Public Input Sought on APO Street Safety Plan Covering Five Central Minnesota Cities

(KNSI) – The St. Cloud Area Planning Organization is looking for the public to chime in on plans aimed at making streets safer for walkers and drivers across the region.

The comprehensive Safety Action Plan covers St. Cloud, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, Waite Park, and Saint Joseph. The draft plan includes specific infrastructure projects for each participating city. It’s proposing road improvements based on public input and meetings held over the last year. The public now has until August 29th to review and give their two cents on the measures. The APO is looking to finalize and adopt a plan this fall.

The organization has ambitious plans to eliminate traffic deaths and severe injuries on area roadways by 2050. The document calls for reducing crashes by an average of 4% a year, with a goal of seeing a 50% reduction in deaths by 2037.

St. Cloud has two key areas targeted for improvement. On 33rd Avenue South, planners propose adding 400 feet of sidewalk on the west side north of West Saint Germain Street and a pedestrian crossing at 1st Street South. On 9th Avenue South, an enhanced pedestrian crossing would be installed at 5th Street South, including 150 feet of new sidewalk on the north side of Fifth Street South.

Sartell would see a new sidewalk added on the west side of Pinecone Road from Scout Drive to Seventh Street North, plus a future pedestrian crossing at 15th Street South.

Sauk Rapids improvements focus on a new trail connection along 10th Street North to River Avenue over the railroad tracks to better link to the Municipal Park. The city would also get a rectangular rapid flashing beacon with a center median pedestrian crossing at Benton Drive and 10th Street North.

St. Joseph would fill in trail and sidewalk gaps on the east side of College Avenue between Clark and Elm streets and south of Minnesota Street. The city is also considering adding a pedestrian crossing on College Avenue.

Waite Park would see updated plans for 10th Avenue South from Division Street to Parkway Drive, using medians, turn lanes, pedestrian crossings, and sidewalks.

Residents can give feedback on the draft plans at an open house on Tuesday, August 19th, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Bremer Room at Great River Regional Library in St. Cloud.

Community members can also complete an online survey by clicking here.

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