HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 01-07 Rush Line open houses slotted for January MAPLEWOOD REVIEW3/7/2016 Rush Line open houses slotted for January I Lillie Suburban Newspapers - LillieNews.com
Rush Line open houses
slotted forJanuary
Submitted by adminl on Tue, 01/06/2015 - 1 1:31 am
By: Patrick Larkin
LEGEND
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'A Pmd at the Rush 1....ine open houses scheduled for mi ...
'lanuary. (submitted graphic)
A fall walking tour brought residents near one potential
Rush Line route together to walk along the route with
Rush Line planning officials. Among the many
comments heard was a desire to keep the transit
corridor out of Swede Hollow Park.
(Patrick Larkin/Review)
http://eastsi dereviewnews.com/articles/2015/01 /06/rush-I i ne-open-houses-slotted-j anuary 1/2
3/7/2016 Rush Line open houses slotted for January I Lillie Suburban Newspapers - LillieNews.com
New alignments on the table
Bringing more potential routes to the table, Rush Line Corridor staff will present updated information about the potential transit line in
open house events scheduled in mid-January.
The Rush Line Corridor is a transit line that would put a public transportation corridor from downtown St. Paul through the East Side
up to either White Bear Lake or Forest Lake. Transit planners presented early studies of the potential routes over the summer and
fall of 2014. Now, after taking in feedback from residents, they're coming back to the table to present updated findings.
A study concluding in summer 2015 will decide on a specific alignment and mode — staff are studying both light rail and BRT (bus
rapid transit) options.
Earlier public outreach presented East Side residents with two basic routes, either along 1-35E or through Swede Hollow Park, but a
new approach by planning staff will include presenting a wider array of potential routes.
"What we've heard is that there is a desire for us to look at alternative routes," said Josh Olson, planning specialist for Ramsey
County Regional Rail Authority. "Folks in Swede Hollow will be pleased to hear that there are other alignments on the map."
Planners will then take feedback from residents' thoughts about the multitude of routes to find what residents prefer. Then, after
there's agreement, staff will analyze the alignments in detail, looking at ridership potential and looking at the routes from an
engineering perspective.
Olson noted that the open houses will also provide an opportunity for residents to give feedback on potential transit stop locations.
The open houses will also seek to provide more general information about the project.
"We're hoping to present more clarity," said Deborah Carter McCoy, spokesperson for Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority.
Staff will provide data on traffic patterns, potential ridership, employment and education centers, and more to explain why a transit
corridor is being pursued.
A lot of residents asked basic clarifying questions about the mission of the project on walking tours through potential corridors in fall
2014, Carter McCoy said.
By providing more information on the socioeconomic data behind the project, statistics on projected population and employment
growth, staff are hoping the project will make more sense to residents of St. Paul, Maplewood, White Bear Lake and Forest Lake.
Staff will also provide basic details about the different features of light rail, bus and bus rapid transit.
While many folks know what light rail is, said Olson, "for most communities, BRT is still a new thing."
Contact Patrick Larkin at 651-748-7816 or at eastside@lillienews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ESRPatrickLark.
Open houses scheduled
To weigh in about the Rush Line Corridor or learn more, visit one of three open houses.
- An East Side open house takes place Wednesday, Jan. 14 from 6 to 8 p.m, with a presentation at 6:30 p.m. at Duluth & Case
Recreation Center, 1020 Duluth St.
- A Maplewood open house takes place Thursday, Jan. 15 from 5 to 7 p.m. with a presentation at 5:30 p.m. at Maplewood
Community Center, 2100 White Bear Ave.
- A Hugo open house takes place Tuesday, Jan. 13 from 5 to 7 p.m. with a presentation at 5:30 p.m. at Hugo City Hall, 14669
Fitzgerald Ave. N.
Residents unable to attend open houses can learn more about the project and provide input at www.rushline.org.
http://eastsi dereviewnews.com/articles/2015/01 /06/rush-I i ne-open-houses-slotted-j anuary 2/2