Breaking News: Transit for Livable Communities Releases its Policy Positions for the Central Corridor line (February 12, 2008)

Central Corridor Light Rail Transit

Background
Central Corridor is an 11-mile light rail line connecting downtown St. Paul and downtown Minneapolis by way of Washington and University Avenues.

Project Updates, News, and Events
Updates
Proposed University Avenue Overlay District
The Univeristy Avenue Task Force has considered an interim zoning overlay that would create temporary zoning requirements that could be put in place for up to one year, allowing the City of St. Paul to study whether permanent zoning code changes are needed to implement the Central Corridor Development Strategy. The Central Corridor Development Strategy is intended to w make the area more pedestrian and transit-friendly and less auto-oriented. The Task Force has made final recommendations and has forwarded the document to the Mayor and City Council. If you have any questions regarding the overlay they may be submitted to donna.drummond@ci.stpaul.mn.us.

Draft Central Corridor Development Strategy
The draft Central Corridor Development Strategy, along with panels and Power point presentations from the open houses can be found on the Urban Strategies website. There you will see a link in red titled "Click here for the Saint Paul Minnesota Central Corridor Development Strategy Project FTP site." If you are prompted for a user name and password, Enter stpaullrt as the user name and public as the password.

New Website: Ramsey County Regional Rail is turning over the centralcorridor.org Web site to the Met Council, which will design and build the light rail line. In its place, Regional Rail has launched a new Web site at www.regionalrail.org for up-to-date information on Central Corridor, Union Depot and the other transit projects currently under development.

The Central Corridor Resource Center
The Central Corridor Resource Center is located at the old Lexington Library at 1080 University Avenue. It's open on Wednesdays from 12:00-2:00 p.m. and by appointments made with Donna Drummond at donna.drummond@ci.stpaul.mn.us. Drop by to learn more about what's happening with Central Corridor!

News

• No Tunnel at Snelling/University. Amid heavy pressure from St. Paul neighborhood groups and city leaders, the Ramsey County Board backed off a proposal Tuesday to go after $7 million in federal funds to route Snelling Avenue traffic through a viaduct underneath University Avenue. (July 2007).
• City of St. Paul Hears Comments on Zoning Proposal. The City of St. Paul heard comments about a proposed zoning overlay district on University Avenue. (July 2007).
• Three Options Emerge for Trains at Snelling/University. A study lays out the choices for one of the Central Corridor line's busiest intersections: a tunnel, a one-way or a new left-turn road. (April 2007).
• Central Corridor: The Twin Cities Daily Planet ran a series on Central Corridor issues in March 2007. Articles include, "Stop by Stop: Tracing the Route of Central Corridor,""Central Corridor Finally On Track, But Questions Remain," and "Central Corridor: Process and the Players."
• Central Corridor Light Rail Project has $200 Million Problem.Metropolitan Council Chairman Peter Bell says $200 million needs to be trimmed from the Central Corridor light rail project to improve its chances of federal funding. (February 27, 2007).
• A Tunnel is Nice, but Not Necessary. The editorial board of The Minnesota Daily, the University of Minnesota’s student newspaper, says that a light rail tunnel at the University would be nice, but the top priority should be completing the project. (March 6, 2007)
• Send the Train to Union Depot.The St. Paul Pioneer Press editorial board endorses creating a regional transit hub by sending the Central Corridor light rail train to St. Paul’s Union Depot.

Events

• Central Corridor Management Committee
  A 13-member Central Corridor Management Committee (CCMC) will provide advice to the lead agencies during the design and construction on the project’s scope, budget and schedule.  It will consider issues such as possible changes in alignment, the design and location of stations, and efforts to mitigate adverse impacts during construction. The Central Corridor Management Committee (CCMC) will hold its monthly meeting on the second Wednesday of the month from 1 - 2:30 p.m. Generally meetings will be in the Metropolitan Council Chambers, but occasionally will be held at locations along the Central Corridor line.  http://www.metrocouncil.org/transportation/ccorridor/CCPartnersOversight.htm
• Community Advisory Committee (CAC)
  The CAC will be the primary avenue for corridor residents, business owners and groups to provide ideas and input on the project. The CAC meets on the third Thursday of each month from 5 to 7 p.m. at Goodwill/Easter Seals, 553 Fairview Avenue, St. Paul. http://www.metrocouncil.org/transportation/ccorridor/CCPartnersOversight.htm
• Central Corridor Business Advisory Council
  The Business Advisory Council (BAC) will advise the Central Corridor Management Committee and provide input and feedback to the Central Corridor Project Office staff on issues related to project design and construction mitigation issues. The BAC meets the third Monday of the month at 4:30 p.m. at the Court International Building, 2550 University Ave. W., St. Paul. http://www.metrocouncil.org/transportation/ccorridor/CCPartnersOversight.htm

TLC Resources

To learn more about our position on Central Corridor, click here.

For a history of transitway planning for the Central Corridor, click here.

To see Transit for Livable Communities’ thoughts on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), click here.

To see Transit for Livable Communities' thoughts on the Draft Central Corridor Development Strategy, click here.

Project Resources
The Metropolitan Council’s Central Corridor website

The Minnesota Department of Transportation's Central Corridor website

Ramsey County's Central Corridor website

City of St. Paul’s Central Corridor website