Here's good news for the State of Minnesota:  We're on track to meet the challenge recently laid out by the U.S. Surgeon General for a more "walkable community".

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has called for better health through walking and walkable communities.  His challenge is meant to promote the health benefits of walking while addressing the fact that many communities lack safe and convenient places for people to walk or wheelchair roll.

Officials with the Minnesota Department of Transportation counter that our state has been proactive in taking action.

“The Surgeon General’s call to action about walking and walkable communities affirms the importance of developing an accessible walking environment,” said MNDOT Commissioner Charlie Zelle. “We look forward to creating the first pedestrian plan in the state that will identify ways we can make communities more safe and convenient to walk and roll.”

Already the state has created agencies that are working on the first statewide pedestrian plan - something MNDOT hopes to have in place in 2016.

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