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Transportation Commission Meeting Minutes -1- March 4th, 2026
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
March 4th, 2026
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chair Louis Dzierzak at 7:00 p.m. on March 4th, 2026, in the
Bartholomew Room.
Commission Present: Adam Knosalla (Vice Chair), Eli Straub, Louis Dzierzak
(Chair), David Gepner, Stella Yang, Eli Straub, Josh Kloehn,
Jacob Olsen
Commission Absent: Brinnon Kubista
Staff Present: Matt Hardegger and Jake Whipple
Liaisons Present: Sean Hayford Oleary (City Council), Tim Brackett (RPS), Jan
Matheus (Bike/Walk)
2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: made by Gepner, seconded by Olsen to approve the agenda.
Voting Aye: Knosalla, Straub, Dzierzak, Gepner, Yang, Straub, Kloehn, Olsen
Motion carried: 8-0
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION: made by Straub, seconded by Knosalla to approve the minutes of the Transportation
Commission Regular Meeting from February 4th, 2026.
Voting Aye: Knosalla, Straub, Dzierzak, Gepner, Yang, Straub, Kloehn, Olsen
Motion carried: 8-0
4. REGULAR BUSINESS AND PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
a. Metro Transit BRT Study Update – K Line
Metro Transit Arterial Bus Rapid Transit Planning Manager Kyle O’Donnell Burrows
presented on Metro Transit’s update to their BRT line study and their process on selecting
the next arterial BRT lines. Metro Transit recommended the Nicollet Ave corridor through
Richfield be part of the new K Line running from American Blvd in Bloomington to Downtown
Minneapolis.
Commissioners discussed coordination with other roadway projects, route alignment and
connectivity with other bus routes, current ridership trends and plans to increase ridership,
and physical ride quality on busses.

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Transportation Commission Meeting Minutes -2- March 4th, 2026
MOTION: made by Yang, seconded by Straub to recommend the City Council support Metro
Transit’s proposed K Line alignment.
Voting Aye: Knosalla, Straub, Dzierzak, Gepner, Yang, Straub, Kloehn, Olsen
Motion carried: 8-0
b. Public Engagement Strategies
Transportation Engineer Matt Hardegger asked the commission how staff should approach
outreach/engagement within the context of Operation Metro Surge. Staff discussed current
participation trends and potential strategies to engage more people.
Commissioners discussed reaching out to community based organizations, working closely
with schools and churches, limiting time and effort needed to respond, and using multiple
methods to get information distributed outside of a public meeting. Commissioners were
asked if engagement should move fully online, but suggested a hybrid approach that still
has an in person open house component.
5. UPDATES
a. City Staff – Project Updates
1. 494 – Estimated completion date is currently around Labor Day. Nicollet Ave bridge
demolished, 12th Ave bridge to be demolished weekend of March 7th. Portland Ave
work over 494 will be finished this spring.
i. Project 2 work will begin in late 2026 or early 2027. Council voting on Municipal
Consent at March 10 meeting.
2. Nicollet – Construction expected to start June 1st, bids were opened recently.
3. Penn Ave – An open house for the project is planned to occur in April.
4. 2026 Sidewalk Projects – Projects are in final design, bids expected to be opened in
April with summer construction.
5. Metro Transit – L Line identification study will include evaluating Penn Ave route. C
Line extension study will evaluate ending at Cedar Point Commons.
b. City Council
Council Member Hayford Oleary summarized the City’s response to the Transportation
Commission’s previous recommendation about towing cars. The city does not want to
completely stop towing due to concerns with leaving vehicles abandoned on the street. Instead,
the City provided an alternative solution by working with their contracted tow company to
reduce the fee to the vehicle owner. Council has also been working with the Richfield
Leadership Network to assist with reimbursement for fees from vehicles towed due to ICE
operations.
c. Bike Walk Richfield
Jan Matheus noted that the 4th Annual Learn to Ride will be in May/April and they are looking to
start a Youth Learn to Ride.
d. Richfield Public Schools
Tim Brackett has started a Family Learn to Ride with Richfield Public Schools. Attendees will get
a donated bike after the learning session.
6. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Staff informed the Commission that the April 1st meeting would be about Penn Avenue.

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Transportation Commission Meeting Minutes -3- March 4th, 2026
7. UPCOMING MEETINGS
Staff informed the Commission that the scheduled joint work session with City Council on March
10th would be a Council-only meeting instead.
Staff informed the Commission of two upcoming training opportunities for Commissioners and
Commission Chairs.
8. ADJOURNMENT
Next meeting is scheduled for April 1, 2026.
MOTION: made by Gepner, seconded by Straub to adjourn the meeting.
Voting Aye: Knosalla, Straub, Dzierzak, Gepner, Yang, Straub, Kloehn, Olsen
Motion carried: 8-0