The city's official planning guide says it will implement accessible pedestrian facilities – sidewalks in other words.
The hubbub about the redesign of 3rd Avenue S. downtown has focused attention and criticism on the very seat of municipal government, where pedestrian advocates say the city doesn't practice what it preaches for sidewalk accessibility.
The west side of City Hall on 3rd features pinch points with as little as 51 inches of clearance between the building wall and a streetlight base. The east side is even narrower.
The minimum ADA width for two wheelchairs to pass is 60 inches. The city requires sidewalks be at least eight feet wide for new construction downtown. Besides pedestrians on foot or in wheelchairs, 3rd also gets foot traffic from people rolling suitcases for LRT trips to the airport.
The situation has prompted the city's pedestrian advisory committee to launch a full-court press for widening the building's 3rd Avenue sidewalk when the street is reconfigured this year.
But that's not included in the plan that's been recommended to the City Council. That's largely due to pushback from police, who occupy about a dozen parking spots for the chief, juvenile and homicide squads and marked cars. There's also a space for TV news vans. Police didn't respond to a Star Tribune inquiry.
Nevertheless, wider walks are getting some traction. The council's Transportation and Public Works Committee last week essentially told public works officials to try harder. It urged including "wider, unobstructed sidewalks" in the 3rd Avenue project if possible while removing parking. Failing that, the work should proceed in a later add-on project.
"I'm interested in having the city lead by example," said Council Member Cam Gordon, who authored that staff direction.
