Staff photos by Clay Schuldt A pedestrian safety demonstration project will be put in place at 1st and Garden Street intersection this summer. The project will include delineators, signage, pavement markings and planters to create a curb bump out and pedestrian island for those crossing Graden Street to and from Harman Park

NEW ULM — The New Ulm City Council discussed safety improvements to crossings on 1st North Street.

The two crossings in question were the 1st North and Garden Street intersection near Harman Park and the 1st North railroad crossing near Black Frost Distillery and Firmenich.

The 1st N. and Garden is a pedestrian safety demonstration project. City engineer Joe Stadheim said the city received a $25,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to provide technical assistance and material for a demonstration project at 1st N. and Garden Street. The Coalition for Active, Safe and Healthy Streets (CASHS) prepared the grant applicant on behalf of the city.

The concept for the demonstration project is to create a safer pedestrian crossing at this intersection. The plan is to place delineators on the Garden St. pavement with epoxy, appropriate signage, pavement markings and planters to create a curb bump-out and pedestrian island for those crossing Graden Street to and from Harman Park.

The installation is proposed for the beginning of May and removal in mid-October or before the first snowfall.

In November the New Ulm Safety Commission recommended a demonstration project be authorized at this intersection. The Park and Recreation also gave support for the project during their Feb. 13 meeting. It was brought before the council for final approval.

Councilman David Christian said he and the Park and Rec board unanimously supported this demonstration project because everyone knows what this intersection is like during the summer months and HermannFest.

“It is a nightmare,” he said.

Christian asked if this temporary intersection project was successful, and when could it become a permanent improvement.

Stadheim said the city is looking to 2027 for improvements to the Garden St. corridor from Center to 5th North. The city may receive a $1.5 million federal grant for this roadway in 2027. If the grant comes through, the temporary changes made to this intersection this summer could be made permanent. Other safety upgrades could be added to the entire corridor near the park.

“I think it is an opportunity to look at this corridor as a whole and reconfigure it,” Stadheim said.

The council unanimously approved authorizing the pedestrian safety demonstration to proceed.

Later, the council approved an agreement with MnDOT to construct improvements to the railroad crossing on 1st North Street.

The state proposed the installation of a new railroad flashing light signals, gates, constant warning circuitry and LED lenses for the at-grade crossing on 1st North Street.

The project is estimated at $361,723.95 and would be split 90/10% between the state and city. New Ulm’s portion is estimated at $36,172.40.

The work is scheduled to take place during the summer 2023 construction season and will eliminate a safety hazard at the at-grade railroad crossing.

Stadheim said this project was in the city engineer’s report, but the project was moved from the Valley Street crossing to 1st N. after MnDOT’s review. The Valley Street crossing is a spur line and was determined to be unfeasible. The project was switched to 1st N. instead.

Councilor Christian said he’d take any crossing improvement and wanted five more for this city. He made the motion to approve the resolution accepting the MnDOT agreement, with a second from Councilor Larry Mack. It was unanimously approved by the council.