ROCHESTER — With Mayo Clinic’s “Bold. Forward. Unbound. In Rochester.” expansion reshaping the heart of downtown, city officials are studying how nearby streets, particularly Sixth Avenue, should be reimagined to balance mobility, safety, and neighborhood needs.
As portions of Third and Fourth avenues close to make way for new Mayo clinical buildings, Sixth Avenue between Civic Center Drive and Fourth Street Southwest has become a focal point for redesign discussions. The city hosted an open house Sept. 11 at Pasquale’s Neighborhood Pizzeria, drawing nearly 20 residents to review maps, raise questions, and share input.
“What’s important about this street is it connects the Mayo Clinic core of Rochester to the neighborhoods to the west,” said Mike Collins, Rochester project manager. With construction already disrupting the street and with a key Link Bus Rapid Transit stop planned nearby, Collins said now is the right moment to rethink its layout.
“We have not started any design components for this project yet,” he added, explaining that concepts will be shaped by community feedback and expertise from Toole Design, a consulting firm hired by the city.
Planners have identified multiple priorities:
Mitzi Alex, Toole’s Minneapolis office director and a former Rochester-Olmsted Planning Department leader, emphasized safety:
“We are aware that this part of this community in downtown Rochester has a really unique makeup of residents, but also visitors, with a variety of needs.”
The redesign effort is also tied to Rochester’s broader mobility network, which is being reshaped by Mayo’s expansion. Collins said Sixth Avenue might include bike paths:
“Because it’s being redeveloped anyway, we see an opportunity to put bike paths on it.”
Not all agree. Sixth Avenue resident Barry Skolnik voiced concerns: “I think it’s inappropriate for bikes,” he said, questioning whether the street has enough width to fit bike lanes alongside current services.
Others, like Paul Claus, a downtown cyclist, argued that the conversation needs to consider alternatives: “It’s difficult to gauge what’s best without specific plans to compare.”
Collins acknowledged the divide. “It’s a balancing act. We want to hear from people with differing opinions,” he said. Options for north-south routes could also include First Avenue and Broadway Avenue.
“This project is not necessarily choosing just one,” Collins explained. “We are not promising more than that, but we are not limiting ourselves either.”
.jpg)
City construction director Steve Sampson Brown noted that final decisions will weigh both community input and city planning goals. Business owners have expressed interest in changes that could bring more bikes and foot traffic downtown.
“If we are willing to have a little more congestion, and a little less freeway on Broadway, there would be room to move the curbs in and make the road narrower, and we could make more space for protected bike lanes,” Sampson Brown said.
However, some potential routes face hurdles. Michael Wojcik, a former Rochester City Council member and now executive director of the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota, said cyclists prefer a Second Avenue option. Sampson Brown cautioned that Annenberg Plaza, owned by Mayo Clinic, blocks the path: “Making a bike extension through the area would require a revised agreement with the owner,” he said, leaving open the possibility if enough residents call for it.
To gather more perspectives, the city has scheduled interactive events. On Monday, Sept. 15, residents can join a bike ride along First and Sixth avenues to provide feedback at key stops, starting at 4:30 p.m. at Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial. A walking tour is set for Sept. 24 at 5:30 p.m., beginning at Spyhouse Coffee.
An online survey is also available at arcg.is/1T5eKu, and officials plan a major open house Oct. 6 at City Hall to present early concepts. Collins said the city hopes to make a design recommendation to the Rochester City Council in January, with potential construction starting in 2027.
“There will likely be additional dates added to the calendar as we work our way through the project,” Collins said.
Originally reported by Randy Peterson in Post Bulletin.
.webp)
