A Vision For A Better Route 2/Franklin Avenue Transit Corridor

Dear Metro Transit Staff, Met Councilmembers, Hennepin County Commissioners McLaughlin and Greene, and Councilmembers Warsame, Gordon, Bender, and Fletcher,

The Twin Cities Transit Riders Union appreciates the work being done to incrementally provide faster, more reliable service on Route 2 for the thousands of daily riders. As you know, Route 2 serves the Marcy-Holmes, University, Cedar-Riverside, Seward, Phillips, Ventura Village, Stevens Square, Whittier, and Wedge neighborhoods. Changes proposed for the route include stop elimination or consolidation, transit signal priority, and bus stop enhancements.

However, before the changes go into effect, the Twin Cities Transit Riders Union and the undersigned request that the agency address the issues outlined, as well as begin implementing recommendations that the Route 2/Franklin Avenue Transit Working Group has developed over the summer. They include:

• Expedited implementation of signal priority on the entire corridor
• Reconsider eliminating stops that serve major institutions, including a Somali mall and an institution for the visually impaired
• Consider eliminating additional stops that are too close to other, more busier stops
• Consider delaying relocation of the westbound stop at Franklin and Chicago until D-Line construction is complete
• Work with each other to build wider sidewalks, or at least bumpouts, on all of Franklin Avenue to make walking easier for all
• Work with each other to implement queue jump lanes at key intersections, so buses can bypass traffic at highly congested points and get to an intersection faster
• Conducting better engagement with the community and those who ride transit. This includes:
Translating materials and conducting transit rider outreach into the Oromo, Amharic, and the Dakota languages, in addition to the already-translated languages, which they have refused to do despite repeated requests
• Conducting quarterly open houses and listening sessions along the Franklin corridor at multiple times during the day to understand rider sentiment and to compensate for inadequate outreach and engagement conducted in the initial process
• Working with community organizations about this project, and to submit proof that they have done so
• Shelters with light and heat installed at every remaining stop

Sincerely,


The Undersigned