The MnDot team set up several stations, such as the one pictured above, with information about various aspects of Bicycle Route 41 during their open house event in Tofte. At each station, there was also the opportunity for attendees to offer suggestions on ways to improve the route.
With an eye toward increasing bicycle tourism, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) had worked out a route for bicyclists starting in St. Paul and working its way through Duluth and up to Grand Portage. The goal is to achieve official designation for this planned 325-mile route by October 2016.
In the meantime, MnDOT representative, Liz Walton, has put on several open houses to meet with locals and collect suggestions for the route as well as answer any questions.
During the most recent open house on Thursday, June 16 at Bluefin Bay Resort in Tofte, MnDOT invited locals to provide feedback on the proposed route. The event included a survey asking attendees to rank five criteria for the trail from least to most important. The criteria included comfort with regard to traffic volume and closeness of passing cars, ability to connect to transit and other travel modes, ability of the route to support local plans, and simplicity in that the route does not shift frequently between trails and roads and route is clear.
MnDOT also asked for name suggestions since the current name, U.S. Bicycle Route 41 (USBR 41), is only temporary. A few suggestions that came in included Heart of Minnesota Trail, Lakes to Lakes Trail, and others. Possible names, some supplied in Tofte and others collected online or at the other open houses, are still being considered.
Attendees also had the opportunity to see a map of the route and provide input about any details that may have been overlooked. For instance, if there were portions that didn’t connect or if there were better routes that weren’t included on the map, locals who knew the area were able to offer suggestions.
One of the purposes for achieving an official designation for this route is to support prior community efforts in relation to bicycle tourism.
According to a handout provided at the event, “USBR 41 is a designation only; it is intended to complement—not compete— with local bicycle facility planning.” The goal is also to “work with partners to combine existing roads and trails to create a continuous bicycle route that’s ‘ride-ready’. USBR41 will be planned with adjacent network connections in mind. It will connect to communities, points of interest and businesses/ services bicyclists need.”
Those interested in learning more about the new bicycle route can visit www.MnDOT.gov/bike/usbr41 or contact Liz Walton at liz.walton@state.mn.us with comments or questions.
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