France Avenue Improvements Receive Unanimous Council Support

Massive changes to the section of France Avenue between West 22nd and 26th streets were approved by the SLP City Council last week, including lane narrowing, a new sidewalk along the western side of the roadway and painted shoulders designed for bicyclists.

Council Members unanimously approved the pedestrian-focused and traffic calming measures, estimated to cost a grand total of $499,000. The bulk of the funding comes from $320,000 Hennepin County previously paid the city, alongside $156,700 from Sidewalk, Trail and Bikeway funds, $2,300 from SLP Utility Maintenance funds and $20,000 from Capital Replacement funds.

Council Member Susan Sanger expressed her gratitude to City staff for getting this project done, referring to it as something she's been promoting for at least 7-8 years.

"I think it is really needed because we have many pedestrians in that area, we have many bicyclists in that area, we have children who wait on the side of the road for the school bus and we have numbers of complaints about people who are perceived to be exceeding the speed limit on this road," Sanger said. "It's the right thing to do and I am very thankful that the staff  has taken all of the time to work through the various iterations of the plan with the residents and hopefully come up with something that everybody can appreciate."

The France Avenue overhaul has been simmering since 2006, when the ownership of France Avenue between Minnetonka Boulevard and West 22nd Street was transferred from Hennepin County to the City of St. Louis Park.

Council Members approved the construction of a 6-foot-wide concrete sidewalk along the west side of that particular section of France Avenue. The plan also includes narrowing traffic lanes, installing new cub and gutter on both sides of the roadway, a mill and overlay of France Avenue, in addition to 5.5-foot-wide painted shoulders that can be utilized by bicyclists.

City Staff also recommend installing "No Parking" signs north and southbound between West 22nd Street and West 26th Street, to help allow for on-street biking. 

Jack Sullivan, engineering project manager with the City of St. Louis Park, said staff members considered a number of options before landing on the approved recommendation. Sullivan said the plan takes a more "holistic approach to the roadway," completely transforming the corridor while at the same time actually reducing the footprint of France Avenue in some areas.

"It fits into the footprint of the roadway that's out there today in most cases," Sullivan said. "It reduces our hard surface, which is good for stormwater runoff and good for maintenance costs."

Construction should begin in early June, with some heavy traffic delays expected during the milling and paving part of the process. Sullivan said the goal is to have the project wrapped up before school starts, noting the revamped France Avenue would particularly benefit children coming and going from school in the area.

"It really achieves the Complete Streets principles," Sullivan said.

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