Updates

  • May 20, 2024

    Stephen Klimek is named Executive Director of Towerside. Stephen is a strategic organizational leader and city-building professional who advances equitable community & economic development through place-based design and planning, impact-driven projects, and systematic approaches to collective challenges.

  • April 26, 2024

    Towerside adopted an Equity Framework that will serve as the foundation for delivering diversity, equity, and inclusion outcomes within the organization, through our work, and as an influencer among our partners and peers.

  • December 16, 2021

    UMN Masters of Urban and Regional Planning students held a community exhibit today to showcase 10 land use planning projects focused on reconsidering the notion of an innovation district.

  • September 30, 2020

    Green 4th Street Enhancements Completed

  • June 30, 2020

    Metropolitan Council awards $100,000 grant for District Stormwater Phase II

Blog

District Mobility and Parking in Towerside

October 02, 2024

Planning for Mobility and Parking in Towerside

Since the community-born vision for Towerside Innovation District was conceived, transportation has been foundational. Over 10 years ago, the Green Line Light Rail Transit planning process opened up exciting opportunities for dense, walkable developments along the University Avenue corridor. As the route connecting downtown Minneapolis and Saint Paul was established, communities along the corridor engaged in planning for station areas and began a wider conversation about what they wanted from the future of their neighborhoods. The Prospect Park neighborhood was proactive, setting a vision for a largely vacant and post-industrial area of their neighborhood north of University Avenue. That work evolved into what we now know as Towerside Innovation District. 

An Updated Framework

Published in June of 2024, supported by Metro Transit, and prepared by Transportation Collaborative and Consultants (TC2) and HKGi with input from the Towerside Team, the Towerside District Mobility & Parking Management Framework Update has established short-term and ongoing mobility strategies to manage the needs for both today and the future. Listening sessions occurred with key constituents, property owners, and businesses and helped reaffirm issues and opportunities, while exploring ideas on how to better manage parking. 

 

Planning map used as a baseline for the updated study.

 

History

This latest report is an update to the 2016 Towerside Innovation District Parking Framework that explored innovative, district-wide parking strategies designed to reinforce Towerside’s vision. A district‐wide parking approach concentrates vehicles within a geographical area to utilize parking reservoirs. It also considers ways to support other modes of transportation, such as biking, walking, or transit. This approach to parking helps reduce the need to build parking facilities for each individual development. In turn, land is utilized for its highest and best use. Guided by a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), which included representation from the Metropolitan Council, City of Minneapolis, City of Saint Paul, University of Minnesota, and the Prospect North Partnership, the 2016 framework established a range of future parking needs based on a set of known development assumptions (illustrated in the table below).

2016 Development Assumptions.

 

Of course, a lot has changed since 2016. In the face of climate change, local and regional policy has shifted in order to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In the last decade, the Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul have placed a stronger emphasis on the pedestrian, bicyclist, and transit user. Their 2040 Comprehensive Plans have embraced this approach by adopting goals and policies that emphasize multimodal facilities and deemphasize the need for parking throughout the region. The transportation network in Towerside has developed over the decades with a strong vision of car mobility over other modes of transportation, necessitating an update to the District’s parking framework. 

Short-Term District Mobility

As discussed, city and regional policies now limit the amount of parking that can be built. These policies are designed to encourage transit-oriented communities, increase multi-modal transportation options, and advance climate mitigation strategies. However, as use of the Towerside area intensifies and travel/parking behavior stays relatively the same in a car-centric environment, these policies can be challenging to navigate. As a result, neighborhoods, developers, and businesses are experiencing mobility and parking challenges. A district-wide parking structure can still be part of the solution, but it needs to be re-imagined. It needs to be innovative and serve varying functions. This study is emphasizing a need and strong desire by Towerside constituents to create a mobility hub. 

 

Creating a mobility hub will require more planning and a significant amount of time and resources to build. In the short-term, adhering to a district-wide parking model is still necessary. This requires a stronger focus on strategies that change travel behavior and reduce parking demand. As Towerside works toward establishing this Mobility Hub (discussed in more detail below), more can be done to manage today’s needs and change travel behavior. Many of the strategies outlined below are not new concepts but are critical steps to adhering to a district-wide parking model that embraces multimodal options and reduces the demand for parking. Each of these work together to create a mobility system that works for everyone.

Strategy 1: Create a District-Wide Multimodal Task Force

Both short-term and long-term planning requires a collective voice working towards a common goal. In this case, Towerside partners and constituents are seeking innovative, district-wide transportation solutions that support an equitable and restorative urban redevelopment. This voice needs to be amplified to help build support and funding for Towerside initiatives. A diverse, inclusive task force can help organize work plans, monitor progress, and troubleshoot unexpected challenges for the many constituencies that live, work, and play in the Towerside Innovation District.

Strategy 2: Formalize and Promote Public Parking Options

Maximizing today’s existing parking supply is a critical first step in meeting short-term needs. Stronger efforts should be made to promote public parking options in proximity to Towerside. These facilities (ramps and lots) are located on the edges of the study area and are owned by the University of Minnesota. Portions of their parking facilities are generally open to the public and are within a 15-minute walk or quick train ride. Shifting parking demand to these areas will help alleviate parking pressure in high-demand areas (e.g., Surly and Malcolm Yards). 

 

This is also an opportunity to create district-wide marketing materials and mobile app that promote parking and transit options for the neighborhood. Currently there is no good information being promoted by businesses on how to use transit or where parking is available for public use. The Towerside website should serve as a clearinghouse for mobility information. In turn, the website can be promoted by businesses to educate their visitors on how to move in and around the District including where to park and how to access the neighborhood by transit, foot, or bike. 

 

Green Line Light Rail Transit at Prospect Park Station.

 

A district-wide parking model leverages most of the district’s parking for public use and encourages people to park once. To achieve this objective, stronger incentives should be given to new developments (e.g., density bonuses or increased flexibility in bulk regulations) or existing businesses (e.g., transit passes for employees) that make their parking available for other patrons in the area. 

Strategy 3: Manage Event Parking and Dynamic Pricing

Towerside has established itself as a regional destination for entertainment and events. As a result, people travel greater distances to visit, and rely heavily on their vehicle. This has contributed to higher parking demand during evening hours and weekends. On-street parking is also in higher demand throughout the week and is at a premium during events. Events are becoming more common with summer concerts at Surly and Huntington Bank.

Photo of event at Surly Brewing Festival Field. (Source: Surly Brewing Company)

 

Towerside would like to see more innovation and technology used to manage and optimize on-street parking. Dynamic pricing is an option. Dynamic pricing is adjusted based on real-time demand and is ideal for optimizing parking rates during events and peak periods. This strategy is intended to shift parking demand to larger parking facilities on the edges and to encourage transit usage. This strategy also needs to be balanced with parking enforcement for the nearby neighborhoods. On-street parking in these neighborhoods should be discouraged or prohibited during events. This will help alleviate traffic circulation issues and allow emergency vehicles to safely use these routes during an event. More importantly, it will force travel behavior change by getting people to take alternative modes of transportation to events. 

 

Stronger marketing campaigns need to occur during events that promote alternative ways to access the area. This will require event organizers or the business hosting the event to offer transit incentives. This could also include stronger coordination with the City of Minneapolis to include private events (e.g., Surly Summer Concerts) on their on-line road closure/event map application or working with Metro Transit to provide transit passes to event goers. 

Strategy 4: Revive Existing Parking Structures

There are several parking structures located in and outside the study area but most of the parking spaces are reserved for private businesses (employees and patrons) and tenants and are not generally open for public use. The closest public parking structure located in proximity to the heart of the district’s activity (e.g., Surly Brewing, Malcom Yards, and O-Shaughnessy Distilling Co.) is the Prospect Park Parking Ramp, owned and operated by the University of Minnesota. This ramp can provide some parking relief for the area but will not be fully online for several more years as it undergoes repairs. It is assumed once the parking structure is open at a full capacity, a portion of the spaces will be reserved for University of Minnesota staff and students. In the meantime, Towerside visitors who are able should be encouraged to park and use other modes of transportation to reach their final destinations during peak periods. The nearest public lots and ramps are approximately a 10-to-15-minute walk, a 5-to-10-minute train ride, or a 5-minute bike ride to and from Malcom Yards and Surly. 

Strategy 5: Enhance the Public Realm

While a 10-15-minute walk to your destination may seem unreasonable, especially in the Minnesota winter, there are many opportunities to make that walk more attractive and, potentially, even exciting. The public realm comprises everything between our buildings and infrastructure that connects people to different places. This includes streets, sidewalks, trails, plazas, parks, and more.   A variety of enhancements make these connections interesting, colorful, and comfortable. These include trees and plantings, furnishings, public art, wayfinding systems, and pedestrian-oriented lighting. More public realm improvements like these should continue to be installed as part of roadway reconstruction projects and developments.They are important elements that coincide with the strategies designed to park-once and walk, promote transit use, and shift parking demand to underutilized lots/ramps. In addition, these kinds of public realm spaces are key to building community connections and fostering an innovation culture. That’s why public realm improvements have been a key part of Towerside’s previous projects including the District Stormwater Basin and Green 4th Street.

 

A couple walks down Green 4th Street in Towerside.

Strategy 6: Balance Freight Needs

Historically, Towerside has been an industrial and manufacturing hub. Over time, land has transitioned to residential and commercial uses as well. The largest truck generator in the area is the Malcolm Transfer Station. This location generates on average 600 trucks a day (2022 MnDOT count) and is accessed by Malcolm Avenue north of University Avenue. Malcolm Avenue is a main artery that serves Surly, O’Shaughnessy Distilling, and the Station at Malcolm Yards. These regional destinations are generating large volumes of traffic and pedestrian/ bicycle activity. There are major safety concerns and issues associated with a mix of transportation modes (trucks, vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists) converging together on one street and crossing the University of Minnesota Transit Way. In that respect, businesses and constituents are looking for proactive measures to prevent accidents from occurring. 

 

Truck traffic on Malcolm Avenue, June 2023. (Source: Photo courtesy of resident Julia Wallace)

 

The Minneapolis Transportation Action Plan (2020) has identified Malcolm Avenue as a “near-term low stress bikeway by 2030.” This will include protected lanes and trails that are physically separated from moving cars, trucks, and buses, and will feature improved intersection crossings and be accessible year-round. Proactive measures need to occur soon to mitigate potential conflicts between people and trucks. This should include a more detailed assessment of how to balance truck traffic within the study area. Towerside is currently rekindling a study of Granary Crossing as part of our workplan for 2024-2025. We hope this will create an opportunity to shift truck traffic away from the heart of the District while also expanding opportunities for multi-modal bike and pedestrian connections with the Grand Rounds Missing Link project.

Strategy 7: Revisit/Update TDM Plans

City ordinances require Travel Demand Management Plans (TDMPs) as part of the development review process. The purpose of the travel demand management ordinance is to support the City’s transportation policies and to ensure that larger developments and uses with high-traffic demand have positive impacts on safety, equity, mobility, climate change, GHG emissions, mode split, and air quality. While updates to this process would be beneficial for Towerside, there is currently no formal reporting process to ensure TDMPs are being implemented or monitored. Existing and new developments (residential and businesses) should be required to file reports on an annual basis with a goal of reducing automobile trips and increasing transit ridership. This is an intensive strategy but will have a positive impact over time and will hold key constituents accountable for their TDMPs. While it's important to create mechanisms for accountability, reporting on and recalibrating everyone’s TDMPs could be much easier and more effective with district-wide cooperation through Towerside.

Long-Term: Establishing a District Mobility Hub

Transportation services and new technology are rapidly changing how people move throughout the region. This presents an opportunity to re-imagine how Towerside responds to those changes by creating a mobility hub. A mobility hub is a place where many transportation options converge, providing seamless connections for people to move from one mode of transportation to another. These hubs enhance accessibility and convenience while reducing the demand for private/single-occupancy vehicles. A mobility hub can provide opportunities to park and charge electrical vehicles and store vehicles for car share programs. They can provide rideshare pick-up/drop-off zones, real-time transit information, storage lockers, and bike or scooter rentals. They are also a sustainable, adaptable community solution that can create a neighborhood resource or resilience hub and help the region achieve its VMT and GHG reduction goals.

 

Wayfinding at the Penn and Lowry Hub in North Minneapolis.                              (Source: City of Minneapolis)

 

To help achieve this desired outcome, a great deal of planning and resources are needed. Towerside needs to begin this effort immediately, as it will likely take a long-period of time (5 to 10 years) to gain support, design, fund, and build. The success of a mobility hub will depend on several factors: 

 

Coordination & Collaboration: Towerside has identified this strategy as a top priority. Coordinating this effort will require a champion and the collaboration between many entities, including local government, University of Minnesota, Metro Transit, property owners, utility companies, businesses, and residents. 

 

Location: A preferred location has not been selected or secured. Further studies need to be conducted to better understand the mobility hub’s size, services, amenities, electrification and operational needs, and ownership. There is not a fixed standard for the size of a mobility hub. Instead, they are strategically placed to maximize their impact. They are often built near transit stations and leverage access to freeway systems. 

 

Time and Resources: Building a mobility hub will require significant resources and funding. It will take time to plan, design, and construct. Funding opportunities may include public-private partnerships and grants. For example, there are greater opportunities to access federal funds (grants) that focus on innovation and technology. The City of Minneapolis has also introduced a mobility hub pilot program that focuses on low-cost improvements that increase safety and access to transit stops. 

 

Equitable Outcomes: A mobility hub should provide everyone with equal access to transportation services. It needs to consider the unique needs of the neighborhood and region. An equitable transportation system also prioritizes safety and ensures affordable transportation options. 

So, What's Next?

A mobility hub is a priority for Towerside. However, it is also important to recognize the interim solutions needed to manage today’s parking needs as Towerside works towards this goal. There are opportunities to build stronger partnerships and create a transportation/mobility task force to oversee the plan’s recommendations and work plan. 

 

Towerside has already begun to convene a Mobility Task Force that is focused on implementing the strategies outlined in this plan. If you are interested, we invite you to join us by contacting Stephen Klimek, Towerside’s Executive Director, at sklimek@towersidemsp.org. We are looking for residents, agency representatives, nonprofit partners, and anyone else who wants to support our work to continue to transform this asset-rich district at the heart of the Twin Cities into an equitable and restorative demonstration of 21st century urban redevelopment.