Minneapolis Street Operations Technical Advisory Services
Cityfi engaged with the City of Minneapolis’ Department of Public Works (DPW) to work with the department director and planning staff to create and refine their curbside management and complete streets policies; strategically review draft street operations strategies and actions in the TAP; recommend fast track pilots that will leverage innovative approaches to the curb; review organizational structures around workflow and programmatic approaches to ensure staff is equipped to respond to the changing demands in the right of way; and advise DPW leadership on innovative policy development.
Minneapolis faces many issues including racial wealth disparity, cold weather and heavy winter storms, climate change, autocentric infrastructure and traffic-related injuries and fatalities. Cityfi’s work with DPW aims to assist in developing and refining the City’s curbside and complete streets policies, assessing organizational change management opportunities, and piloting innovative approaches to managing the public right of way.
Context
Vision
The Minneapolis Department of Public Works (DPW) and its Transportation Action Plan (TAP) serves as the foundation for the city’s 10-year plan for its future transportation projects, and builds upon the City’s existing plans including Minneapolis 2040, the Climate Action Plan, Vision Zero, and Complete Streets. Only by creating an efficient, sustainable and thriving transportation system can Minneapolis reduce social inequities, fight climate change, improve public health, and make movement across the city easier for all.
Method
Cityfi focused on developing and updating street operations policies for complete streets and curbside management, as well as providing strategic reviews of the TAP and other department policies and programs, with an eye toward ensuring innovation in and effective use of the right of way. The City also saw opportunities to facilitate greater civic and mobility innovation, in which Cityfi advised the Department of Public Works leadership of organizational opportunities to support rapid change through ad hoc technical assistance and counsel; the development of white papers, organizational development recommendations and draft policies; and internal stakeholder engagement.
The draft TAP was presented to the City Council in February 2020. Cityfi’s scope of work currently continues through December 2020, and is focused on offering technical assistance, research, recommendations, and ad hoc advisory services for the noted deliverable areas.
