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Minneapolis-St. Paul
Transit Trip

September 12-14, 2018



Minneapolis-St.Paul Transit Trip

Welcome, and thank you for participating in DeKalb County’s trip to Minneapolis-St Paul. While here,
we’ll explore how many of the transit options in the Twin Cities may be applied back home to improve job
access and spur economic development.
While focusing on options such as Arterial Rapid Transit (ART), Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), and Light Rail Transit
(LRT), we will also gain insight into the necessary preconditions for successful transit-oriented developments,
innovative affordable housing policies, and equitable development.
The DeKalb County Transit Master Plan is a critical blueprint needed to enhance transit in the region. As the
plan is developed, our constituents will rely on us to make the best decisions for the many diverse communities
within the county. Use this trip as an opportunity to explore firsthand the pros and cons of multiple transit
modes, so that we can provide additional input for the Master Plan and fully understand the recommendations
that will be made.
The news over the last 6 months makes it clear: Metro Atlanta is renewing its transit focus. We need to envision
the future of transit in DeKalb to develop a robust plan that drives business growth and improves access.
Thank you for joining us.

CEO Michael L. Thurmond

1

2 Minneapolis-St.Paul Transit Trip

Trip Overview Minneapolis-St.Paul Transit Trip

Thank you for joining the tour of the Minneapolis-St.Paul transit network. The trip provides a valuable
opportunity for participants to:

»» Experience an Arterial Rapid Transit (ART) route that is drawing significant ridership and
fostering development.

»» See a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) station that utilizes dedicated guideway on a freeway.
»» Experience Light Rail Transit (LRT).
»» Meet with decision makers and project sponsors from throughout the Minneapolis-St.Paul area.
»» See transit-oriented communities across a range of densities, demographics, and land uses.
»» Gather lessons learned about meaningful community engagement, planning for transit, and

promoting equitable transit outcomes.
Throughout the trip, we will focus on opportunities to foster economic development and promote
connections to jobs while emphasizing equity.
To get the lay of the land, this briefing book outlines some of the key elements of ART, BRT, and
light rail systems and explores characteristics specific to the system in the Twin Cities.
For questions on the ground, contact Shayna Pollock at (678) 595-1819 or Lori Sand at (828) 337-0652.

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Minneapolis-St.Paul Transit Trip Itinerary

Wednesday, September 12

11:15 AM Depart MSP for Marquette Hotel on Blue Line (or travel on your own to arrive at hotel by 12:00)

12:00 PM Arrive hotel

12:15 PM Program Begins (Lunch buffet in Minnesota River Room at Marquette Hotel)
Introduction

Michael Thurmond, CEO, DeKalb County
Alene Tchourumoff, Chair, Metropolitan Council
Welcome & Metro Overview
Brian Lamb, General Manager, Metro Transit
Charles Carlson, Director, BRT Projects
Nick Thompson, Director, Metropolitan Transportation Services at Metropolitan
Council of the Twin Cities
Lucy Galbraith, Director, Transit Oriented Development (TOD)
John Levin, Director, Strategic Initiatives

2:20 PM Special Service Bus from the Marquette Hotel to Rosedale Transit Center

2:52 PM Depart on A-Line (ART) to 46th St

3:00 PM A Line (ART) to Dayton Station

3:10 PM Stop at Dayton Station to See and Discuss TOD & Station Design

3:30 PM A Line (ART) to 46th Street Station

3:45 PM Venn Brewing Company Discussion
ART Elements (A-Line and C-Line)

Katie Roth, Manager, ART
TOD

David Wellington, Director of Acquisitions and Development, Wellington Management

4:30 PM Depart Venn Brewing Company via Blue Line (LRT)

6:30 PM Dinner at Atlas Grill
MSP’s Strengths & National Trends

Dan Bartholomay, CEO, Rail~Volution

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Thursday, September 13 Minneapolis-St.Paul Transit Trip

Breakfast at Marquette Hotel
9:00 AM Green Line to Union Depot

9:30 AM Stop at Western Station and Discuss Development

10:20 AM St. Paul Discussion: Transit Development Before, During, and After

Facilitator – Delores Crowell, Director, Intergovernmental Affairs, DeKalb County
Lucy Thompson, Interim Planning Director, St. Paul Department of Planning and
Economic Development
Mary Kay Bailey, Former Project Manager, Living Cities Integration Initiative,
The Saint Paul Foundation
Jonathan Sage-Martinson, Former Director, Central Corridor Funders Collaborative
Michael Langley, CEO, Greater MSP

11:40 AM Tour Union Depot
Mike Rodgers, Manager, Transit Planning, Ramsey County

12:00 PM Lunch at Union Depot Bar & Grill

Intro to Orange Line + Orange Line Discussion
Christina Morrison, Project Manager, Metro Transit BRT/Small Starts Project Office
Jan Lucke, Planning Director, Washington County Public Works

1:15 PM Special service pickup at Union Depot to Orange Line
Visit in-line station at I-35W & 46th St.

2:15 PM Charter Dropoff at US Bank Stadium

Super Bowl Transit Operations
Brian Funk, Deputy Chief of Operations, Metro Transit

2:30 PM Stadium Tour (optional)

6:00 PM Dinner at Shindig Event Space

Supporting Regional Transit Solutions: A Conversation with Elected and
Appointed Officials
Facilitator – Michael Thurmond, CEO, DeKalb County
Alene Tchourumoff, Chair, Metropolitan Council
Peter McLaughlin, Commissioner, Hennepin County & Board Member, Railvolution
Mayor Cummings, City of Hopkins & Chair of the Regional Council of Mayors

Friday, September 14 5

Breakfast at Marquette Hotel + Depart

Minneapolis-St.Paul Transit TripSystem Map

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Oak Grove Pkwy BROOKLYN PARK MISSISSIPPI RIVERExisting and Planned
93rd Ave MISSISSIPPI RIVER Transitways
85th Ave
Fridley
Brooklyn Blvd

63rd Ave TWIN Brooklyn Center
Bass Lake Rd LAKE

Transit Center

CRYSTAL
LAKE

Robbinsdale CD
Golden Valley Rd
Penn Van
Ave White Rosedale Transit Center
Blvd

Plymouth Avenue/Theodore Wirth Park

Royalston Ave/Farmers Market A

Bassett Creek Valley Downtown 5th St
Bryn Mawr Minneapolis 7th St

West 21st St 11th St

West Lake St Cedar-Riverside
Beltline Blvd
Wooddale Ave LAKE Franklin Ave
Louisiana Ave CALHOUN
Blake Rd Lake St Lake St/Midtown Robert St Downtown
Downtown Hopkins LAKE 46th St 38th St 10th St St. Paul
Shady Oak HARRIET

46th St ST. PAUL Tamarack
50th St/Minnehaha Park Woodbury
MINNEAPOLIS VA Medical Center Central Union Theatre
D Depot
WOODBURY

SouthWest Opus 66th St Minneapolis-St. Paul Fort Snelling
Station City West 76th St International Airport Terminal 1–Lindbergh
Golden Triangle American Blvd Terminal 2–Humphrey
Mall of American Blvd
98th St America
Eden Prairie
Town Center Existing Transitways and Stations

28th Bloomington METRO Blue Line (LRT)
Ave Central METRO Green Line (LRT)
METRO Red Line (BRT)
EDEN PRARIE Shared Station
Rapid Bus Line
MINNESOTA RIVER Cedar Grove Northstar Line

Burnsville Heart of the City Cliff Rd Planned Transitways and Stations
Burnsville Pkwy Palomino Dr
METRO Orange Line (BRT): 2020
Burnsville Center 140th St METRO Orange Line extension (BRT): 2021
147th St METRO Green Line extension (LRT): 2023
Lakeville Kenrick Apple Valley METRO Blue Line extension (LRT): TBD
Transit Station METRO Gold Line (BRT): 2024
LAKEVILLE 161st St METRO Red Line extension (BRT): TBD
Glacier Way Rapid Bus Lines
Lakeville Cedar
195th St updated 6/1/18
215th St

6

Metro Transit Minneapolis-St.Paul Transit Trip

History

Beginning in the late 1860s-early 1870s, disconnected streetcar routes built and operated by the privately-
owned Twin City Rapid Transit Company began to pop up around the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. In the late
1880s, the system was electrified, and the two cities were linked. By the peak of the system in 1922,
Minneapolis-St. Paul had nearly 530 miles of track and 1,021 streetcars.

The rise of the automobile and the Great Depression led to the decline of the streetcar system. Throughout
the 1930s and 1940s, buses were added to the system in lieu of additional streetcars to save on capital costs.
The last streetcars ran in the Twin Cities in 1954; however, the Twin City Rapid Transit Company continued
to run bus service.

In 1967, the Minnesota State Legislature established the Metropolitan Council, a regional planning and
coordinating body for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. The Minnesota State Legislature
simultaneously created the Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) to operate the region’s transit.

In 1970, the MTC acquired the Twin City Rapid Transit Company’s 635 buses. After the company was acquired,
MTC worked to replace the older buses and improve the existing stop infrastructure. Efforts to develop rail
in the 1970s and 1980s failed. In the late 1990s, funding was approved for the first rail line in the Twin Cities.

In 1994, MTC was moved under the Metropolitan Council, and in 1998, it was renamed Metro Transit. In
2004, the Blue Line (formerly known as the Hiawatha Line) opened; it was exactly 50 years and one week
after the final streetcar closure. Since the initiation of the Blue Line, Metro Transit has added an additional
light rail line, ART, and BRT. Significant future investments are already under construction.

Average Commute to Work Annual Delay Due to Traffic

(ACS 2016) (TTI Scorecard)

Atlanta MSA Atlanta

32.1 Minutes 52 Hours

Minneapolis-St.Paul MSA Minneapolis-St.Paul MSA

25.3 Minutes 47 Hours

7

Minneapolis-St.Paul Transit Trip Minneapolis-St. Paul & Metro Transit Overview

Metro Transit is an operating division of the Metropolitan Commuting Patterns
Council, the regional policy-making body and planning
agency. Metro Transit executes the region’s transit plans as Drove Alone
the primary builder and operator of public transit in the
Minneapolis-St.Paul region. The Minneapolis-St. Paul region 78% 78%
is home to approximately 3 million people and includes
seven counties. Atlanta MSA Minneapolis-St.Paul MSA

The Metro Transit system, which averages 264,347 riders Carpooled
each weekday, covers 907 square miles. The system includes
55 local bus routes, 63 express routes (including one ART 10% 8%
route), nine suburban local routes, two light rail lines, and
one commuter rail line. Four additional ART lines, two BRT Atlanta MSA Minneapolis-St.Paul MSA
lines, and two light rail extensions are currently in the
planning or construction phase. Public Transportation
(excluding taxicabs)
By comparison, MARTA’s daily ridership exceeds 500,000,
and the system covers 575 service miles. MARTA has four 3% 5%
heavy rail lines and 101 bus routes. Approximately 2.48
million people live within the Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, and Atlanta MSA Minneapolis-St.Paul MSA
City of Atlanta boundaries served by MARTA.
Work from Home

6% 5%

Atlanta MSA Minneapolis-St.Paul MSA

3% Other

4%

Funding Atlanta MSA Minneapolis-St.Paul MSA

Metro Transit relies heavily on state and local money to Source: American Community Survey 2016

fund its operations and capital programs. In 2016, Metro

Transit had a budget of $590.6 million (66% operating and 34% capital).

From 2008-2017, the Counties Transit Improvement Board (CTIB), a regional transit board composed of five
counties, provided the local funding. The CTIB levied a transit-dedicated .25% sales tax1 and a $20 motor
vehicle excise tax2 (totaling approximately $100 million annually), and a board managed the proceeds of the
tax. In September 2017, the five-member counties terminated the CTIB joint powers agreement. Now, in lieu
of CTIB, each county will make its own funding decisions with their sales tax money. Additionally, Hennepin
and Ramsey counties raised their transit sales tax to .5%.

By comparison, MARTA’s budget in 2016 was $773.7 million (79% operating and 21% capital). Approximately
50% of that budget is derived from sales taxes levied on Fulton County, DeKalb County, Clayton County
(1% each) and the City of Atlanta (an additional .5%). The sales taxes that fund MARTA must be regularly
renewed. The 1% taxes in Fulton, DeKalb, and Clayton will be reduced to half a percent in 2047, and all
sales taxes will expire in 2057.

8 1 No referendum is required to levy a sales tax in Minnesota.

2 Excise taxes are taxes paid on a specific good.

The charts below compare the revenue sources (capital and operating combined) of the two agencies.3 Minneapolis-St.Paul Transit Trip

MARTA

Federal 14% Fares 18%

Local 3%

Other Directly Generated

(ground leases, advertising, parking, etc.)

15%

Taxes & Fees Levied
by Transit Agency
(MARTA sales tax)

50%

Metro Transit

Federal 14% Fares 16%

Other Directly Generated

(ground leases, advertising, parking, etc.)

4%

State 42% Local (CTIB) 24%

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Bus Rapid Transit & Arterial Rapid TransitMinneapolis-St.Paul Transit Trip

About Bus Rapid Transit & Arterial Rapid Transit

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Arterial Rapid Transit (ART) are integrated bus-based “rapid” transit systems typically
utilizing advanced technologies to improve customer convenience and reduce delays (National BRT Institute).
While BRT and ART use capital elements that ground the routes in place, they can be changed more easily
than rail systems that rely on a fixed guideway.
BRT and ART systems are frequently incremental, meaning that systems may phase implementation, moving
from local bus routes to full fixed guideway service over time.
The strategies used to improve travel time and the customer experience include:

»» Dedicated Running Ways/Transit Signal Priority – BRT systems utilize dedicated right-of-ways
to keep transit vehicles out of congested corridors while ART systems frequently rely more heavily on
transit signal prioritization. The BRT running ways may include at-grade or grade separated transit
lanes on arterials or highways, HOV lanes on highways, or exclusive right-of-way. While ART systems
are typically not dedicated, transit signal prioritization or queue jumping lanes can be used to create
a more reliable trip at a lower cost.

»» Enhanced Look and Feel – Specially branded, enhanced stations offer quick passenger boarding and
deboarding. Stations may be enclosed or covered and frequently offer raised passenger platforms,
making the stop more rail-like. BRT and ART rolling stock is frequently of a higher quality than local
bus service. They are usually capped on the front and back, giving the bus a more train-like appearance.
Many are also articulated and provide a smoother ride for customers. Buses are frequently specially
branded for the routes they serve or type of service.

»» Improved Boarding Processes – To improve on-time performance, BRT and ART boarding processes
are frequently expedited by level, multi-door boarding. For many BRT systems, payment occurs at the
station prior to boarding.

»» High-Quality Service – Improved headways, expedited run-times, less frequent stops, and key service
connections deliver high-quality service for BRT and ART systems (Randall/Orchard Road Corridor BRT).

10 Photo source: Global Specialty Contractors

Metro Transit’s BRT & ART Minneapolis-St.Paul Transit Trip

In-Service

A-Line (ART)

The A-Line is a nationally-recognized 10-mile ART route running in mixed traffic on arterials between four cities
(Roseville, Falcon Heights, St. Paul, and Minneapolis). The A-Line has 20 stations located at approximately
half-mile intervals. The enhanced stations feature heat, real-time travel information, ticket machines, seating,
bike racks, and safety enhancements. The stops also feature curb extensions, which enable buses to pick up
passengers from the travel lanes this saves time by reducing re-entry into traffic. The line has transit signal
prioritization, so traffic signals hold green lights for approaching buses.

The line, which was converted from a local bus route in 2016, has an average weekday ridership of 4,7272
and runs every 10 minutes during rush hours, midday, evenings, and weekends. The A-Line connects to the
Blue Line (light rail) at 46th Street Station and the Green Line (light rail) at Snelling & University Station. A-Line
routing is intentionally simple. The entire route runs along two arterials, and the bus only makes one turn.
This simplifies the ridership experience and promotes ease of use.

In the first year of the A-Line, corridor ridership grew by 32% – bucking the national trend of falling bus ridership.
Between 2016 and 2017, the University of Minnesota’s Access Across America paper reported a 7% increase
in the number of jobs accessible within a half-hour when traveling by transit in the Twin Cities. Analysts there
attribute the growth to the A-Line, which is exceeding ridership estimates by 30%.

Within a quarter mile of the A-Line stops, the population is 23,512 and there are 12,756 jobs. Thirteen percent
of the population within a quarter mile of the stops is below the poverty line.

11

2 For comparison, MARTA’s busiest route (39) sees average weekday ridership of 5932. Mean MARTA bus route daily ridership is 1180.

Minneapolis-St.Paul Transit Trip A-Line construction took 11 months, and the total cost for the A-Line project was $27 million. The $27
million included:

»» $15 million for stations and related technology and fare collection

»» $7 million for new vehicles

»» $1 million for transit signal priority

»» $4 million for design work

Red Line (BRT)

The Red Line is a BRT line running between Bloomington, Minnesota and Apple Valley, Minnesota. The
Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA) contracts with Metropolitan Council to run the line. The line is
11 miles and has five stations. The Red Line, which originally opened in 2013, runs partially in mixed traffic
and partially on dedicated bus shoulder lanes. It has significantly upgraded stations with indoor waiting areas.
One of the stations, which opened in 2017, features a center median interstate stop with a pedestrian pathway
to a park-and-ride. Headways on the line are 15 minutes during peak travel periods. It connects to the Blue
Line (light rail) at the Mall of America. The line originally cost $122 million to build, and the additional in-line
station at Cedar Grove station cost $15 million. The project was a partnership between the Dakota County
Regional Rail Authority, the Metropolitan Council, the MVTA, and the CTIB.

Under Construction

C-Line (ART)

The C-Line, which is scheduled to open in 2019, will substantially replace a local bus route currently running
along Penn Avenue. The current local bus route (19) carries 7,000 people each day, which represents one out
of every four people traveling on Penn Avenue.

The C-Line, which will feature larger buses, will be about 25% faster than the current local bus route due to raised
curb boarding and off-board payment. The C-Line project also includes a number of streetscape improvements.

Within a quarter mile of the C-Line stops, the population is 27,548 and there are 79,993 jobs. Twenty-eight
percent of the population within a quarter mile of the stops is below the poverty line.

Orange Line (BRT) Photo source:Skyscraper City

The Orange Line is a 17-mile highway BRT line
connecting Minneapolis, Richfield, Bloomington,
and Burnsville along I-35W. The route will upgrade
and enhance existing local bus service. While it will
have designated stops along the interstate and in
the median, it will not have a dedicated transitway.
Funding for the $150.7 million Orange Line is provided
by CTIB, the State of Minnesota, the Metropolitan
Council, Hennepin County, Dakota County, and
the federal government.
12

A transit-only access ramp between downtown Minneapolis and I-35W and a new Lake Street Station are Minneapolis-St.Paul Transit Trip
both under construction as part of the project. The project also includes an inline station at I-35W and 46th
Street. The project is scheduled to open in 2020-2021.

Gold Line (BRT)

Traveling nine miles from downtown St.Paul to the east, the Gold Line will have dedicated right of way. The
line is scheduled to open in 2024. Ramsey and Washington counties, along with the state of Minnesota,
FTA, and CTIB are funding the project.

BRT/ART Success

There are four key conditions for BRT success:
1. Branding and Marketability
2. Multimodal Connectivity around Stations
3. Competition with Automobiles
4. Transit-Land Use Connection

Branding & Marketability

BRT should be differentiated from local bus service through specially branded buses, enhanced stops, and
dedicated signage. This marketing, which is critical for capturing choice riders, creates a clear distinction
between a premium, high capacity transit solution and a local bus.

Metro Transit’s ART vehicles are uniquely branded to more closely resemble trains. The routes are referred to
as lines, and they appear on maps of the “transitways.” Instead of using the “stop” terminology, boarding
locations are referred to as “stations.” And the stations themselves offer specific branding and amenities
(a full coverage roof, benches, payment vending machines on the platforms, and high curbs for easier boarding).
A-Line buses also feature a unique color scheme, a unique seating layout, and very wide backdoors.

Multimodal Connectivity Around Stations

Tying BRT/ART lines into other critical amenities and facilities like rail lines, park and ride lots, and bicycle/
pedestrian facilities increases ridership and the reach of a system.

In Minneapolis-St. Paul, the A-Line serves as a critical link between the Blue Line and the Green Line (LRT
service). This connection bolsters ridership. The western terminus of the A-Line also serves as a major bus
terminal. All new A-Line stations also include bike racks, increasing the amenities at stops and promoting
multimodal connections.

13

The in-line highway stations along the Orange LineMinneapolis-St.Paul Transit Trip
(under construction) feature pedestrian access stairs
and elevators moving riders from street level to the
highway grade.
On the Red Line, the in-line Cedar Grove stop along
Minnesota 77 features an enclosed skyway connecting
a park and ride lot to the bus stop. Further south
along the Red Line route, the Minnesota River
Greenway trail runs alongside the route.

Competition with Automobiles

By offering exclusive or managed right of way, limited idling time at stations, and quick headways, BRT and
ART can compete with the travel time and flexibility of automobile travel. If BRT lines are built with park and
ride lots, riders can also save the time and money associated with searching and paying for parking. By providing
the convenience of a car and the cost savings of riding public transit, BRT and ART can attract choice riders
to the system.
On the A-Line, signal prioritization, all-door boarding, and curb bump-outs ensure reliability and on-time arrival.
The A-line has seen a 27% decrease in travel time thanks to these ART amenities.
The planned Orange Line will allow vehicles to stop along the interstate without the time investment of exiting
and re-entering the highway.

Transit-Land Use Connection

Mixed-use developments create the density necessary for bus rapid transit systems to succeed. Routes that
serve high-density residential dwellings and commercial/office uses yield enough transit demand for a bus rapid
transit route.
The A-Line’s key connecting role between the Blue Line and the Green Line is valuable to developers Transit-
oriented development along the line is accelerating. Multiple parcels along the route are currently being
redeveloped, and St. Paul’s new zoning code emphasizes walkability throughout, alongside density at major
street nodes.

14

Light Rail Minneapolis-St.Paul Transit Trip

About Light Rail

Light rail is typically characterized by electrically propelled vehicles in singles or short trains that operate
along dedicated right-of-way.

Metro Transit’s Light Rail

Blue Line

The 12-mile Blue Line connects the Mall of America and the Minneapolis-St.Paul Airport to Downtown
Minneapolis. The line, which opened in 2004 at a total cost of $334.3 million, was the region’s first light
rail line. Since the line opened, two additional stations have been added, bringing the total number to 19.
The Blue Line accounts for 13% of Metro Transit’s total ridership.

A 10-stop, 13-mile Blue Line extension to Brooklyn Park is currently planned. Metro Transit aims to finish
design and apply for federal funds for the project in 2018. The Blue Line extension project cost is $1.536
billion ($118 million/mile). Hennepin County has committed $526.8 million to the project, and the Hennepin
County Regional Railroad Authority committed an additional $149.6 million. The rest of the match funding
is expected to come from the Minnesota DOT and the State of Minnesota. The funding package relies on
the expectation of a full funding grant agreement of $752.7 million from the Federal Government.

Green Line

The 11-mile Green Line has 23 stations and connects Downtown Minneapolis and Downtown St.Paul. Prior
to its opening, the two downtowns had not been connected by transit for 60 years. The route carries about
40,000/weekday, accounting for 21% of the total system ridership. The total project cost was $957 million.

While the Green Line runs through both Minneapolis and St. Paul, the St. Paul segment is 50% longer. The

route runs through a diverse cross-section of neighborhoods; from the Central Business District in Minneapolis
thGOrRoNEuTEHgENh the University of Minnesota and then across an industrial district, a diverse immigrant neighborhood,

GO GLOBAL. GO LOCAL.thLeINhiEstoric center of St. Paul’s African-American population, Little Mekong, and finally reaching downtown
MPLS-STP

St. Paul. The route is culturally, racially, and socioeconomically diverse.

N SE 4th St 280 Raymond Ave Dale St Robert St
WE Mackubin St
MississippiWashington Ave SE University Ave Vandalia St Hamline Ave Western Ave Rice St I35E
S Transfer Rd Lexington Pkwy
River Huron Fairview Ave Snelling Ave Victoria St Galtier St I35E/I94
Washington 27th Ave

I35W Riverside Emerald E 12thCedar StWall

Cedar Cretin 4th St

I94 Cleveland I94

Source: Central Avenue Funders Collaborative

On the Green Line celebrates and supports all the businesses and business districts MINNEAPOLIS SAINT PAUL LITTLE MEKONG
along the region’s newest light rail line, the Green Line. The business districts include RICE STREET/NORTH END
Lowertown, Rice Street/North End, Little Mekong, Historic Rondo, Historic Frogtown, WEST BANK RAYMOND CREATIVE LOWERTOWN ARTIST DISTRICT
The Midway, and the Raymond Creative Enterprise Zone in Saint Paul; and Prospect Park, STADIUM VILLAGE ENTERPRISE ZONE
Stadium Village and the West Bank in Minneapolis. All of these districts are exciting PROSPECT PARK THE MIDWAY 15
and alluring destinations in and of themselves, with unique restaurants, retailers,
service businesses, entertainment venues and much more. We encourage everyone to HISTORIC FROGTOWN
visit, explore, support and even frequent these businesses now during construction and
when the Green Line trains start running in 2014! More information at onthegreenline.com. HISTORIC RONDO

2 3

Minneapolis-St.Paul Transit TripCritically, through the diversity of the neighborhoods, the infrastructure remains the same the entire length
of the line. Due to FTA evaluation criteria, an initial proposal showed stations every half-mile through the
business districts and every mile through some of the most disadvantaged neighborhoods. However, thanks
to neighborhood activists, the FTA revised their evaluation criteria to reflect other route features, such as
economic development, and each stop along the route is now a half-mile apart. Beyond the spacing, the
station design remains remarkably similar throughout the 11 miles. This treatment emphasizes equity across
the alignment.
Thanks to extensive community engagement efforts beginning prior to construction, the Green Line is widely
recognized for its role in fostering positive and inclusive economic development along the route. The Central
Corridor Funders Collaborative, a partnership of 14 local and national foundations, is focused on leveraging
rail development to achieve community-wide benefits and promoting effective coordination and collaboration,
building a strong local economy, ensuring access to affordable housing, and creating vibrant transit-oriented
places. The funders pooled $12 million in grants over eight years. The Collaborative helped small businesses
prepare for light rail construction; 128 street-level businesses opened during the four-year construction period
(13 more than closed or relocated). Fearing an affordability shortfall, housing partners set to work to build
and maintain affordable housing. Overall housing in the corridor has seen a net gain of 4,757 since 2011,
and one out of every five new housing units along the corridor is long-term affordable housing.
The 14.5-mile Southwest Light Rail Transit (Green Line Extension) will run southwest from the Target Field
Station and include 16 new stations. The project will cost an estimated $2 billion. Hennepin County has
committed $592.9 million to the project, and the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority committed
an additional $199.5 million. The rest of the match funding is expected to come from the state of Minnesota,
local contributions, and CMAQ funding. The funding package relies on the expectation of a 2019 full funding
grant agreement of $928.8 million from the federal government. Construction is expected to begin this
year, and service is expected to start in 2023.

16

Transit Oriented Development Minneapolis-St.Paul Transit Trip

Transit Oriented Developments (TODs), (walkable and bikeable neighborhoods within a half mile of high
capacity public transit) offer a transit land use connection that is conducive to BRT, ART, and light rail. They
frequently offer a mix of housing, office, retail, and commercial. Through their proximity to public transit,
TODs reduce reliance on single occupancy vehicles, promote active lifestyles, improve access to jobs, and
create opportunities for upward mobility.

Successful TOD Components

When planning and zoning for TODs, the following key ideas and principles help to foster successful and
viable development:

»» Parking- Managing the supply of parking with maximum parking requirements promotes efficiency
and pedestrian-friendly environments.

»» Permitted and Prohibited Uses- Allowing uses that generate transit traffic (i.e. residential, office, and
retail) while prohibiting uses that are more auto-centric (i.e. warehousing, storage, and drive-throughs).

»» Density and Proximity- Allow for increased height and density and reduced parking requirements
for locations closest to transit.

»» Urban Design- Implementing standards for the streetscape, relationship to the street, and location/
design of parking structures builds a transit and pedestrian-friendly community.

»» Street framework plans-Establishing street grids for all superblocks promotes connectivity for all modes.

Minneapolis-St. Paul TOD

Metro Transit’s TOD office works to maximize the development impact of transit investments by integrating
transportation, jobs, and housing. The office works with developers, communities, and partner jurisdictions
to build TODs throughout the region, including joint development on agency-owned land. Together with
the Metropolitan Council and strong policies and zoning codes that incentivize TOD in Minneapolis and St.
Paul, MSP’s TOD is booming.

In St. Paul, Traditional Neighborhood Districts (T Districts) are intended to foster the development and growth
of inclusive pedestrian-oriented villages; the districts are built along a scale of increasing density based on the
proximity to transit. The city of Minneapolis is proactively approaching TODs by outlining zoning and design
requirements ahead of time. A small number of key development priorities were identified in nine areas
along transit corridors. In these areas, housing equity and density are a focus.

In addition, the Metropolitan Council and the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners both fund moderate-
to high-density development projects within walking distance of LRT, BRT, ART or commuter bus.

17

Minneapolis-St.Paul Transit Trip Focus on Metro Transit’s TODs

Photo source: Ryan Companies

Allianz Field

In Saint Paul, the city of St. Paul entered a master agreement with a joint venture to build a TOD on a 9.9-acre
parcel owned by Metro Transit. The parcel, which sits at the intersection of the Green Line and the A-Line,
will be leased to the City of St. Paul for 52 years. The joint development will include a 20,000-seat soccer
stadium, residential, office, retail, and public open spaces. The city will own the stadium, and Metro Transit
expects to receive at least $29 million over the life of the project.

The city of St. Paul estimates that approximately 7,000 people will use transit to access the stadium on
game days.

Frogtown/Summit University

Frogtown, which is home to three Green Line stops (Victoria Street, Dale Street, and Western Ave), is home to
a diverse, working-class population. During the development of the Green Line, gentrification of the area was
a major concern for locals. However, the fear of displacement by market rate TOD has not materialized. Due
to strong public-private partnerships anchored by community development corporations, context-sensitive
TODs are now in place along the route. The University Dale Apartments provide workforce housing through
a collaboration with the city of St. Paul, the Public Library, the community, and Legacy Management. Across
the street, 50 units of senior housing sit above retail at Frogtown Square. The Western U Plaza near the Western
Avenue Station features ground-floor retail below a mix of affordable housing and market rate units.

Photo source: Knight Foundation New zoning codes allow accessory dwelling units
(ADUs) on existing owner-occupied, single-family
lots. This will help to increase the density of the
neighborhood, provide a source of income for
owner-occupants, and build pedestrian traffic along
the corridor.

The community-led development in Frogtown began
18 long before the Green Line opened. During the planning

phases of the transit project, area residents, business owners, neighborhood development associations, and Minneapolis-St.Paul Transit Trip
planning authorities along the entire route began collaborating to prepare for the transformative impacts
of light rail. Now, community-driven TODs dot the length of the Green Line.

Photo source: Ryan Companies

Vintage on Selby

A joint venture of Ryan Companies and Excelsior Group, the Vintage on Selby sits along the A-Line. The building,
which contains more than 200 housing units and retail on the ground floor, is all market rate.

Ford Site

Ryan Companies was recently chosen to redevelop a 122-acre former Ford plant site. Over the last 10 years,
the city of St. Paul worked with the surrounding neighborhoods to develop a vision for a connected, livable,
mixed-use development along the A-Line. Before being selected, Ryan Companies met with the city of St.
Paul to ensure that the city’s vision and goals are closely aligned. The city’s current master plan vision includes
a zoning and public realm plan, and it will be used to guide the development. By setting expectations before
a developer was chosen, the city had the opportunity to create a framework for this critical TOD.

19

Minneapolis-St.Paul Transit Trip Guide to the Ride

A-Line (ART)

Ford & Woodlawn is the location of a The Minnesota State Fair is the
redevelopment on a former Ford largest state fair in the U.S. by
Factory Site. The Ryan Company will average daily attendance.
be developing the parcel to include
parks and open space, a variety of Snelling & Dayton is the
housing typologies at multiple price location of a mixed-use TOD
points, and work spaces. with market rate housing. The
development is anchored by a
Whole Foods.

20

Blue Line (LRT) Minneapolis-St.Paul Transit Trip

DowGntovoeNwrincnoElmlWaeaesrnttTteahrMPloaglaluezstaeFiDeilsdtrict/Hennepin Ave Lake Street Station is a mixed-use TOD project
on a small infill parcel. The project includes
Nicollet Mall is a 12-block Cedar-Riverside affordable senior housing, retail space, a public
pedestrian and transit mall that Franklin Ave plaza, and station access. The TOD was a
serves as a shopping and dining Lake St/Midtown partnership between the city of Minneapolis
destination. The light rail station and Wellington Management.
is located on 5th, but it marks the 38th St
beginning of the busway.

46th St

50th St/Minnehaha Park

975 parking spots at Fort Snelling VA Medical Center
improve the accessibility of light
rail for commuters Fort Snelling
Terminal 1–Lindbergh

Terminal 2–Humphrey

Mall of American Blvd
America

28th Bloomington
Ave Central

With more than 5,000 customer boardings a day, the Mall of
America Transit Center is the busiest location in the regional
transit network. Approximately 20% of the Mall of America’s
11,000 year-round employees take transit to work.

21

Minneapolis-St.Paul Transit Trip Green Line (LRT)

Acting as an anchor institution, the University of
Minnesota-Twin Cities is served by the Green Line.
Ridership is further encouraged by the U-Pass
program, which offers students unlimited passes at
a quarter of the usual cost. Almost half of the
student body purchases these passes.

LSCHVDiWenaaacleFxeptilseimallitnotiirrSegnoinvtlrtiag/enRoeRSaniAAtwAycvvvPeeemAekvoSWwteneydstPAgrvatoeSEsetWaDpaseotesditcwtBuGnBatPomanvaonkrVeNkiwkrillncnaoElmglWaeeaesrnttTteahrMPloaglaluezstaeFiDeilsdtrict/Hennepin AveA partnership between the Twin Cities LISC,
the Greater Minnesota Housing Corporation,
the Twin Cities Community Land Bank, the
Aurora/St. Anthony Neighborhood Development
Corporation, and a private developer, Western
U features ground-floor retail below both
affordable and market-rate housing. The
development occupies an historic structure —
the former Old Home Foods site.

DOWNTOWN
ST. PAUL

An old warehouse site five blocks Connection point Robert St
south of Westgate was purchased for the A-Line 10th St
for redevelopment. The proposed
project, which relies on $19 million Central Union
in tax-exempt housing revenue Depot
bonds, includes two new public
parks, three new streets, and
affordable housing.

Located just south of the State Capitol,a few blocks from
St.Joseph’s hospital, and immediately adjacent to more
than 1200 employees at the Elmer L. Andersen Human
Services Building, 10th St Station is conveniently located for
thousands of employees in Downtown St. Paul.

The public art at the station features glass tiles and stone
mosaics that reference ice palaces constructed during the
St.Paul Winter Carnival from 1886-1937.

22

Notes Minneapolis-St.Paul Transit Trip
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Minneapolis-St.Paul Transit Trip

Trip organized by

Atlanta Regional Commission 25
atlantaregional.org