Recent Mesaba Avenue Fatality Results in Call to Action

DULUTH, Minn.– According to the Minnesota Road Safety Information Center, since 2016, Mesaba Avenue here has seen 348 crashes, that has resulted in 90 injuries. And now 2 fatalities.

“What happened to Steven was heartbreaking. As we heard, he was so deeply loved. When someone’s life ends too soon like this, we have to work to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” said Forrest Vodden, a member of Vibrant Streets Duluth.

60-year-old Steven Hoover was struck by two vehicles as he crossed Mesaba Avenue toward West First Street.

When avid Duluth bicyclists and Vibrant Streets Duluth heard the tragic news, they decided enough is enough.

“And I want to stress that we’re concerned about everyone. We walk, we drive, we take transit. We want everyone to be safe in Duluth. And some of the things that we’re talking about that are really huge concerns are important to everyone no matter what mode we choose. I think every time an incident like this happens, those of us, in this room, who walk, and bike and take transit always wonder, could it be me? Could it be someone I love, ” said Alice Tibbetts, a member of Vibrant Streets Duluth.

Safety advocates spoke out at a press event, and they said, efforts to correct problems with Mesaba Avenue dates back to 1987.

Where a project involving a pedestrian overpass was green lit, but ultimately, was never built.

According to Vibrant Streets Duluth, an affiliate of BikeMN, Mesaba Avenue is treated as a highway. Where cars will often reach speeds of over 50 mph. When the speed limit is 30 mph.

“First we need immediate action at this crossing. We need rapid flashing beacons which get drivers to yield 98% of the time. Or other tools to alert drivers that someone walking or biking is present. But that’s not enough, speed is what makes this stretch so deadly. the current design of it encourages highway speeds, and we need both fixes, and long-term solutions through better design,” said Vodden.

Right now, changes are in the works for both future projects, as well as renovating older streets.

“As I sit on a couple different transportation related committees for the city, that’s really been my focus. Making sure that as we are moving forward with new street design, redoing streets, those types of things, that we’re really taking into consideration all of the different modes of transportation. There are really good designs coming forward for a variety of different projects, and there’s still some that we need to improve on,” said Mike Mayou, Duluth City Councilor District 2.

Meanwhile, while the community grieves after the death of Hoover, Duluth City Councilor Mike Mayou wants something done so another pedestrian or bicyclist isn’t killed again.

“I think it’s just overall to reflect, and this gives us a good opportunity not in the best circumstances, a good opportunity to reflect as a community to think about ‘are we doing what we can to build our roads and our infrastructure in a way that is best suited for everyone,” said Mayou.

On Saturday December 21st, the community is holding a memorial walk for Steve.

If you’re interested the gathering begins at the Duluth Public Library at 2 PM.

Where a ghost bike will be installed at the site on Mesaba Avenue

For more information, you can visit the Facebook event for this gathering.