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<br /> <br /> STAFF REPORT <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />TO: Mayor Keis and Members of the City Council <br /> <br />FROM: Corrin Wendell, Community Development Director <br /> <br />DATE: Wednesday, May 11, 2022 <br /> <br />RE: RCP – Resilient Communities Project Presentation <br /> <br /> <br />ACTIONS TO BE CONSIDERED <br />Discussion of RCP Project, Outcomes, and Next Steps <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br />Earlier this year, the City began a partnership with the University of Minnesota’s RCP Program <br />focusing on “Creating and Sustaining Equity through Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Public Transit <br />Connectivity” through research, analysis, and community engagement. <br /> <br />Little Canada’s population numbers are forecasted to remain steady through 2040. Geographically <br />positioned in a robust region of cities and communities of different sizes and a population with <br />diverse abilities and changing characteristics due to things like aging, retirement, work from home, <br />or childcare, accessibility, connectivity, and safety in transportation are paramount priorities in <br />servicing the needs of the residents and visitors as stated in our 2040 Comprehensive Plan and the <br />City’s Strategic Plan. As we shift to the implementation of these plans, this project would focus <br />on these three priorities, aiming to accomplish the five objectives listed below: <br /> <br />1. Improve and enhance the equity, accessibility, connectivity, and safety of pedestrian, <br />bicycle, and public transit pathways. <br />a. Considerations can include: <br />i. Safety measures that work in tandem with vehicles using the road and where <br />vehicle use intersects with non-car transportation; <br />ii. Connected sidewalk networks; <br />iii. Clearly signed and marked pathways and simply-to-use safety measures, <br />like HAWK signals, zebra crossings, and bright, noticeable signage. <br />2. Improve and enhance the equity, accessibility, connectivity, and safety of transit stops. <br />a. Considerations can include: <br />i. Connected sidewalks and paved areas free of mobility obstacles; <br />ii. Covered/sheltered transit stops with seating options (of various heights), <br />open space under the shelter for standing and wheelchairs; <br />iii. Transit schedule information and signage, easy to access and in easy-to-read <br />fonts, with options for those with different visual abilities.