Over the last month, you may have noticed the traffic data collecting equipment on County 9 near 2nd Street NW. This was to gather pre-project data for a crosswalk/traffic calming demonstration project.  

The City of Plato together with the assistance from a Strategist with the Meeker McLeod Sibley Community Health Service, received a grant from the State of Minnesota/Statewide Health Improvement Partnership to construct a demonstration project on County Road 9.  The planning for this project has occurred over the past year.  On Wednesday, May 28th, the first phase of the project was put in place with a taped crosswalk and barriers to form curb extensions. The McLeod County Engineers assisted in the design and placement of the project.  

The intention of this project is to slow down the traffic on County Rd 9 to make it safer for pedestrians to cross. The traffic data collecting equipment will be put back in place soon to determine whether there has been any significant effect on traffic.  Once the tracking is complete, the second phase of the trial will be put in place which includes signage and a walking lane along the west side of the road. 

Please note that this project is only in place for this summer as a TRIAL/DEMONSTRATION ONLY.  If we find that it does provide the intended results and residents use the crosswalk, we will look into further grant funding to possibly install something permanently.    

 

We are asking for your feedback on the project to help us assess how it works, what changes to make, and if it has enough use/traffic effect to look at something permanent.  Please send any comments to the City Office at [email protected] or talk with any Councilmember.