Howard Gnesen Rd (CSAH 34) Planning Study
Overview
The three-mile section of Howard Gnesen Road (County State Aid Highway 34) from Arrowhead Road to Martin Road connects the City of Rice Lake and City of Duluth. Howard Gnesen Road serves as both a residential street and a major collector, connecting the cities of Rice Lake and Duluth. It connects residents to each other, Homecraft Elementary School, Hartley Park, shopping destinations located at the corner of Arrowhead Rd and Howard Gnesen Rd/Kenwood Ave and on to College of St Scholastica and University of Minnesota Duluth. There are also destinations to the north including an auto repair business, church, cemeteries and apartment buildings.
Today, most of this segment of Howard Gnesen Road is a 26’ wide, two-lane road with no sidewalk and little or no shoulder. Though it is a scenic road, it lacks safe and comfortable facilities for people to walk, bike or roll (wheelchairs, scooters…). Howard Gnesen Road has been identified in multiple transportation plans as a significant gap in the area’s bike and pedestrian networks.
Members of the community who live and travel along the road have also expressed concerns about high vehicle speeds and crashes. Curves and vegetation that create blind spots also cause safety concerns.
St. Louis County is soliciting public input in anticipation of reconstructing this segment of Howard Gnesen Road in approximately 2030. How might a re-constructed Howard Gnesen Road look? How can we make it safer for all users? In 2022-2023 we began these discussions as part of an initial public input and visioning process supported by a Minnesota Department of Transportation grant. Click for the resulting Vision Plan which is serving as a guide for St. Louis County in taking the next steps to make Howard Gnesen Road a model urban to rural multimodal gateway that is attractive, safe and comfortable for all roadway users, especially the most vulnerable –people walking and biking.
Study Focus Areas
The focus of this study includes the following:
- Overall safety for all users of Howard Gnesen Rd
- Accommodations for pedestrians and bicyclists. Based on input during the Vision Plan process we have prepared a map and photo renderings for one option - see below.
- Intersections
- School zone
- Hartley Park access in accordance with the park’s Master Plan
- Environmental concerns including stormwater management, protecting wetlands and Tischer creek, and balancing road-side impacts with the road's functional needs
Study Input
The County is soliciting input from a variety of stakeholder groups including:
- General Public
- Residents who live on and near Howard Gnesen Road
- Homecroft Elementary and Duluth Schools (ISD 709)
- Local municipalities, agencies and non-profit organizations
- City of Duluth
- City of Rice Lake
- Duluth-Superior Metropolitan Interstate Council (MIC) and the MIC's Bicycle-Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC)
- Hartley Nature Center
- Vibrant Streets Duluth
- Duluth Aging Support
- Local businesses
Get Involved!
- Sign up for email updates
- Place a comment on the Comment Map
Comment Map
To place a comment, click on the button "Go to Map" then click on the new pin icon to the left. Then place a comment marker at the location.
Examples of feedback include:
- Areas of safety concerns
- Please consider pedestrian and bicyclist concerns along with vehicle perspectives
- Locations that are working well
- An idea that may positively impact the community
You're also welcome to provide feedback by phone or email to Carol Andrews. 218-625-3862 or andrewsc@stlouiscountymn.gov
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Planning Study?
The purpose of this study is to gain an understanding of the community’s desire for improvements on Howard Gnesen Road and solicit input on options for improvements. This will aid the County in determining which ideas should move forward to conceptual design and preliminary engineering phases of the project.
Why is this study being done?
Howard Gnesen Road has not changed in decades, while the communities along the road have changed, including significant residential development. The road, which does not meet the multi-modal transportation needs of the community, is due for a full reconstruction. Planning efforts, which can take years to complete, are the first step toward eventually building improvements that are informed by the community’s vision for this segment of Howard Gnesen Road.
St. Louis County is working to expand safe routes for active transportation users. Investing in multi-modal streets creates a more equitable and resilient transportation network and helps to support healthier communities.
How will you solicit input and gain an understanding of the perspectives of key stakeholders?
The County has an Advisory Committee that includes representatives of stakeholder groups. The first public meeting to solicit initial input from interested persons was held on February 6, 2023 at Homecroft Elementary School. The County also received input via a website and citizen phone calls. Based on this initial phase of input the County and the planning consultant have prepared photo renderings of one possible approach for road corridor re-design that retains a narrow, “rural” road and adds a shared use side path. We invite you to provide input on these concepts and ideas for other approaches using the FEEDBACK button below and/or at the next public meeting (likely in early December 2024, date TBD).
Howard Gnesen Road is terrible to bike or walk on! Can’t you fix it sooner?
Regretfully, no. The good news, however, is that the first steps have begun. As shown in the schedule there are many steps the County must complete, including securing funding, before construction can begin. Funding for design and construction is typically tied to the quality of a planning process, which takes time.
Will this project consider safety concerns of vehicle drivers and Howard Gnesen Road residents in addition to non-vehicle users?
Yes. The end goal is to create a road that maximizes safety and eliminates severe crashes for all users. Several participants in the first planning phase expressed concerns about excessive vehicle speeds, careless driving and cars sliding off the road toward homes. We will present options for traffic calming for stakeholder discussion.
Does my input matter?
Yes, your input matters. Without active participation by the local community, the future Howard Gnesen Road may not reflect the values and meet the needs of the community.
What is this going to cost me as a resident along Howard Gnesen Rd?
Residents will not be assessed for costs associated with the project.