The Skyway: A World Unto Itself

Minneapolis is home to the largest continuous skyway system in the world, which was originally intended to reduce pedestrian activity on the street to improve traffic flow. Learn how this unique pedestrian network has influenced street life and development downtown.

The skyway system is the most unique urban design element of downtown Minneapolis. Its 9.5 miles connects 80 city blocks and nearly every major destination therein, making it both a marvel and a quandary. In a city with extreme weather, the ability to live, work, play, and shop downtown in a climate-controlled, fully-enclosed pedestrian system is no small thing. On the other hand, an indoor pedestrian network diverts foot traffic off street level, reduces the viability of storefront retail, confuses visitors, and hampers vibrancy and perceived safety on the street. The skyway system is also primarily privately-owned and managed, leading to ongoing challenges with coordination and oversight.

While relatively few cities have comparable pedestrian networks, many cities evolved in the late 20th and early 21st centuries to have more complex public spaces and pathways. Privately-Owned Public Spaces (POPS), easements, and the rise of enclosed shopping centers as important gathering places raise questions of governance, civil rights, law enforcement, and wayfinding. This workshop will shed light on how this pedestrian system grew, its related benefits and costs, and recent efforts to adapt the system to the challenges of the day and create a more inclusive retail environment

This workshop will demonstrate the opportunities and challenges of an extensive grade-separated pedestrian network. While relatively few cities have such a network, this presentation will shed light more generally on pedestrian routes that cross property lines and the difficult questions about management and oversight they pose for planners and stakeholders.