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AGENDA RECOMMENDATION |
City Manager's Report 8.A.
City Council Regular Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 04/27/2026
Agenda Item:
Report on next steps for Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPI) in the City of Mankato.
Recommendation/Action(s):
No action, informational only.
Summary:
The City of Mankato has received interest in evaluating and implementing Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPIs) within the City of Mankato. LPIs are an acknowledged pedestrian safety improvement supported by transportation safety professionals and have been recommended through multiple local and area traffic studies, particularly at intersections and corridors identified with a high number of pedestrian and bicycle crashes. The City acknowledges that advancing this initiative aligns with the City of Mankato’s Complete Streets policy and the City’s broader commitment to improving safety and accessibility for all roadway users. City staff have reviewed and recommend advancing a phased approach to evaluate and implement LPIs in the City of Mankato. Staff recommend moving forward with the following two-phase strategy to ensure LPI implementation is data-driven, operationally appropriate, and responsive to community input.
Phase 1 – Feasibility Analysis and Pilot Implementation. Staff recommend initiating Phase 1 activities in the spring of 2026 to assess feasibility and conclude with the implementation of a pilot LPI program at multiple locations by fall 2026. Recommended Phase 1 actions include but are not limited to the following:
Phase 2 – Pilot Evaluation and City Policy Development. Staff recommend proceeding with Phase 2 following pilot implementation to evaluate performance and establish a long-term policy guiding LPI use in the City. Recommended Phase 2 actions include but are not limited to the following:
Staff anticipate completion of these two phases by Fall 2027, at which time the City of Mankato will be positioned to determine whether and how LPIs should be evaluated and expanded more broadly across the city signal system.
Phase 1 – Feasibility Analysis and Pilot Implementation. Staff recommend initiating Phase 1 activities in the spring of 2026 to assess feasibility and conclude with the implementation of a pilot LPI program at multiple locations by fall 2026. Recommended Phase 1 actions include but are not limited to the following:
- Prepare a feasibility report outlining LPI best practices, anticipated safety benefits, operational considerations and applicability to signalized intersections within Mankato.
- Identify and prioritize a list of intersections for pilot locations.
- Conduct a public information meeting and education campaign (e.g. video, social media posts, newspaper media, radio and TV) prior to pilot implementation.
- Identify performance measures and criteria to evaluate and define pilot success.
- Implement an LPI pilot project at multiple signalized intersections before the 2026–2027 school year.
Phase 2 – Pilot Evaluation and City Policy Development. Staff recommend proceeding with Phase 2 following pilot implementation to evaluate performance and establish a long-term policy guiding LPI use in the City. Recommended Phase 2 actions include but are not limited to the following:
- Prepare a feasibility and evaluation report assessing the general performance of LPI pilot locations.
- Evaluate and summarize public reception of the LPI pilot.
- Continue monitoring pilot locations through 2027 to assess longer-term trends and performance.
- Develop and present for City Council adoption a formal City of Mankato Leading Pedestrian Intervals Policy.
Staff anticipate completion of these two phases by Fall 2027, at which time the City of Mankato will be positioned to determine whether and how LPIs should be evaluated and expanded more broadly across the city signal system.