Should Hamline Avenue be three lanes instead of four?

Hamline Avenue between Selby and University avenues is a smoother ride, thanks to skim coating work done in June. Union Park District Council and Hamline Midway Coalition leaders asked if street restriping could be done in a way that promotes traffic safety before the street was restriped. Another option sought was to see if street striping could be changed in 2027 or 2028.

But changes may have to wait until Hamline is reconstructed in the future, possibly in 2035 through the city’s Common Cent program or sooner if federal funds can be obtained.

The district councils asked if Hamline could be converted from two lanes of traffic in each direction to a “four-to-three.” Adding a crosswalk and making other changes were also suggested.

“Hamline Avenue is already scheduled for repaving, which means new striping will be needed either way,” a letter from the councils to Public Works stated. “We are asking the city not to simply restore the current four-lane layout without first considering whether a safer interim design is possible.”

UPDC and HMC cited Hamline’s history of motor vehicle crashes. “Neighbors have raised concerns about speeding, pedestrian crossings near Concordia University, and the lack of a direct north-south bike route through the area. While a full reconstruction of Hamline is not expected until the 2035–2039 window, we believe there are practical steps that could improve safety sooner,” the letter stated.

But street restriping work in late June restored the longtime lane pattern of two lanes of traffic in each direction. Deb Barber, director of the Saint Paul Department of Public Works, said that while her staff understands the concerns about excessive traffic volumes and speeds on Hamline, more community outreach and work would be needed before making a lane conversion to the street.

“This is a complicated corridor that needs a robust planning and full public engagement process to determine the appropriate design and treatment. This holds true for both a larger interim solution and a reconstruction,” Barber said.

Hamline also has constricted space and competing priorities that would have to be sorted out through a larger public engagement and data review process, said Barber.
Public Works staff reviewed Hamline before making decisions on striping, Barber said. “For this section of Hamline Avenue, striping a 4-3 conversion is not a minor modification and would require a full project design and engineering effort.”

Minor changes were made. The “skip dash” center line was replaced with a double yellow center line. Design of existing crosswalks was also changed to provide greater visibility.

Public Works also set aside the district councils’ request to have a crosswalk striped on Hamline between Concordia and Marshall avenues. It’s an area where many Concordia University students and campus guests cross. That can also be considered in a more inclusive street construction and design process.

Skim coating Hamline was a temporary measure until Public Works can plan, design and implement a full street reconstruction with public input. Barber said it’s not considered to be a long-term improvement.

One step Public Works will take in light of concerns raised about Hamline is to work with district councils in the future on community notification for such skim coating projects. Hamline was posted earlier this year as a “rough road” before work could be done. Some businesses, organizations and residents along Hamline got fliers before the skim coating work began. But neither district council was notified before the work began. Moving forward, Barber said that district councils citywide will be included in the notification process.

Skin coating has been completed on part of Shepard Road. Projects are coming up on several other streets including sections of Grand, Saint Clair, Cleveland, Randolph and Saint Anthony avenues, and Finn and Griggs Streets. See the list of skim coating projects at www.stpaul.gov/potholes.