The mississippi river greenway in dakota county supports multiple national initiatives including the national scenic byway great river road national bicycle route 45 mississippi river trail and the…

Dakota County Administration received a $1.51 million Project Grant award on August 18, 2025, from the Department of the Interior National Park Service Midwest Region under the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA) State and Local Assistance program (CFDA 15.941). The award funds safety enhancements at ten existing road crossings along the 28-mile Mississippi River Greenway corridor stretching from Saint Paul to Hastings, Minnesota. Deliverables include the implementation of approved engineering solutions to reduce vehicle-pedestrian accident risk through improved lighting, rapid flashing beacon installation, enhanced striping and signage, curb improvements, elevated crossings, and turn lane modifications.

The project is structured in two implementation phases commencing in 2025 and concluding by June 30, 2027. This initiative supports multiple national initiatives including the National Scenic Byway Great River Road, National Bicycle Route 45 Mississippi River Trail, and the MNRRA, while serving as a critical regional link that connects Dakota County communities to the 72-mile Mississippi River corridor within the Twin Cities metropolitan area and its broader trail systems.

The mississippi river greenway in dakota county supports multiple national initiatives including the national scenic byway great river road national bicycle route 45 mississippi river trail and the national park system mississippi national river and recreation area or mnrra. As part of the greater regional trail system the mississippi river greenway in dakota county is a key link connecting communities to and along the 72 miles of mississippi river within and beyond twin cities metropolitan area. The greenway also serves as a primary trail that connects to local trail systems linking communities throughout dakota county to mnrra. The existing MRG also connects to multiple locations that serve transit primarily along concord AVE. The proposed project spans 28 miles along the existing off road paved trail from saint paul to the city of hastings. This project enhances safety at 10 existing road crossings within the mississippi national river and recreation area, significantly reducing the risk of accidents involving vehicles and pedestrians. The project will focus on executing approved engineering solutions to address identified safety issues at the crossings, which include improved lighting, the installation of rapid flashing beacons, enhanced striping and signage, curb improvements, elevated crossings, and the reduction and modification of turn lanes. The project will be implemented in two phases beginning in 2025 and lasting through 2026.