Penn Avenue safety improvements
We are working to improve safety and mobility on Penn Avenue (County Road 32) between Highway 62 and West 75th Street in Richfield. In partnership with the City of Richfield, we plan to reconstruct the road in 2028.
As part of the design process for this project, we are conducting community and stakeholder engagement to inform the project design in 2025 and 2026.
We are working to improve safety and mobility on Penn Avenue (County Road 32) between Highway 62 and West 75th Street in Richfield. In partnership with the City of Richfield, we plan to reconstruct the road in 2028.
As part of the design process for this project, we are conducting community and stakeholder engagement to inform the project design in 2025 and 2026.
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Sharing the vision for a safer Penn Avenue
We have been gathering feedback on a recommended vision for a safer Penn Avenue. From October 2025 to January 2026, we made more than 350 points of contact in our second phase of engagement, including:
- An online survey
- An open house at Sheridan Hills Elementary
- Tabling at Richfield Fare for All food distribution event
- Conversations with the Richfield Transportation Commission
- Conversations with Penn Central business owners
We also mailed project information to residents and businesses and shared promotional materials through the community.
Key Themes
Most people who responded support the project goals and vision. Specifically, we heard people:
- Prefer a 3-lane design
- Prefer sidewalk-level bicycle lanes
- Like roundabouts, primarily within the residential zone between 68th and 75th streets
- Want to prioritize green boulevards
- Want to see flashing signals at pedestrian crossings
We are developing design concepts based on your input that we will share with you this spring and summer for feedback.
We have been gathering feedback on a recommended vision for a safer Penn Avenue. From October 2025 to January 2026, we made more than 350 points of contact in our second phase of engagement, including:
- An online survey
- An open house at Sheridan Hills Elementary
- Tabling at Richfield Fare for All food distribution event
- Conversations with the Richfield Transportation Commission
- Conversations with Penn Central business owners
We also mailed project information to residents and businesses and shared promotional materials through the community.
Key Themes
Most people who responded support the project goals and vision. Specifically, we heard people:
- Prefer a 3-lane design
- Prefer sidewalk-level bicycle lanes
- Like roundabouts, primarily within the residential zone between 68th and 75th streets
- Want to prioritize green boulevards
- Want to see flashing signals at pedestrian crossings
We are developing design concepts based on your input that we will share with you this spring and summer for feedback.
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Creating a vision for Penn Avenue
From June to September 2025, we gathered feedback about community experiences through more than 3,000 points of contact with the public during our first phase of engagement with the following engagement activities:
- Open House
- Virtual comment map
- Tabling at Penn Fest, and Richfield Farmers Market, and St. Nicholas Church
- Multiple conversations with the Richfield Transportation Commission
- One-on-one conversations with Penn Central business owners
- Project information mailers and promotional materials
We used your feedback, the 2021 Penn Avenue Study, policies, and technical information to develop project goals for Penn Avenue to create a vision that reflects the feedback we heard this past summer. These goals serve as the basis from which we have developed roadway, bicycle, and pedestrian features and intersection treatments on which to get your input.
Join us Tuesday, November 18 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Sheridan Hills Elementary to help us decide what to include in the new design of Penn Avenue.
Your input will help us develop design concepts next spring that we will bring to the public for feedback.
From June to September 2025, we gathered feedback about community experiences through more than 3,000 points of contact with the public during our first phase of engagement with the following engagement activities:
- Open House
- Virtual comment map
- Tabling at Penn Fest, and Richfield Farmers Market, and St. Nicholas Church
- Multiple conversations with the Richfield Transportation Commission
- One-on-one conversations with Penn Central business owners
- Project information mailers and promotional materials
We used your feedback, the 2021 Penn Avenue Study, policies, and technical information to develop project goals for Penn Avenue to create a vision that reflects the feedback we heard this past summer. These goals serve as the basis from which we have developed roadway, bicycle, and pedestrian features and intersection treatments on which to get your input.
Join us Tuesday, November 18 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Sheridan Hills Elementary to help us decide what to include in the new design of Penn Avenue.
Your input will help us develop design concepts next spring that we will bring to the public for feedback.
Follow Project
Who's Listening
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MH
Email matt.huggins@hennepin.us -
DE
Email dedgerton@zanassoc.com -
LB
Timeline
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Summer 2025
Penn Avenue safety improvements has finished this stageProject kick-off
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Summer 2025 - Fall 2026
Penn Avenue safety improvements is currently at this stagePreliminary design & engagement
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Winter 2026 - Fall 2026
this is an upcoming stage for Penn Avenue safety improvementsFinal design & communications
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Spring 2028 - Fall 2029
this is an upcoming stage for Penn Avenue safety improvementsConstruction