Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Legislative News and Views - Rep. Laurie Halverson (DFL)

Back to profile

Pedestrian and bike safety update

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Rep. Halverson

Dear neighbors, 

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and were able to spend some extra time with your loved ones. This Thanksgiving, I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent our community at the State Capitol and to work together on the issues that are important to Minnesotans.


Keeping Pedestrians and Bicyclists Safe

The past few weeks have been difficult and painful for our community, but Eagan residents are coming together to keep kids safe. More than 100 people came to my pedestrian and bicycle safety forum, and we had a productive conversation about short- and long-term solutions.

Halverson 12.3 (1)

On Thursday, December 12, I’m hosting another event to continue that conversation. Please join me at Dakota Hills Middle School to discuss next steps.

Halverson 12.3 (2)

I’m pleased to share that the one of the solutions that we discussed at the first forum is already being implemented. Last week, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners voted to establish a school zone speed limit for Diffley Road. Drivers will need to reduce their speed when children are present, traveling to or from school, or at recess. Signage will be installed between Lexington Avenue and Dodd Road, and the new speed limit will be determined after Dakota County, the City of Eagan, and ISD 196 complete an engineering investigation.

Dakota County is holding an open house to seek public input on additional potential safety improvements. It will take place on Wednesday, December 11 at the Eagan Community Center (1501 Central Parkway, Eagan, MN 55121). The time of the meeting hasn’t been announced yet.


Cold Weather in Minnesota

I hope that you stayed safe and warm during the first winter storms of the year. Unfortunately, for many Minnesotans colder weather means struggling to afford heating bills. That’s why our state has a Cold Weather Rule and other resources for people facing financial challenges. The Cold Weather Rule helps protect Minnesotans from having their heat shut off, and there are energy assistance programs to help renters and homeowners pay for heating costs and furnace repairs.

You can read more about the Cold Weather Rule here, and more information about the Energy Assistance Program is available here. Please share this information with family, friends, and neighbors, and remember to watch out for one another this winter.


Stay Connected

My work at the Legislature is a collaborative process, and I appreciate your input. Please don’t hesitate to share your questions and feedback and feel free to forward this email on to others who may be interested in signing up for updates. You can also stay up to date on what I’ve been working on by liking my Facebook page.

Sincerely,

Laurie Halverson
State Representative