It’s good to identify a problem. It’s better to solve it.

When Washington County agreed to take responsibility from the State of Minnesota for the segment of Highway 96 from Highway 244 east to Highway 95, completing the transfer in 2023, part of its due diligence was an open-to-the public evaluation of the current corridor.

The Highway 96 Corridor Study began in late 2024. To date there have been two public open houses. A final public open house will be held in early May to present study findings and final recommendations.

Knowing the study would engage residents along the road in Washington County, we were pleased when Ramsey County bought into the study to include the currently State-owned portion of Highway 96 west of Highway 244. We were hopeful that formal identification of known safety issues experienced by residents, including the lack of a formal facility for people walking or biking along the road, would provide the basis for change and help facilitate a negotiated transfer of the road from the State to Ramsey County.

As one of two outstanding trail segments needed to complete the around-the-lake Lake Links Trail, the Highway 96 segment in Ramsey is amazingly short – less than ¾ mile, stretching from White Bear Lake County Park east to the county line. Yet this segment is arguably the most dangerous segment around the lake and the reason many cite as to why they do not walk there, use it to bike east to the Gateway Trail, or bike around White Bear Lake.

Safety issues along Highway 96 are old news. A 1987 study by MnDOT of its highways found that Highway 96 was not safe for bicycles. In the report MnDOT proactively identified the problem, solution, and costs and when it would schedule the work to make the road safe for bikes. It never happened.

The 2001 Lake Links Trail Network Master Plan was funded by the Minnesota Legislature in 1999 to identify a network of essential trails providing mobility and access from St. Paul to Hugo, Stillwater to White Bear Lake, and all points in between, including a trail around White Bear Lake. Though elements of the plan have been completed in the 25 years since and recommendations have been made, known safety issues such as those along Highway 96 in Ramsey County have been allowed to exist.

We will always support any agency that applies time and funding to talk with people, try to understand their experiences, and learn about how a road can be made safer and more in line with how people live.

The Highway 96 study is another sincere attempt at engaging people and pointing out ideas to increase mobility safety and access. The Lake Links Association, and our region, should reserve further accolades until MnDOT and local and county units of government come together and turn the study’s recommendations into infrastructure solutions. Everyone in government believes that people should be safe. Now is the time to act.