The area of Highway 55 and County Road 73 poses a variety of safety hazards for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit users.  

Currently, there is no direct or safe route for pedestrians and bicyclists to cross Highway 55 to access city parks, regional trail systems, Station 73 transit facility and nearby businesses.

Additionally, the inadequate geometric configurations of surrounding streets create traffic delays and safety issues for motorists, Plymouth Metrolink buses, bicyclists and pedestrians.

Plymouth's Proposed Plan: Station 73 TRIP

The goal of the Station 73 TRIP (Transit and Regional Improvement Program) is to improve transportation for all users, bolster quality of life for those who live nearby or travel through the area, coordinate necessary projects with available funding and facilitate reinvestment in the area.

Station 73 TRIP prioritizes infrastructure investments aimed at making safety, mobility and capacity improvements. The map below shows the major investment areas and improvements expected to be completed.

Area 1 – Improvements at Highway 55 and Station 73 Transit Facility

• Pedestrian/trial underpass at Highway 55 (grade separated crossing)
• Bus platforms and connecting trail
• Highway 55 transit pull-off area

View the Highway 55 Underpass and Transit Improvements preliminary layout (PDF).

• Construction of trail connection from Three Rivers Park District's Luce Line Regional Trail to Highway 55/Station 73
• Mobility and safety upgrades, including sidewalk connections to South Shore Drive

• Realignment of County Road 73 from Sunset Trail to Highway 55
• Construction of trail connection from Highway 55/Station 73 to Three Rivers Park District's Regional Trail at the Minnetonka/Plymouth border
• Roadway and intersection improvements to frontage roads, Old County Road 15 and Sunset Trail
• Expansion of Station 73 to create a multi-modal hub for transportation
  • Potential accommodations for ride sharing and hailing
• Water quality improvements to Medicine Lake and Bassett Creek

• Reconstruction of roads south of Highway 55 near Station 73
• Upgrades to LaCompte Playfield

• Connection of the frontage road and sidewalks north of Highway 55 to Revere Lane

The Plymouth City Council accepted the final County Road 73 Small Area Study (PDF) in November 2022.  

Study Background Info

The City of Plymouth conducted a study of County Road 73 and Highway 55. The small area study explores future land uses and potential redevelopment, transportation and utility improvements, as well as potential upgrades to parks and trails in the area.

View detailed information about the study.

Following an initial round of community feedback in 2021, the City of Plymouth drafted concepts for future land use, potential redevelopment ideas, and enhanced pedestrian, bike and vehicle safety strategies. 

The city asked for additional community input regarding draft concepts in February 2022. A draft report with preliminary findings was presented to City Council in spring 2022.

For questions regarding the County Road 73 Small Area Study, reach out to the City of Plymouth Planning Division.

Contact

Planning Division
Plymouth City Hall | 3400 Plymouth Blvd. | Plymouth, MN 55447-1482
P 763-509-5450 | planning@plymouthmn.gov

Years of studies and community engagement efforts completed by the City of Plymouth, MnDOT and Three Rivers Park District have helped shape the Station 73 Transit and Regional Improvement Program. Upgrades identified in the Station 73 TRIP are intended to be completed in coordination with scheduled upgrades by other agencies, including MnDOT and Three Rivers Park District.

Plymouth Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Station Area Study

In 2020, Plymouth Metrolink led a local effort to study potential transit station areas along the Highway 55 corridor, including the Station 73 transit facility. The study identified necessary improvements around the station to enhance Plymouth Metrolink transit operations and support an all-day or bus rapid transit-style service.

View the Plymouth Bus Rapid Transit study (PDF).

Three Rivers Park District Eagle to Bryant Lake Regional Trails Master Plan

Three Rivers Park District recently completed the planning of a 17-mile trail to connect the communities of Maple Grove, Plymouth, Minnetonka and Eden Prairie, which may include future extensions to additional park reserves and trail systems. Once complete, the Eagle to Bryant Lake Regional Trail will run from Eagle Lake Regional Park in Maple Grove to Bryant Lake Regional Park in Eden Prairie.

This north-south regional trail will directly link to five other regional trails in the area – Medicine Lake, Bassett Creek, Luce Line, Lake Minnetonka, and MN River Bluffs LRT Regional Trails – providing a more comprehensive trail network for the west metro and filling the need for a critical north-south route. It will also provide direct connections to many local and regional destinations, job centers, parks and schools.

Following public input, the route was selected with the goal of connecting areas of high natural resource value, local parks or trails, commercial areas, and other planned or existing regional trails when feasible.

View more information about the Eagle to Bryant Lake Regional Trails master plan.

MnDOT Highway 55 Pavement Improvement Project

The Minnesota Department of Transportation has planned pavement and safety improvements for Highway 55, which are scheduled for completion June 2024 through July 2025.

To assist MnDOT in developing and refining the project design, the City of Plymouth collected project input from the public May-June 2021 and shared it with MnDOT. 

View more information about the MnDOT Highway 55 Pavement Improvement Project. 

Some comments regarding mobility issues around County Road 73 included:

• Pre-pandemic traffic would often back up at this intersection from people heading northbound on CR73, wanting to turn west to 55 during evening rush hour. (Backed up for several blocks). It would be great to consider how to solve that problem during this process.
  
  
• Perhaps a double left turn lane from 73 to westbound 55 to help with traffic backup at this intersection?? And/or a longer left turn arrow during rush hour?
  
  
• Difficult to bike or walk across (Hwy 55) to access medicine lake trails and parks. Can a bridge or sunken tunnel like on 6 by Parker’s lake be installed here?