2026-0224 PWETC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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electric vehicle chargers and noted that additional chargers were added last year as part of the Dick's Sporting Goods expansion. She said progress is incremental but moving in the right direction. Ms. Bakken concluded the electrification update by highlighting the Ramsey County electrification event held in November, where the electric fire truck was showcased. The event focused on both home and vehicle electrification, featuring representatives from CEE discussing the Home Energy Squad program and Minnesota Lung bringing electric vehicles for public viewing. She noted that partnering with the county made the event easier to organize than prior City -led ride -and -drives, and she expects it to return this year. Ms. Bakken then provided updates on the bike plan. The City's MnDOT Active Living Planning Assistance Grant draft plan is still in process. A demonstration bike lane was installed on Hamline Avenue between County Road B and County Road B2 in May 2025 and removed in November due to winter conditions. It is planned for reinstallation in spring 2026, and staff pinns to keep it in place through winter 2026-27 to understand winter maintenance needs better. Feedback from a community survey was evenly split, with strong opinions both in favor and opposed, which she described as typical for bike infrastructure projects. The location was selected in part due to its proximity to Roseville High School and heavy student foot and bike traffic. Ms. Bakken also noted participation in several biking and active transportation conferences, including an e-bike policy summit focused on standardizing legislation and an active transportation summit in Richfield. For 2026, the City plans to finalize and release the bike plan, promote biking to Rosefest events, create maps showing safe routes, provide portable bike racks through Bike Minnesota, and distribute educational materials on safe biking and e-bike use. Member Fergus commented on the Hamline Avenue demonstration bike lane, noting that he is not surprised by the evenly split feedback. He said he has heard strong opinions both in favor and against it. From his personal experience, the roadway initially felt narrow, but over time, it became more comfortable. He suggested that familiarity may reduce discomfort as drivers and cyclists adjust to the new configuration, even when the bollards are removed. Ms. Bakken acknowledged that the roadway did feel narrow after installation and said the City plans to adjust the design when it is reinstalled. She noted that too many bollards were used initially, which may have made the corridor feel visually overwhelming. Another major concern raised by residents was the loss of the right turn lane onto the Highway 36 ramp. While she has not personally observed significant traffic backups, she recognized that others may experience them during peak times. She added that the right -turn -lane Page 14 of 18