The Bloomington Planning Commission on June 12 reviewed three alternatives to improve pedestrian safety at the intersection of 84th Street and Normandale Boulevard, moving away from a previously planned pedestrian bridge deemed too expensive and impactful.

City Engineer Jeremy Marquis and consultants from Bolton & Menk presented options to address pedestrian comfort at the intersection, which sees more than 200 daily pedestrian crossings despite handling over 32,000 vehicles per day on the north leg connecting to Highway 100. The intersection currently has a significantly lower crash rate than the state average for signalized intersections, with no pedestrian or bicycle crashes recorded over the past decade.

The three alternatives range from reducing left-turn lanes to create refuge islands, to redesigning high-speed right-turn lanes with lower-angle entries, to replacing some channelized turns with traditional signal-controlled lanes. Cost estimates range from a single dollar sign for the first option to one-and-a-half to two dollar signs for the more complex alternatives, using a restaurant-style rating system.

Several commissioners questioned whether improvements are necessary given the low crash history, with Commissioner McGovern stating he favored "not doing anything" due to concerns that traffic disruption could cause accidents. Commissioner Cook expressed reluctance about laypeople making engineering decisions, preferring to rely on professional traffic engineers' recommendations.

The study will proceed to the City Council as a study item on June 30, 2025, with staff planning to refine alternatives, develop cost estimates, and potentially engage office park tenants and nearby businesses for input before making final recommendations.