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A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION CONSIDER A PROPOSAL TO ADVANCE SAFE, EQUITABLE, AND SUSTAINABLE STREET DESIGN IN DOWNTOWN DULUTH FOR THE PURPOSE OF GATHERING INFORMATION, COLLECTING PUBLIC INPUT, AND BRINGING FORTH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CONVERSION OF FIRST STREET TO A FLOW STREET.
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BY COUNCILORS AWAL, RANDORF AND DELUCA:
WHEREAS, the city of Duluth has long recognized the importance of developing a safe, accessible, and multimodal transportation system that reflects the needs of all users, including pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, and those using mobility assistance devices; and
WHEREAS, the flow street concept - defined by a reduced speed limit to allow safe and shared use of streets by both motorized and non-motorized users - offers a cost-effective, quickly implementable strategy for supporting safe mobility and public access in urban areas; and
WHEREAS, Duluth's overall bike score is 9/100, ranking Duluth number 62 in Minnesota and number 2285 out of 2579 cities in the U.S. (11th percentile), and Duluth's walk score is 36/100; and
WHEREAS, the section of First Street in Duluth between 26th Avenue East and 6th Avenue West presents an ideal corridor for conversion to a flow street, offering connectivity across residential, healthcare, business, and civic destinations, and complementing existing transportation investments such as the Cross-City Trail and Lakewalk; and
WHEREAS, the implementation of a flow street on First Street would align with the Imagine Duluth 2035 initiative, Duluth's Climate Emergency Declaration, the State of Minnesota's Climate Action Framework, and the MIC's Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan by supporting a healthier and more connected community while promoting a reduction in vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions; and
WHEREAS, establishing a flow street supports Duluth's strategic goals of enhancing economic development, increasing downtown vibrancy, and ensuring that city infras...
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