Politics & Government

Gateway Corridor Commission to Discuss Transit Options for the Area at Woodbury Meeting

Gateway Corridor Commission to outline options for transportation needs in the area at public meeting in Woodbury on Thursday.

The Gateway Corridor Commission last week announced several future options for the area and is now asking the public for feedback on the proposals.

The group’s Alternatives Analysis Study looked at 20 potential options to determine the best mode and route for new transit along Interstate 94 from downtown Minneapolis through St. Paul and east to Eau Claire, Wis. The seven options, as outlined by the Gateway Corridor Commission, are listed below.

A public meeting on the proposals, which include bus lines and light rail, is set for 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 24, at .

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Woodbury Mayor Mary Giuliani Stephens said she hasn’t heard from residents about any specific transportation needs, but is looking forward to the results of the study, set to be released in spring 2012, to see what will work best for the city.

“Most people understand that is a process and they want to see what the analysis brings us,” she said.

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The transit options that affect Woodbury generally go along Interstate 94 from Eau Claire, Wis., to the downtowns, the mayor said. She said the city’s park and ride locations have seen increased use and the Metropolitan Council has money set aside for a new lot in the northeast portion of the city.

Transit Options (information from Gateway Corridor Commission)

Option 1: Express Buses from St. Paul-Minneapolis to Woodbury

The first option would maintain the current express bus service between downtown St. Paul-Minneapolis and Woodbury. Buses would continue to operate on highway shoulders when general traffic is 35 mph or less. This option would include future Park & Ride lots throughout the corridor.

Option 2: Express Buses from St. Paul-Minneapolis to Eau Claire

The second option would allow express buses to operate between downtown St. Paul-Minneapolis and Eau Claire. Express buses would use highway shoulders when the speed of general traffic is 35 mph or less. In addition to express bus service, this option would analyze a managed lane of traffic, such as a MnPass lane. This option would add Park & Ride lots throughout the corridor.

Option 3: Bus-Rapid Transit (BRT) from Minneapolis to Hudson on I-94

The third option would incorporate BRT in an exclusive bus-only lane from Minneapolis to Hudson, primarily along I-94. The route would start in downtown Minneapolis following I-94 to Ayd Mill Road and I-35E to the Union Depot in downtown St. Paul, then continuing on Seventh Street or Warner Road onto I-94 to Hudson. Express buses would connect Hudson to Eau Claire.

Option 4: Bus-Rapid Transit from Minneapolis to Hudson through St. Paul’s Eastside

The fourth option would also operate BRT in an exclusive bus lane from downtown Minneapolis to Hudson along a route that veers north of I-94 into St. Paul’s Dayton’s Bluff and Battle Creek Park neighborhoods. Two possible alignments for this option are a St. Paul to Oakdale to Woodbury alignment and a St. Paul to Woodbury alignment. Similar to Option 3, the route would start in downtown Minneapolis and continue to the Union Depot in downtown St. Paul. The route continues from Seventh Street onto either Minnehaha Avenue or Third Street connecting to Hudson Road near Radio Drive. The route would follow Hudson Road and connect to I-94, then continue to Hudson. Express buses would connect Hudson to Eau Claire.

Option 5: Light Rail Transit from St. Paul to Hudson on I-94

The fifth option would incorporate LRT from St. Paul to Hudson. The route would start at the Union Depot in downtown St. Paul and connect to I-94 from either Seventh Street or Warner Road, then continue to Hudson. At the Union Depot, commuters would connect with Central Corridor LRT to continue onto Minneapolis. Express buses would connect Hudson to Eau Claire.

Option 6: Light Rail Transit from St. Paul to Hudson through St. Paul’s Eastside

The sixth option would also operate LRT from St. Paul to Hudson along a route that veers north of I-94 into St. Paul’s Dayton’s Bluff and Battle Creek Park neighborhoods. Two possible alignments for this option are a St. Paul to Oakdale to Woodbury alignment and a St. Paul to Woodbury alignment. Similar to Option 4, the route would start at the Union Depot in downtown St. Paul, and continue from Seventh Street onto either Minnehaha Avenue or Third Street connecting to Hudson Road near Radio Drive. The route would follow Hudson Road and connect to I-94, then continue to Hudson. Express buses would connect Hudson to Eau Claire.

Option 7: Commuter Rail from Minneapolis to Eau Claire

The seventh option would incorporate commuter rail service from downtown Minneapolis to Eau Claire. The route would start in Minneapolis and follow either the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway route north of I-94 through St. Paul’s Midway or follow the Canadian Pacific Railway south of I-94 along Ayd Mill Road to the Union Depot in downtown St. Paul. The route would continue from the Union Depot along the Union Pacific Railroad route north of I-94 to Eau Claire. The route would travel northeast to St. Paul’s Payne-Phalen neighborhood, through Maplewood and Oakdale. The route continues to parallel to Highway 5 into downtown Lake Elmo before veering south of Bayport and crossing the St. Croix River into North Hudson. The route then continues north of I-94 to Eau Claire.

More Information

Almost 300,000 people live along the corridor, and nearly 90,000 vehicles cross the St. Croix River Bridge into the Gateway Corridor each day. By the time that traffic reaches downtown St. Paul, the number of vehicles increases to 150,000.

Upon completion of the study in the spring of 2012, final decisions regarding the mode of transit and route will be determined by the Metropolitan Council and Ramsey and Washington County regional railroad authorities.

The Gateway Corridor Commission is a group of local elected officials and representatives from area businesses and chambers of commerce.

For more information about the Gateway Corridor and the study, visit www.thegatewaycorridor.com.


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