The Macalester-Groveland Community Council is asking the city of St. Paul not to widen the intersection at Randolph Avenue and Lexington Parkway.

A resolution passed March 12 and sent to City Council Member Chris Tolbert objects to the proposed use of $1.5 million from the city’s “8-80 Vitality Fund” to purchase homes at the northeast corner of the intersection and add at least one more traffic lane.

“Those funds were intended to make our city easier to navigate for those ages 8 to 80,” said community council director Liz Boyer. “Using those funds to purchase existing rental properties to widen an intersection from 4 to 5 or more lanes will not make this intersection easier to navigate unless you are in a car.”

Tolbert and Ramsey County Commissioner Rafael Ortega have attended a series of the community council’s transportation committee meetings on the county’s two-year Randolph Avenue improvement project.

Boyer said survey responses from 1,000 residents showed no interest in decreasing stoplight wait times for cars at the intersection. Instead, pedestrian access and walkability were stated priorities.

The community council said traffic light signal timing could be improved, and traffic entering and exiting Trader Joe’s parking lot should be addressed.

The county will rebuild Randolph this year from Brimhall to Syndicate streets, and from Syndicate to Interstate 35E near Lexington Parkway in 2016.

Some residents have expressed concern that road improvements will increase traffic speeds on Randolph near Expo Elementary School, located south of the avenue at 540 Warwick St.