Hibbing officials eye downtown traffic survey

HIBBING—Based on the results of a downtown parking survey from earlier this year, HEDA officials are now looking to take the next step in a process that could ultimately lead to a more efficient parking situation in Hibbing.

Hibbing Community Development Director Betsy Olivanti said by email this week that the Hibbing Economic Development Authority (HEDA) board has asked for the current report to be included on an upcoming city council agenda and is also recommending a traffic study be conducted.

The move was based on the recommendation from the city’s consultant, Benchmark Engineering, and supported by Hibbing City Engineer, Jesse Story.

“We’re hoping to learn what the options are for additional parking strategies in the downtown corridor, what best practices are for a city like Hibbing, and what the recommended process is to implement new parking strategies,” Olivanti said.

Earlier this year, the City of Hibbing and the Hibbing Area Chamber of Commerce, working together with Benchmark Engineering, Inc., conducted a parking survey with the business owners and renters in the downtown area.

The survey provided answers from 50 out of 96 owners/occupants downtown, a 53% answer rate, Olivanti said.

“We have had good engagement from the Hibbing Chamber of Commerce, businesses, and community in the downtown corridor. We are happy to see the strong collaboration on this project from our business community and residents to help the city investigate the parking in the downtown corridor and hope that continues as we work towards solutions,” Olivanti said. “The survey provided valuable first-hand information on the issues and potential solutions in the study area. Alan Johnson and Alan Nelson from Benchmark Engineering, Inc. presented their report at the HEDA Board meeting held on Monday, June 24.”

The parking survey is part of a larger community development project focused on revitalization of Howard Street, Olivanti told the Mesabi Tribune in a story earlier this year.

In 2022, the Hibbing Chamber of Commerce’s Business Retention and Expansion committee conducted a survey of downtown businesses including the First Avenue, Howard Street and the 3rd and 4th Avenue areas.

According to information from officials at the Hibbing Chamber of Commerce, the survey indicated three major benefits of locating in the downtown were visibility, location, and that it is accessible on foot.

It also showed three major barriers: Parking, substandard/dilapidated buildings/vacant lots, and snow removal.

Three suggestions for improvement were also included: Add parking, incentivize building improvements/rebuilding on vacant lots and improve/retain the look of the downtown district.

Olivanti said in April 2023, the city council undertook a strategic planning exercise with city staff and came up with the following high priority goals for the next two-year period:

• Completion of 3 big projects including Mine View, Carey Lake Campground, and a public safety building.

• Implementation of a plan and program to revitalize Howard Street

• Completion of a feasibility study on the community recreation center.

• Create CIP for city equipment, facilities, and infrastructure.

• Acquiring more property (building the city’s land portfolio) for Economic Development.

• Clean-up ordinances leading to greater enforceability.

In addition to the parking study, HEDA has developed a program to assist building and business owners with completing necessary building upgrades and renovations to substandard or dilapidated buildings in the downtown district.

Olivanti said this week that Benchmark Engineering reviewed the recent survey conducted with the occupant buildings along Howard Street and analyzed the current parking conditions in the study area on Howard Street.

“The opinions presented at the HEDA Board meeting were based on the comments and data provided by the survey responses and the current geometry of the roads and parcels nearby,” she said.

An initial review of the study area of Howard Street revealed that additional parking strategies must be implemented to alleviate the strain caused by insufficient parking, Olivanti said.

“Based on the parking study, implementing a tiered permit parking for employees and residents could be one strategy for balancing the parking demand on Howard Street. The city could also consider expanding its public parking into unoccupied or abandoned lots along Howard Street,” she said in an email to the Mesabi Tribune. “If the City has an interest in any parking changes along Howard Street, Benchmark Engineering recommended that a traffic study, (i.e. vehicle counts, traffic signal cycles, road geometry, etc.) should be conducted to understand what best practices might be utilized to implement new parking strategies while ensuring public safety.”