--- title: Apr 29 2026 - Transportation Commission Minutes ## author: Justin LaRue date: D:20210914194400Z --- ## Richfield Transportation Commission Minutes April 29, 2026 ## Richfield Municipal Center ## Bartholomew Conference Room ## 6700 Portland Avenue South 1. ## Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Chair Louis Dzierzak at 7:00 p.m. on April 29th, 2026, in the Bartholomew Room. Members Present: Louis Dzierzak (Chair), Adam Knosalla (Vice Chair), David Gepner, Josh ## Kloehn, Brinnon Kubista, Jaz Warren, Stella Yang ## Members Absent: Eli Straub, Jacob Olsen Liaisons Present: Jan Matheus, Tim Brackett, Sean Hayford Oleary (City Council) ## Staff Present: Matt Hardegger, Olivia Wycklendt Guest Presenters: Stan Lim & Nathan Ellingson (Hennepin County), Tyler McLeete & Steven ## Voelker (Stantec), Dan Edgerton (Zan Associates) 2. ## Roll Call Staff noted that Commissioners Olsen and Straub were absent. 3. Approval of the Agenda MOTION: made by Kubista, seconded by Warren to approve the agenda. ## Voting Aye: Dzierzak, Knosalla, Gepner, Kloehn, Kubista, Warren, Yang ## Voting Nay: Motion carried: 7-0 4. ## Approval of Minutes a. April 1, 2026 Minutes MOTION: made by Gepner, seconded by Knosalla to approve the meeting minutes from April 1, 2026. ## Voting Aye: Dzierzak, Knosalla, Gepner, Kloehn, Kubista, Warren, Yang ## Voting Nay: Motion carried: 7-0 5. ## Regular Business and Public Hearing Items a. ## Hennepin County - Nicollet Avenue Construction Preview Hennepin County Construction Engineer, Stanley Lim, gave an overview of the upcoming Nicollet Ave construction. Topics included construction staging and schedule, detour routes and local access, planned improvements, and general expectations for residents as the project gets underway later this summer. Commissioners discussed how scheduling and staging was decided for this project, what working hours and schedule would be for construction, and what the general impacts would be to traffic throughout the City. b. ## Hennepin County - Penn Avenue Open House 3 Material Review Tyler McLeete, Stantec Project Manager, updated the commission on the current status of public engagement for Penn Avenue Reconstruction, including a recap of material discussed at previous Transportation Commission meetings, and an overview of proposed changes at the Highway 62 interchange. Steven Voelker, Senior Transportation Engineer at Stantec, presented several design options for controlled intersections throughout the Penn Ave corridor. Dan Edgerton from Zan Associates provided updates on Open House #3 and engagement with businesses. Commissioners discussed presenting all proposed options for different intersections along the Penn Avenue corridor for public input at Open House 3. Discussion was also had about roundabout and traffic signal safety benefits and cost differences, whether certain intersection options were dictated by funding, Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacon (RRFB) maintenance, geographical and demographic context related to daily usage of the 75th Street intersection, coordination of the 69th Street intersection with the future city project, benefits of different types of pedestrian median refuges and left turn movements, potential access closures at non-state-aid street intersections, painted crosswalks, tree planting, potential inclusion of a median near the cemetery, The Commission did not support bringing forward intersection options that did not include a median refuge, but was fine with all other presented options being brought forward for public comment. Commissioners also requested a copy of comments provided by business owners during the business outreach. c. ## Sidewalk Projects Update City of Richfield Transportation Engineer Matt Hardegger gave an update on the three 2026 sidewalk projects throughout the City. Project status, schedule updates, design updates, and regulatory approval process updates were provided for all three projects. Commissioners discussed potential design revisions to cross the railroad on 64th and what options were available to keep construction in 2026. d. ## Regional Solicitation Update Transportation Engineer Hardegger provided an overview of the Metropolitan Council's Regional Solicitation for grant funding and projects the city is planning to submit. Hardegger requested that Commissioners review the Active Transportation Plan, Pedestrian Master Plan, and Safe Routes to School Plan to suggest any projects that staff should explore submitting. 6. ## Updates a. ## City Staff Transportation Engineer Hardegger asked if the Commission was interested in doing another bike tour in lieu of a summer meeting date. Staff will poll Commissioners about potential dates. Hardegger also asked about Commissioner availability to table at upcoming city events. b. ## Liaisons Council Member Hayford Oleary provided an update on a recent incident involving the Police Department. No updates were provided by BIke Walk Richfield and Richfield Public Schools. 7. ## Future Agenda Items a. ## June 3rd: TBD 8. ## Upcoming Meetings a. ## Wednesday, June 3rd, 7:00pm - Regular Meeting b. Tuesday, May 19th, 4:30-7:00pm - Penn Ave Open House #3, Richfield Middle School 9. ## Other Business 10. ## Adjournment MOTION TO ADJOURN: made by Kubista, seconded by Yang, to adjourn the meeting at 9:00pm. ## Voting Aye: Dzierzak, Knosalla, Gepner, Kloehn, Kubista, Warren, Yang ## Voting Nay: Motion carried: 7-0 The audio recording for this meeting is available at: https://youtu.be/-xSIh9rrj7U