Editing Interstate 394

{{Short description|Highway in Minnesota}}
{{For|the route located in Illinois numbered 394|Illinois Route 394}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox road
| state = MN
| type = I
| route = 394
| map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-lat=44.971|frame-long=-93.370|zoom=10|type=line|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Wikipedia KML/Interstate 394}}}}
| map_custom = yes
| map_notes = I-394 highlighted in red
| length_mi = 9.75
| length_ref = <ref>{{cite web |last=Starks |first=Edward |date=January 27, 2022 |title=Table 2: Auxiliary Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways |url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/interstate_highway_system/routefinder/table02.cfm |access-date=December 22, 2022 |work=FHWA Route Log and Finder List |publisher=[[Federal Highway Administration]]}}</ref>
| established = 1991
| spur_type = I
| spur_of = 94
| direction_a = West
| terminus_a = {{Jct|state=MN|I|494|US|12}} in [[Minnetonka, Minnesota|Minnetonka]]
| junction = {{Plainlist|
*{{Jct|state=MN|US|169}} on the [[Minnetonka, Minnesota|Minnetonka]]–[[Golden Valley, Minnesota|Golden Valley]] line
*{{Jct|state=MN|MN|100}} on the [[St. Louis Park, Minnesota|St. Louis Park]]–Golden Valley line
*{{Jct|state=MN|I|94|US|52|US|12}} in [[Minneapolis]]
}}
| direction_b = East
| terminus_b = 3rd and 4th Streets in Minneapolis
| counties = [[Hennepin County, Minnesota|Hennepin]]
| previous_type = MN
| previous_route = 371
| next_type = I
| next_route = 494
}}
'''Interstate&nbsp;394''' ('''I-394''') is a short east–west [[auxiliary Interstate Highway]] in [[Hennepin County, Minnesota|Hennepin County]] in the [[US state]] of [[Minnesota]]. It is also commonly referred to by its pre-1991 name, Wayzata Boulevard, and by its other designation for most of its route, [[U.S. Route 12 in Minnesota|US Highway&nbsp;12]] (US&nbsp;12). It runs for {{convert|9.8|mi|km}} from downtown [[Minneapolis]] to [[Interstate 494|I-494]] in the Minneapolis suburb of [[Minnetonka, Minnesota|Minnetonka]]. At its western terminus, the roadway loses its Interstate designation but continues as US&nbsp;12. I-394 serves as the most direct link for [[commuter]]s and other drivers who are traveling between downtown Minneapolis and parts of the western [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul]] metropolitan area.

I-394 maintains at least three lanes in each direction except under the [[Minnesota State Highway 100]] (MN&nbsp;100) interchange and also between [[Interstate 94 in Minnesota|I-94]]/[[U.S. Route 52 in Minnesota|US&nbsp;52]] and its eastern terminus downtown.

==Route description==
{{Expand section|date=May 2008}}
I-394 begins on the western side of the [[Twin Cities]] in the suburb of Minnetonka, at its [[Interchange (road)|interchange]] with I-494 (exit&nbsp;19). From there, I-394 takes a {{convert|9.5|mi|km|adj=on}} course toward downtown [[Minneapolis]] where the eastern terminus is at 4th Street North.

Legally, the route of I-394 is defined as unmarked [[Legislative route (Minnesota)|legislative routes]]&nbsp;10 and 107 in Minnesota Statutes §§ 161.114(2) and 161.115(38).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ros.leg.mn/bin/getpub.php?pubtype=STAT_CHAP_SEC&year=2006&section=161.114|title=161.114, 2006 Minnesota Statutes|access-date=5 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ros.leg.mn/bin/getpub.php?pubtype=STAT_CHAP_SEC&year=2006&section=161.115|title=161.115, 2006 Minnesota Statutes|access-date=5 October 2014}}</ref> I-394 is not marked with these legislative numbers along the actual highway.

===E-ZPass Minnesota toll lanes===
There are two [[high-occupancy toll]] (HOT) express lanes at the center of the road. Prior to May 16, 2005, they had been traditional [[high-occupancy vehicle]] (HOV, or carpool) lanes, allowing [[bus]]ses, [[motorcycle]]s, and vehicles with two or more occupants to use them during [[rush-hour]] periods, while single-occupancy vehicles were not permitted. Now, drivers riding alone can use the lanes at any time but must have an [[MnPASS|E-ZPass Minnesota]] [[electronic toll collection]] transponder in order to pay for using the express portions.

[[Image:394EastBound.jpg|thumb|left|I-394 heading eastbound toward downtown [[Minneapolis]]. Notice the [[E-ZPass Minnesota]] toll lane to the left.]]
From [[Interstate 494|I-494]] to [[Minnesota State Highway 100|MN&nbsp;100]], the lanes of I-394 are separated from traffic by double white lines. Between MN&nbsp;100 and [[Interstate 94 in Minnesota|I-94]]/[[U.S. Route 52 in Minnesota|US&nbsp;52]] near downtown, the two lanes are combined into a reversible expressway in the [[Median strip|median]] that is separated from the eastbound and westbound lanes by [[concrete]] barriers. This segment changes directions to accommodate the traffic flow at different times of day, so, in the morning, it is open to downtown-bound eastward flowing traffic, while it is open to westbound traffic in the evening.

An E-ZPass Minnesota electronic transponder is required in order to pay [[Electronic toll collection|toll]]s because there are no [[Toll road|tollbooth]]s on the roadway. The price varies depending on the time of day and flow of traffic. Lone drivers were previously allowed to use the express lanes in off-peak times, but this is no longer allowed under the new system unless the sign says the cost is "OPEN", meaning free. The decision to make the nonreversible lanes free on off-hours was reached due to complaints about essentially making a four-lane freeway in an area that, even on off-hours, sorely needed six. Toll rates are expected to generally fall between $1.00 and $4.00, with a potential maximum of $8.00. Off-hours are charged as $0.25 on the [[reversible lane]]s and free on the one-way lanes. The white line-separated and reversible expressway sections are priced separately. The lanes are still open free to busses, motorcycles, and cars with two or more people, no matter the time of day, and such vehicles do not require transponders to use the lanes.

Using the express lanes as a lone driver without a transponder during charged periods or crossing the double white lines will result in a large fine placed upon the driver. To enter and exit properly, vehicles must use an entry point without double white lines. The line rule is true even when the lane is free of charge.

Transponders began to be sold a few weeks before the May 16, 2005, opening date. By June 2005, about 6,500&nbsp;drivers had signed up for the system.

==History==
{{Expand section|date=December 2010}}
The highway, a four lane divided highway, used to be designated as Wayzata Boulevard and US&nbsp;12. The construction of I-394 was authorized in 1968. Funding became available after the canceled [[Interstate 335 (Minnesota)|I-335]] freeway project in 1978. I-335 had been planned to be a northern loop around downtown Minneapolis that would have passed through northeast Minneapolis. The money was substituted to the I-394 project. Wayzata Boulevard/US&nbsp;12, starting in 1982, was to be redesigned as I-394. Construction of I-394 occurred mainly in the 1980s, starting at the western terminus in Minnetonka and opening in sections toward downtown Minneapolis throughout the late 1980s. The entire route of I-394 was officially opened in 1991.

A former lane drop of I-394 at the Penn Avenue exit was eliminated in 2000.

==Exit list==
{{jcttop|exit|county=Hennepin|state=MN|length_ref=<ref>{{cite web |title=Route Reference of Functional Classification (except local roads) by County, City Boundaries, and Legislative/Congressional District |url=http://www.dot.state.mn.us/roadway/data/reports/fhwa/2014Q3_rrfcccb.xlsx |publisher=[[Minnesota Department of Transportation]] |access-date=November 18, 2014 |format=[[Microsoft Excel|XLSX]] |date=2014 }}</ref>}}
{{MNint|exit
|location=Minnetonka
|lspan=5
|mile=0.000
|mspan=2
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=MN|US|12|dir1=west|city1=Wayzata}}
|notes=Continuation beyond western terminus; HOV/toll lanes continue westward on US 12 as well
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=none
|exit=1
|type=concur
|road={{Jct|state=MN|I|494|road|Carlson Parkway / Linner Road}}
|notes=Western terminus; western end of US&nbsp;12 overlap; signed as exits 1A (south) and 1B (north); {{nowrap|I-494}} exit 19A-B; eastbound exit to I-494 Northbound is part of Exit 1A 
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=0.748
|exit=1C
|road={{Jct|state=MN|CSAH|61|county1=Hennepin|name1=Plymouth Road}}
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=1.338
|exit=1D
|road=Ridgedale Drive
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=1.941
|exit=2
|road={{Jct|state=MN|CSAH|73|county1=Hennepin|name1=Hopkins Crossroad}}
}}
{{MNint|exit
|location1=St. Louis Park
|location2=Golden Valley
|mile=2.946
|exit=3
|road={{Jct|state=MN|US|169|road|General Mills Boulevard}}
}}
{{MNint|exit
|location1=Golden Valley
|location2=St. Louis Park
|lspan=3
|mile=4.455
|exit=4
|road=Louisiana Avenue
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=5.925
|mspan=5
|exit=5A
|road=Xenia Avenue / Park Place
}}
{{MNint|exit
|type=hov
|mile=none
|exit=♦
|road={{Jct|state=MN|I-Express|394|nolink1=yes|dir1=east|name1=HOV/toll lanes}}
|notes=Dedicated eastbound and westbound HOV/toll lanes, each adjacent to the regular lanes, merge into one reversible HOV/toll lanes ramp
}}
{{MNint|exit
|location=Golden Valley
|lspan=3
|mile=none
|exit=5B
|road={{Jct|state=MN|MN|100}}
}}
{{MNint|exit
|type=hov
|mile=none
|exit=♦
|road={{Jct|state=MN|MN|100|dir1=south|road|South Frontage Road}}
|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance for HOV/toll lanes
}}
{{MNint|exit
|type=hov
|mile=none
|exit=♦
|road={{Jct|state=MN|MN|100|dir1=north}}
|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance for HOV/toll lanes
}}
{{MNint|exit
|location=Minneapolis
|lspan=9
|mile=7.749
|exit=7
|road={{Jct|state=MN|CSAH|2|county1=Hennepin|name1=Penn Avenue}}
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=8.387
|exit=8A
|type=incomplete
|road=Van White Memorial Boulevard / Dunwoody Boulevard – Prohibited vehicles
|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance for regular and HOV/toll lanes
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=
|exit=♦
|type=hov
|road={{Jct|state=MN|I|94|US|12|dir2=east|name2={{jct|state=MN|US|52|dir1=south|noshield=yes}} }}
|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance for HOV/toll lanes
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=8.667
|exit=8B
|type=concur
|road={{Jct|state=MN|US|12|dir1=east|noshield1=yes|I|94|name2={{jct|state=MN|US|52|noshield=yes}} }}
|notes=Eastern end of US&nbsp;12 overlap; eastbound exit and westbound entrance; I-94 exit 231A
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=
|exit=♦
|type=hov
|road={{Jct|state=MN|I-Express|394|nolink1=yes|dir1=west|name1=HOV/toll lanes}}
|notes=Eastern end of reversible HOV/toll lanes
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=8.963
|exit=9A
|type=incomplete
|road=12th Street North
|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=9.186
|exit=9B
|type=incomplete
|road=6th Street North / Ramp&nbsp;A / Ramp&nbsp;B
|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; ramps lead to downtown parking garages
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=9.418
|mile2=9.735
|mspan=2
|type=incomplete
|exit=9C
|road=3rd Avenue North / [[Washington Avenue (Minneapolis)|Washington Avenue]]
|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
}}
{{MNint|exit
|mile=none
|exit=
|road=4th Street North / 3rd Street North
|notes=Eastern terminus
}}
{{Jctbtm|keys=concur,hov,incomplete}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{AttachedKML|display=title,inline}}
*[http://www.mnpass.org/ MnPASS]
*[http://www.interstate-guide.com/i-394_mn.html Information about I-394 at interstate-guide.com]
*[http://www.ajfroggie.com/roads/minnesota/interstate/i394.htm I-394 Hennepin County]

{{3di|94}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:94-3}}
[[Category:Auxiliary Interstate Highways]]
[[Category:Interstate Highways in Minnesota]]
[[Category:High-occupancy toll roads|Interstate 394]]
[[Category:Interstate 94|3]]
[[Category:U.S. Route 12|394]]
[[Category:Transportation in Hennepin County, Minnesota|Interstate 94-3]]
[[Category:Transportation in Minneapolis|Interstate 94-3]]
[[Category:Roads with a reversible lane|94-3]]