Advancing racial equity

Strategic and Racial Equity Action Plan (S+REAP)

The Strategic and Racial Equity Action Plan is a four-year plan that identifies a set of operational and policy priorities that the City commits to significantly and sustainably improve through 2022. The plan aligns the work from City leadership to departments and defines goals at all planning levels which can be objectively measured and help inform resource decisions.

Learn more about the Strategic & Racial Equity Action Plan

Declaring racism a public health emergency

The City Council approved a resolution declaring racism a public health emergency. This resolution acknowledges that systemic racism is a well-recognized social determinate of health that has profound, negative impacts on the health of our communities and that failure to address racism as an urgent public health issue will exacerbate and perpetuate existing racial and health inequities affecting Black, Indigenous, Immigrant and People of Color (BIIPOC) communities.

• Read the resolution declaring racism a public health emergency
• See Minnpost article: Addressing racism as a public health crisis: next steps (July 31, 2020)

Establishing a truth and reconciliation process for the City

The City Council approved a resolution establishing a truth and reconciliation process for the City of Minneapolis. The ultimate objective of the reconciliation and transformational racial healing process is to begin implementing specific solutions to the specific harms that created and perpetuate racial disparities with a prioritized focus on healing with Historically Black/American Descendants of Slavery and American Indian/Indigenous communities.

A workgroup will be established to explore current models and provide recommendations on an approach for establishing a truth and reconciliation commission in Minneapolis.

• Read the resolution on establishing a truth and reconciliation process
• Stay up to date on the progress of Truth and Reconciliation workgroup

Establishing a cultural district on the 38th St. corridor

Community-centered development

In the City’s Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan is the inclusion of a policy goal to establish Cultural Districts in Minneapolis to advance racial equity, prevent displacement, preserve cultural identity and fuel economic growth in areas with rich sense of cultural and/or linguistic identify rooted in communities significantly populated by Black, Indigenous, Immigrant, and people of color communities. The City Council approved seven Cultural Districts, one of which is the 38^th St. Cultural District in Ward 8.

The 38^th St. Cultural District spans from Bloomington Ave to Nicollet Ave on E. 38^th St. The development of a strategic development plan for the 38^th St. Cultural District has been underway since February 2019. Council Member Jenkins conducted robust community engagement to co-create a strategic development plan driven by community values and we are seeking additional community input on this plan through December 7, 2020.

• Read the Cultural Districts Ordinance
• See the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan Cultural Districts Policy 

38th Street Thrive Plan

The City is seeking community feedback for the final revision to the 38th Street Strategic Development THRIVE Plan through December 7, 2020. Proposed changes would best describe where and how the community wants to grow, based on historical roots, a desire for stronger community vitality and sustainable economic growth in the future.

• Review the Draft 38th St. Thrive Strategic Development Plan 
• Learn more and provide your input

Transforming public safety

Following the death of George Floyd, the City Council unanimously adopted, and Mayor Frey signed, a resolution in June 2020. That resolution committed the City to a year-long Transforming Community Safety engagement process of:

• Gathering community input
• Conducting research
• Exploring opportunities to structural change to our public safety system in Minneapolis 

The City’s goal is that Minneapolis' public safety system ensures safety for every member of the Minneapolis community. By exploring ways to improve our existing model, we can find opportunities to make it more responsive, more efficient and more effective for everyone.

• See the Office of Community Safety work
• Learn about the City’s Neighborhood Safety Department
• Read the Strategic Racial Equity Action Plan

Transportation and infrastructure improvements projects

35W@94: Downtown to Crosstown project

Minnesota Department of Transportation major construction project to provide greater access and multimodal transportation through the Twin Cities Metro Area. 

Learn more about the 35W@94 Project

If you have comments or questions about the project, call 612-284-6125 or email info@35w94.com.

D Line Bus Rapid Transit project

Metro Transit is planning improvements to the Route 5 corridor with the D Line bus rapid transit project. Bus rapid transit brings better amenities, faster service and a more comfortable ride.

Learn more about the D Line project

If you have comments or questions about the project, call 612-349-7390 or email DLine@metrotransit.org.

Grand Ave S Reconstruction project

In 2021, the Minneapolis Public Work Department plans to reconstruct 2.24 miles of Grand Ave S between Lake St and 48th St W. Reconstruction projects include complete replacement of the street’s infrastructure and provides an opportunity for safety enhancements, greening and other amenities.

Learn more about the Grave Ave S Reconstruction project

Whittier/Lyndale Bikeway

In 2021, the Public Works Department will enhance the bike connections between several neighborhoods in South Minneapolis and downtown. The project will improve existing bikeways on portions of 1st Avenue South, Blaisdell Avenue South, and 28th Street. Proposed enhancements include a two-way bikeway with curb and bollard protection and crossing improvements for pedestrians.

Learn more about the Whittier/Lyndale Bikeway project

Transportation Action Plan

The Minneapolis Transportation Action Plan is a 10-year action plan to guide future planning, design, and implementation of transportation projects for all people in all the ways they move around.

Visit Transportation Action Plan website

Vision Zero Minneapolis

The City joined the national Vision Zero movement to eliminate deaths and severe injuries on Minneapolis streets. When it comes to decisions about the way streets look, feel, and operate, protecting human life will always be the top the priority.

Visit Vision Zero