With the goal of slowing traffic and improving pedestrian safety, Ramsey County plans to put several four-lane thoroughfares on a “road diet” and convert them into three-lane county roads.

A new study will look at prospects for road diets countywide.

Beginning on or about Monday, the county will restripe Larpenteur Avenue between Rice and Dale streets in Maplewood, Roseville and St. Paul.

The goal is to convert the avenue from a four-lane roadway to a three-lane roadway, with one travel lane in each direction and a center left-turn lane. Pedestrian median crossings also will be added, and the work will take about two weeks to complete.

The temporary striping will become permanent in 2020 when the pavement is resurfaced and utilities are updated on Larpenteur Avenue between Dale Street and Interstate 35E.

That’s not the only “road diet” planned in the area.

Allison Winters, the county’s deputy communications director, said a 4-to-3 conversion will roll out on a trial basis along Maryland Avenue between Arkwright Street and Payne Avenue. Temporary striping will be installed in late August through November.

A community open house and walking tour for the Maryland Avenue project will take place next Wednesday at the Arlington Hills Community Center, 1200 Payne Ave. The walking tour begins at 5 p.m. and the open house on the design begins at 6 p.m. A presentation starts at 6:30 p.m.

Last year, Maryland Avenue was permanently striped as a three-lane road between Payne Avenue and Johnson Parkway following a 4-to-3 conversion study in 2017. More information is online at ramseycounty.us/marylandlaneconversion.

Winters said the county is also planning a full study of all undivided four-lane roads in the county system to help identify future lane reduction projects. Related Articles St. Paul man poured poisonous chemicals on ex-wife in Roseville park, according to attempted murder charges

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There’s one area where a potential road diet has drawn strong comment from business owners, residents, cyclists and pedestrian advocates alike, with different viewpoints even overshadowing recent county elections.

The county is still studying potential improvements for Rice Street, and no final decisions have been made. Construction was once envisioned to have gotten underway by now.

Instead, “community engagement and planning are expected to ramp up again this fall,” Winters said.