Mayor Frey vetoes 24/7 bus lanes for Hennepin Avenue

By KSTP

A bus lane is shown on Thursday, June 16, 2022, on Hennepin Avenue South in Minneapolis. (KSTP)

A proposal for a reimagined layout of Hennepin Avenue that was approved by the Minneapolis City Council was vetoed by Mayor Frey on Friday.

The plan would have designated a 24-hour bus lane on Hennepin Avenue between West Lake Street and Douglas Avenue in the Uptown area. It was approved by the council in a 8-5 vote on Thursday.

Mayor Frey said in a statement that he cannot “support keeping bus only lanes 24 hours a day when buses do not run 24 hours a day.”

The mayor added that losing parking in the area would hurt nearby businesses that already “compromised both for the presence of a protected bike lane and prioritized bus lanes at the expense of a substantial amount of parking.”

Supporters of the plan believe a 24/7 bus lane would actually alleviate congestion by eliminating the need for buses to weave in and out of vehicle traffic — all while reducing emissions and allowing for more efficient transit routes.

Mayor Frey said he continues to support the original layout recommended by Public Works in late 2021.

Currently, Hennepin Avenue South has two lanes for automobiles in either direction for the entirety of the stretch from Douglas Avenue to West Lake Street, along with outer lanes for street parking that are converted to bus lanes during rush hour.