle at the intersection of 33rd & Aldrich.

These changes are part of the City’s Vision Zero initiative, which works to prevent traffic injuries and deaths by deploying quick and cost-effective treatments to reduce speeding and improve safety for people walking, biking, rolling, and driving.

Residents across Minneapolis can request traffic calming treatments through the City’s website here:https://www.minneapolismn.gov/getting-around/parking-driving/traffic-calming/. It remains something of a mystery how specific projects, like those on Aldrich, are selected. We assume factors such as high vehicle speeds and the occurrence of recent severe crashes played a role. The City announced this round of traffic calming last spring and hosted workshops to gather community input across Minneapolis.

South Uptown Neighborhood Association has requested additional details from Public Works but, so far, has not received a response. In the meantime, we’ll continue advocating for more transparency in how these projects are prioritized and making sure South Uptown has a voice in future decisions.