Crosswalks to Improve Safety in Downtown Duluth

Two mid-block crosswalks on Main Street and a crosswalk from the Festival Center to a parking lot on Hill Street recently approved by the Duluth City Council will improve safety and accessibility downtown for pedestrians.

The council authorized the expenditure of $5,400 from the city’s Building Emergency Fund for the three crosswalk locations plus a fourth yet to be determined.

The specific locations for the crosswalks approved by the city council Dec. 12 were as follows:

• Main Street and the City Hall parking lot entrance.
• From the handicap parking space located at 3137 Main St. to Huthmaker Violins.
• Hill Street adjacent to the Festival Center building to the parking lot located at 3141 Hill St.
• If funding allows, a fourth crosswalk to be installed at a location determined by city staff downtown that will be most beneficial to the citizens.

Two potential crosswalk locations were presented by City Administrator Phjil McLemore at the city council worksop Oct. 24. The council instructed city staff to research additional options. Several sites were presented by Planning Director Glenn Coyne and Development & Project Planner Melissa Muscato at the the Nov. 28 council workshop. The council discussed the sites and decided on locations to be placed on the Dec. 12 regular meeting agenda for action.