Design features to improve safety and mobility

The project team is evaluating different design options to make Minnetonka Boulevard safer for people biking, walking, and rolling. Two design features we are using throughout the draft design concepts are roundabouts and pedestrian refuges.

Roundabouts

A roundabout is a one-way circular intersection without traffic signal equipment in which traffic flows around a center island. It operates with yield control at the entry points and gives priority to vehicles within the roundabout. Roundabouts have been proven safer than traditional intersections, keeping vehicles, pedestrians, and bikers moving safely, and moving them through the intersection in less time than most stop signs or signals.

Benefits:

• Fewer severe crashes
• Slower vehicle speeds
• Less off-peak delays
• Lower vehicle emissions
• Improved walkability

Tradeoffs:

• More space needed
• May require property impacts
• Higher up-front costs
• Less familiar for some drivers
• Can be challenging for larger vehicles

Pedestrian refuges

Pedestrian refuges, also called pedestrian refuge islands, are medians with designated space for pedestrians to wait for traffic to clear. These medians shorten crossing distances for people who walk, bike, and roll, and make it easier for drivers to see them.

Benefits:

• Enhanced crossing visibility
• Shorter crossing distances for pedestrians and refuge area
• Slower vehicle speeds

Tradeoffs:

• Wider roadway footprint
• Increased maintenance (if planted)

You can view the draft design concept A, concept B, and concept C, and share your feedback in our online survey. The survey will close on Friday, November 14.

We’ll collect feedback on the draft design concepts throughout the fall and winter of 2025. Then, we’ll use that feedback to create a recommended design that we’ll bring back to the public in early 2026.