BACKGROUND
Central Corridor is an 11-mile light rail line connecting downtown St. Paul and downtown Minneapolis by way of Washington and University Avenues.
Transit for Livable Communities and its Transit Partners coalition helped to broker a deal to ensure that the line received state funding during the 2008 legislative session. TLC is now focused on ensuring that the line serves communities and the region.
| Project Completion Under Transportation Choices 2020 |
Project Completion Under Metropolitan Council Plan |
2014 |
2014 |
KEY POSITIONS
Transit for Livable Communities Central Corridor Position Statement
PROJECT UPDATES, NEWS, AND EVENTS
ACTION OPPORTUNITIES
December 18, 2009. Public Hearing: Downtown St. Paul Station Area Station Plan. The Saint Paul Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the Downtown Saint Paul Station Area Plan. All interested persons are invited to attend the hearing to present their comments on the Plan, which will be adopted by the City Council as a part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. You can find more information regarding the event here.
UPDATES
- Union Depot
The Ramsey County Regional Rail Authority is negotiating to purchase the historic Union Depot from two private sector owners. The Rail Authority has already negotiated a purchase agreement with the US Postal Service to buy the concourse on the rear or south side of the building currently used as a mail sorting operation. The post office is expected to move to a new facility in Eagan in 2010. Purchase of the Depot or “head house” which was built in 1923 would be a major step toward turning the depot into a multi-modal hub for the east metro area. Plans are for Union Depot to serve bus, light rail, commuter rail, and Amtrak trains. If the purchase is completed, the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority will become the owner of the public and parking portions of the facility and the private owner will continue to own the apartments/condos on the sides of the building. For more information on the Union Depot click here http://www.uniondepot.org/.
- Metropolitan Council Submits Application to Enter Final Design Phase of Central Corridor.
The Metropolitan Council has submitted its application for federal approval to enter final design on Central Corridor. The 4,000-page application will be reviewed over the next several months by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), which is expected to make a decision by early next year. Meanwhile, the project staff will continue advanced preliminary engineering on the line.
- 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.
- 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
- Hiawatha Light Rail Development Could Bode Well for Central Corridor. Twin Cities developers say light rail in Minneapolis is a magnet for development. And they're plunking down millions to make their point. That's music to the ears of people in St. Paul along University avenue who support the Central Corridor light rail project. They're hoping the Central Corridor line will spur development in a way that's happening along the Hiawatha line in Minneapolis.
- Central Corridor Applies for Federal Funding. The decades-old plan to build a light rail system on University Ave. reached a milestone in September 2008. Construction of the proposed rail service from St. Paul to Minneapolis could be Minnesota's largest public works project ever, however half the money needs to come from the federal government.
- Local and National Foundations Taking a Keen Interest in Central Corridor. Local and national foundations are pooling money and sharing information to help coordinate redevelopment efforts along the planned Central Corridor light-rail transit line. So far, 10 foundations have helped set up the Central Corridor Funders Collaborative and Learning Network. In June, the first employee was hired: coordinator Jonathan Sage-Martinson.
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
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
