Central Corridor Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Central Corridor?

The Central Corridor is an 11-mile transit route between St. Paul’s Union Depot multi-modal transit hub and downtown Minneapolis. It runs east-west along University Avenue for the majority of its route. The area is known for its many strong neighborhoods, institutions, businesses and attractions.

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What will the transit line look like and what will it cost?

The Metropolitan Council selected light rail as the preferred mode in the Central Corridor in summer 2006. The project, as currently planned, would cost $909 million.

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What is light rail transit?

LRT consists of quiet, electrically powered vehicles operating singly or in short (two- or three-car) trains on fixed rails. LRT vehicles will have 66 seats, with standing room for 70 additonal people.

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What’s next?

Preliminary engineering began in 2007 and will take about two years to complete. Pending approval by the FTA, final design will take about a year. Construction will begin in 2010 and last about three years. The Central Corridor light rail line is expected to carry its first passengers in 2014.

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How can the public get involved?

The Met Council has formed a pair of advisory groups, the Community Advisory Committee and the Business Advisory Council, to consult with community, business and ethnic groups on such issues as station design and access, traffic, safety, parking and mitigation of construction impacts. Meeting agendas and notices for both groups are posted on the Met Council’s site.

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Why are you planning for transit in the Central Corridor?

The Central Corridor is one of the most-used transportation routes in the metro area, and several locations are regularly congested with automobile traffic. Interstate 94 is landlocked, and traffic projections predict it will exceed capacity by 2020. Nearly 120,000 people live in the Central Corridor, more than a quarter of whom are transit-dependent. The population of the Twin Cities metropolitan area is expected to increase by 1 million people in the next 20 years. Improved transit will give residents better access to jobs, shopping, dining and entertainment. It will stimulate development.

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How would the Central Corridor fit in with other regional transit improvements?

The Central Corridor is a critical link in regional transit plans. It connects the region’s two downtowns, the twin hearts of our community. It also connects the Hiawatha Light Rail Transit line, running from downtown Minneapolis to the airport and Mall of America, with the East Metro area. Proposed transit links to areas such as Hinckley, Hastings and St. Croix County, Wis., would also benefit from transit improvement in the Central Corridor.

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Who decides what happens here?

The next phase of the project, preliminary engineering, is being led by the Metropolitan Council. The Federal Transit Administration, which will pay half the cost of the project, has a role in guiding the project to meet federal requirements. Ramsey and Hennepin counties, which will provide a large chunk of planning, construction and operational funding, also will have a say in the project’s scope and operation.

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What has happened up to now?

After years of discussion and community meetings, the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement in April 2006, signaling the start of a 45-day public comment period. A total of 916 people, agencies and organizations offered comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, including 180 who spoke at the Central Corridor Coordinating Committee public hearings in May 2006. More than 570 people attended the four public hearings, held at the University of Minnesota, Lao Family Community in St. Paul, the Minnesota History Center and St. Paul Central High School. At the end of the public comment period, the Metropolitan Council selected light rail as the preferred mode of transit in the corridor and applied to the federal government for permission to enter preliminary engineering. The Federal Transit Administration approved preliminary engineering in December 2006.

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What effects will LRT have on University Avenue during the construction period?

Construction impacts, specifically from the construction of LRT, will be fully assessed in the preliminary engineering phase, before construction begins. As those impacts are assessed, engineers, planners and the affected parties will identify methods for access to businesses and residences while minimizing construction time.

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How have other cities supported business during the construction period of LRT?

There are many ways to support businesses during public works construction projects, including: 1) involving businesses in the planning process; 2) maintaining convenient access by developing alternate access routes; 3) advertising so that customers know that businesses are open during construction; and 4) scheduling road construction activities to accommodate business needs. Some cities have developed marketing campaigns to help keep customers in touch with businesses through a construction period; others have established community development corporations to provide financial assistance and business consulting services to impacted businesses.

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Will there be any government compensation to businesses affected by the construction?

No. But Ramsey County and its partners in the Central Corridor Partnership are working closely with the business community and the Met Council to develop business-mitigation strategies both during and post-construction.

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How many buildings will need to be acquired to make space for LRT?

Few St. Paul buildings should be affected (the vacant Bremer Bank Building at 4th and Cedar is one example). Some buildings have been acquired in Minneapolis near the University of Minnesota.

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Will additional economic development occur?

Yes, additional economic development is likely to occur as a result of city policies and the increased access to businesses around transit stops. St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman appointed two task forces to look at development and land use policies along University Avenue and in downtown St. Paul. Their plan was adopted by the City Council in 2007.

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Will LRT yield high-quality jobs for those living near it?

Transit generates employment opportunities in a variety of ways. As a major public works project, there will be a significant number of construction jobs created. People will also be hired to operate the line. Of greater impact will be the jobs that are likely to concentrate along the line as a result of improved access. Area residents will have easier and less expensive access to jobs in downtown St. Paul, downtown Minneapolis, the University of Minnesota, the airport, the Mall of America, and all points in between. History indicates that employers tend to locate near improved transit because of the easy access to employees and customers.

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How can we ensure that women and people of color benefit from LRT?

We can ensure that all interested parties benefit from LRT by continuing public outreach efforts, by following the federal laws that pertain to the projects and by reaching out to minority communities to be involved in the planning efforts. The preliminary engineering contracts have a 17 percent Disadvantaged Business Enterprise requirement.

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What days and times will LRT operate?

Vehicles will operate every day, 365 days a year. They will operate from early morning until late evening, generally about 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.

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Will LRT reduce air pollution?

Yes. It will replace buses and cars. Reductions in air pollution are modest for any single LRT line.

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Will LRT be emission-free?

Yes. The vehicles are electrically powered. Pollution may occur, depending on how the electricity is generated, at other sites.

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Will LRT be noisy?

No. The vehicles are quieter than a bus, but they have horns for emergencies and bells for crossings.

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Will there be crossing gates at all intersections?

Crossing gates are not proposed at any intersections.

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Will there be pedestrian crosswalks only at major intersections?

This is a community decision. There can be crosswalks at other intersections.

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Will children be safe when LRT comes?

Safety issues will be addressed fully in the preliminary engineering phase. The community will be involved in the planning process.

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How will hearing-impaired pedestrians be served?

Lights to communicate about trains are an option, as are vibrating strips on platforms.

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Will there be traffic lights at every intersection?

There will be more traffic lights than there are today, but they will not likely be at every intersection.

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Will cars only be able to cross at the intersections where traffic lights are located?

Yes. Cars will be able to turn onto and from University at every intersection, but will be able to cross the entire width of University only at signalized intersections.

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Where will left turns be allowed?

Left turns will only be allowed at intersections where traffic lights are located. With few exceptions, signals will be installed every three blocks, but the specific intersections will be determined during the preliminary engineering phase.

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How many parking spaces will be lost and where?

Generally speaking, on-street parking can remain except where there are stations or left turn lanes, so parking options will continue to be available at most locations after construction is completed. The Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority has held meetings with representatives around Dale Street, Raymond Avenue and Snelling Avenue to discuss the anticipated parking impacts of LRT. Parking and access to businesses in these areas are a problem today. A light rail project will create opportunities for additional parking and improved non-automobile access to these areas.

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Does the LRT budget include funds for park and ride locations?

No. The Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority, however, has urged the Met Council to explore all parking options during preliminary engineering to ensure adequate access to the LRT line by all county residents and to minimize disruption in the neighborhoods along the corridor. Construction of park-and-ride facilities is ultimately a city of St. Paul land-use issue that will be decided by city policy-makers.

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Will there still be buses on University Avenue?

Yes. Buses will continue to operate on University Avenue, stopping every block or two as they do now. Because LRT will accommodate many current transit patrons, bus service will be less frequent than today.

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Why have two types of mass transit on the same street?

Buses and LRT serve different needs, and thus both will be provided. Buses will stop every block or two on University Avenue, as they do now. LRT will stop at major intersections, connecting with north/south bus service. Stations for LRT will be approximately every mile.

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What is the impact of the Hiawatha Line thus far?

When the Hiawatha Line made its debut in 2004, ridership hit nearly 3 million. Since then, ridership has more than tripled, according to Metro Transit. Ridership surged to 7.9 million in 2005 and grew another 20 percent in 2006, to 9.4 million.