Bicyclists and pedestrians:  The State of Minnesota has heard you!  In order to improve trails and pathways, they've reached out for public comment on a plan to move the region forward.  Now, they're adding a face to the process.

A professor at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs is the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s first scholar-in-residence. Greg Lindsey, who specializes in environmental and transportation planning, policy and management, will help MNDOT implement a bicycle and pedestrian monitoring plan.

“We are excited about this new collaboration with the university and believe it establishes an important precedent,” said Commissioner Charlie Zelle.

Lindsey is already on sabbatical from the Humphrey School conducting research on bicycle and pedestrian monitoring for MNDOT. Minnesota is one of a few states whose transportation agency is developing a bicycle and pedestrian traffic monitoring program.

Lindsey’s appointment expands on MNDOT’s existing partnership with the university’s Center for Transportation Studies and builds on his work for the Minnesota Bicycle and Pedestrian Counting Initiative, a collaborative effort between MNDOT and the university.

Monitoring bicycle and pedestrian traffic helps MNDOT track trends, evaluate and improve safety, and inform decision-making about new and improved facilities.

Lindsey will serve as MnDOT’s scholar-in-residence until June 2016.

 

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