Author

Joe Harrington

Joe Harrington

Joe Harrington is a student in St. Paul studying urban geography and environmental policy. He is a GIS and data organizer at Our Streets Minneapolis.

COMMENTARY

Minnesota needs to prepare for extreme heat and the urban heat island effects

By: - September 20, 2023

Recent Minnesota summers have brought warmer temperatures, drought conditions, and — due to Canadian wildfires — air quality issues. On August 23rd, the Twin Cities broke a 1948 heat record when temperatures reached 98 degrees at MSP airport. This Labor Day weekend, the Twin Cities tied longstanding heat records.  Urban communities are experiencing so-called urban heat island […]

COMMENTARY

When it comes to I-94, let’s consider people, not cars

By: - July 30, 2023

I-94 between Minneapolis and Saint Paul, originally built in the 1960s, is reaching the end of its useful life as the highway infrastructure ages. The Minnesota Department of Transportation launched a “Rethinking I-94” project in 2016, including engagement from government agencies and the general public. The project included an environmental impact study and the creation […]

COMMENTARY

Commissioner Daubenberger, tear down that highway!

By: and - April 25, 2023

After nearly 60 years, I-94 in Minneapolis and Saint Paul is reaching the end of its useful life.  The roadway was completed in 1968, promoted as a major step for progress, paving the way for faster travel times in and between cities, while catalyzing the development of suburban areas.  In the Twin Cities, the Minnesota […]