Highway 252/I-94 Environmental Review – Minneapolis, MN

SRF partnered with Hennepin County and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to support the environmental review process for improvements to the Highway 252 and I-94 corridor. The project study area spanned from Highway 610 in Brooklyn Park to the 4th Street exit in downtown Minneapolis, encompassing a critical and heavily traveled segment of the metro area’s transportation network.

The effort began as an Environmental Assessment (EA), but as project scope and community feedback evolved, the process transitioned into a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). SRF played a lead role across several project areas, including traffic analysis, alternatives development, environmental documentation, and public engagement planning and execution.

Extensive Public Engagement Efforts

Public engagement was central to the project’s success. SRF led a wide range of both in-person and virtual outreach activities across both phases of the project. These included:

• Interactive open houses
• Pop-up events in neighborhoods along the corridor
• Door-knocking campaigns to reach underrepresented communities
• Online surveys and feedback forms
• Project website updates and educational content
• Listening sessions focused on safety, equity, and mobility
• Short, digestible video presentations on project alternatives and key topics

More than 50 engagement touchpoints were completed. Thousands of public comments were received and analyzed—leveraging machine learning tools to better understand community concerns, priorities, and emerging themes. This data-informed approach helped shape future engagement strategies and ensured public feedback directly influenced project development.

Digital Tools and Storytelling

To enhance accessibility and transparency, SRF developed a suite of digital tools and visual media to support community outreach. These included:

• Informational videos explaining complex topics in plain language
• Interactive web tools to explore design alternatives
• Visual simulations showing potential corridor improvements

By combining data-driven planning with meaningful community involvement, SRF helped lay the foundation for a more connected, safe, and equitable future for the Highway 252/I-94 corridor.

Resource Links
MnDOT Highway 252/I-94 Project Page
Hennepin County
City of Brooklyn Center
City of Brooklyn Park
City of Minneapolis

Internal Categories
Environmental Planning
Community & Public Engagement
Traffic & Technology

More from:
Minneapolis, MN

The following digital media tools were created by the SRF team to support the public engagement process:

Roadway Access

Pedestrian Access

Project Alternatives

Project Elements