Downtown Minneapolis is experiencing rapid population growth that is stretching the capacity of its current transportation systems. To combat existing congestion and proactively address future crowding, the Town of Shakopee, a small community near Minneapolis, decided intersection and crossing improvements were the most useful and cost-effective tool for reducing congestion and protecting bicyclists.
Shakopee’s project, the first of its kind in the state, features an improved intersection neighboring a middle school and an alternative intersection design known as a mini-roundabout that reduces conflict points between vehicles and travelers moving on foot and bike. It also closes a crucial gap in the sidewalk network between several residential neighborhoods, the downtown area, and a park along the Minnesota River waterfront.
