Community Conversation May 23, 2017

WELCOME!

• Agenda • Project Background • Project Description • Advisory Groups • Public Engagement • Progress and Next Steps • Your Input

Dequindre Cut, Detroit

Ford Spur Multimodal Corridor

Five miles of right-of-way between downtown Saint Paul and the 135-acre Ford Site

History and Potential of Spur • Built to serve Ford Motor Company

Twin Cities Assembly Plant • Owned by Canadian Pacific Railway • No significant rail activity since

plant closed (2011) • New use of the spur could:

• Expand transportation options • Provide a recreation asset • Support Ford Site redevelopment • Improve neighborhood connections

Purpose and Funding

• Study began early 2017 • Examine issues/opportunities for walking

and bicycling and develop preliminary designs

• Consider use for public transit

• $100,000 U.S. TIGER VI Planning Grant received in 2014

• $70,000 from City, with additional funding provided by East Metro Strong and the Ford Motor Company Fund

Goals Summary

• Board with complete list of draft goals • Summary:

• Connect and respect unique neighborhoods and assets • Engage cross-section of community • Enhance transportation system and options

• There are different conditions with their own sets of issues • Industrial • Residential • Commercial

Study Deliverables • Public Involvement Plan • Plan Review & Coordination Document • Corridor inventory and base map • Goals, Evaluation Criteria, and Strategies • Preliminary designs for two conditions: with transit and without

Cond

ition

1

+ Space for Transit

Co

nditi

on 2

Relationship to Riverview Corridor Study

• Downtown Saint Paul to MOA/MSP

• Multiple options on table • Transit-focused, working

on route and mode

• Shorter segment, from Ford Site to east end of St. Clair

• Right-of-way defined • Trail-focused, working on

pedestrian/bike facilities with space for transit if proposed in ROW

Reimagine the Railway (This study)

Public Engagement

Phases of outreach: 1. Study introduction: April – June 2017 2. Preliminary concept review: July – September 2017 3. Revised concept and recommendation review: October 2017 –

March 2018

Public Engagement

• Community Conversations • Community events/small group meetings • Stakeholder update meetings • Agency meetings • Website – www.stpaul.gov/FordSpurStudy

Study Components and Schedule

Advisory Groups

• Project Advisory Group (PAG) • Technical Advisory Group (TAG)

• Provide input and guidance • Share information with organization • Spread the word about opportunities for public input • Identify concerns that require further coordination

Advisory Group Members • City staff - PED, Public Works,

City Council Wards 2 and 3, Mayor’s office

• Ramsey County • Metropolitan Council • Metro Transit • MnDOT • East Metro Strong

• West Seventh Business Assoc. • West 7th/Fort Road Federation (D9) • Highland District Council (D15) • Highland Business Association • Transit for Livable Communities • Saint Paul Public Schools • Metropolitan Design Center • Neighborhood House

Progress to Date

• Project Advisory Group meetings (2) • Technical Advisory Group meeting (1) • Refinement of initial project goals • Land survey of the corridor • Data collection – existing conditions

Next Steps

• Further refine project goals • Develop evaluation criteria • Complete environmental screening document • Develop initial design concepts • Continue PAG/TAG meetings • Small group meetings – community groups, agencies, etc. • Community Conversation #2 – Aug/Sept

Information and Input

• Maps – note your existing concerns/opportunity areas

• Study goals board –anything missing? • Question Wall – your ideas for what this

corridor could be • Tables – discuss with staff • Comment cards • Riverview Corridor representatives

THANK YOU! www.stpaul.gov/FordSpurStudy

Mike Richardson, City Planner Phone: 651.266.6621 Email: mike.richardson@ci.stpaul.mn.us