Many of our team members volunteered at and attended this year’s Open Streets Lyndale, celebrating the street as a place to walk, bike, and explore many local businesses—without cars!
The 2026 legislative session closed without the passage of any of the Land Use and Transportation bills we’ve advocated for—but we managed to thwart Governor Walz’ attempt to permanently cut transit from the general fund. Sierra Club led this fight, rallying environmental, transportation, and labor partners to stop the cut.
We also laid the groundwork for major legislative efforts in 2027, depending on the outcome of the midterm elections, including Transit Oriented Development and legalizing the use of the State Trunk Highway Fund on transit and projects that mitigate the emissions of highways.
One of the land use reforms we will lobby the legislature to legalize is Land Value Tax—a tool that can help incentivize density and housing on vacant and underutilized lots in urban areas. Sierra Club is co-hosting a virtual legislative roundtable on Land Value Tax on June 24th from 2-3pm. Climate allies Representatives Jones and Elkins and Senator Fateh will be in attendance.