Critical decisions loom on Central Corridor

Council plans public update meetings, listening sessions

The Metropolitan Council must make several critical decisions by the end of February about proposed features for the Central Corridor light-rail transit project. The timetable is necessary so preliminary engineering can be completed to meet the Federal Transit Administration’s September application deadline for permission to enter final design in 2009.

Among the decisions to be made:

Whether or not to build a tunnel through the University of Minnesota campus.
The alignment and terminus of the line in downtown St. Paul.
The extent of reconstruction of University Avenue.
Whether any stations will be added to what is currently proposed.
Whether to build three-car station platforms now rather than later.

Critical decisions on the scope of the Central Corridor light rail project must be made by the Metropolitan Council in late February in order to keep to the project timeline. See larger view.

“The reality is that we cannot build this project unless the federal government pays half the cost,” said Council Chair Peter Bell. “And the federal government won’t partner with us unless we reduce the cost to about $840 million and meet their cost-effectiveness requirements.”

The project described in the draft environmental impact statement – including a tunnel at the U of M, extension of the line to the Union Depot in St. Paul and reconstruction of University Avenue from storefront to storefront – was previously estimated to cost about $932 million. New federal requirements for factoring inflation and contingency spending have since raised those costs to $990 million.

“No major rail transit line in this region or this country has been built without major compromises being made,” Bell said. “We will not be able to satisfy every group’s requests. We are relying on our project partners and community advocates to bring a spirit of compromise to the table.”

Public update meetings, listening sessions scheduled

Central Corridor funding piechart; estimated total cost is $840 million; state's share is $280 million (33%); federal share is $420 million (50%); counties share is $140 million (17%)

Project costs for Central Corridor light rail must be pared down to $840 million in order to meet the federal Cost Effectiveness Index. The federal government pays half the cost of projects that meet the CEI and win approval for funding.

Seven meetings to provide community updates on the Central Corridor project followed by three listening sessions for Metropolitan Council members to receive public feedback are planned in January and February.

The seven update meetings are set between Jan. 15 and Feb. 5. At the meetings, the public will be able to interact with technical and outreach staff to get updates on the project so the public can be prepared to give feedback at the later listening sessions for members of the Council and the Central Corridor Management Committee (CCMC).

The purpose for the listening sessions, which will be held Feb. 6 and 7 in Minneapolis and Feb. 11 in St. Paul, is to give the public an opportunity to voice their concerns in person to members of the Council and CCMC. The CCMC includes the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul, commissioners from Ramsey and Hennepin counties, some Metropolitan Council members, a University of Minnesota official, a businesses representative, a community representative and officials from several state agencies. This body advises the full Metropolitan Council on the project.

People who cannot attend the meetings may contact the Central Corridor LRT Project office at 651-602-1940 and ask for an outreach coordinator, who will pass along their comments. See a list of outreach staff’s direct contact information.

The public update meetings are scheduled as follows:

Tuesday, Jan. 15 – 5:30-7 p.m., Hamline University, Drew Science Room 118, 811 Simpson St., St. Paul.
Thursday, Jan. 24 – 8-9:30 a.m., Lao Family Center, 320 University Ave., St. Paul.
Monday, Jan. 28 – 5:30-7 p.m., Buetow Music Auditorium, Concordia College, 300 Hamline Ave. N., St. Paul.
Monday, Jan. 28 – 7-9 p.m., Prospect Park United Methodist Church, SE Malcolm & SE Orlin Ave., Minneapolis.
Wednesday, Jan. 30 – 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Downtown St. Paul Alliance Bank Center Food Court, 55 E. 5th St., St. Paul.
Thursday, Jan. 31 – 6-8 p.m., Central Corridor Project Office, 540 Fairview Ave. N, Ste. 200, St. Paul.
Tuesday, Feb. 5 – 8-9:30 a.m., Central Corridor Project Office, 540 Fairview Ave. N., Ste. 200, St. Paul.

The listening sessions will be held:

Wednesday, Feb. 6 – Noon-2 p.m., University of Minnesota, Weisman Museum, 333 East River Rd., Minneapolis.
Thursday, Feb. 7 – 5:30-7:30 p.m., Metro Transit Fred T. Heywood Offices, 560 6th Ave. N., Minneapolis.
Monday, Feb. 11 – 5:30-7:30 p.m., Metropolitan Council chambers, 390 N. Robert St., St. Paul.

Central Corridor Project basics

Outreach staffer Jessica Hill looking at map with group.

The Council will host project update meetings in January and February for the public as well as three listening sessions in February to take comments. Pictured here is Jessica Hill, Central Corridor community outreach coordinator, talking with the public at a fall 2007 open house.

The Central Corridor LRT project linking downtown St. Paul and downtown Minneapolis via Washington and University avenues is one of several rail and bus “transitways” proposed to be implemented in the seven-county metro area by 2020.

Construction would begin in 2010 on the planned 11-mile line, with service beginning in 2014. The line would connect with the Hiawatha LRT line at the Metrodome station in Minneapolis and the soon-to-be built Northstar commuter rail line at the new Minneapolis multimodal station. The line will carry a projected 38,000 riders each weekday by 2020 and 43,000 riders by 2030.

The Metropolitan Council would be the grantee of federal funds. The Council is charged with leading the design and building of the line in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The CCMC provides advice and oversight.