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Central Corridor LRT: Frequently asked questions

What it is the Central Corridor? What is light-rail transit? How was the decision made to build LRT? Why not bus rapid transit? What is the proposed alignment? What private property will be needed for the project? How will travel lanes and parking be affected?

What about bus service in the corridor? What is the cost? How will the project be funded? Who is responsible for land-use planning? What is the process for public involvement? What's next?

What is the Central Corridor?

The Central Corridor is the primary east-west route between downtown St. Paul and downtown Minneapolis. Nearly 120,000 people live in the Central Corridor, many of whom are transit-dependent. It is also home to a dense concentration of commercial, government, educational, health care, entertainment and cultural activities.

The proposed light rail transit (LRT) line along University Avenue will connect five major centers of activity – the two downtowns, the state Capitol, the University of Minnesota and the Midway area. All told, the corridor contains almost 280,000 jobs, a number that is expected to grow to 345,000 jobs by 2030.

What is light rail transit?

LRT consists of quiet, electrically-powered passenger rail cars operating singly or in short (two- or three-car) trains on fixed rails, either in dedicated right-of-way or mixed traffic. They draw their power from wires 16 feet overhead.

How was the decision made to build a LRT line?

The decision came after nearly two decades of study, led by the Central Corridor Coordinating Committee. That committee consisted of elected officials from St. Paul, Minneapolis, Ramsey and Hennepin counties, and representatives from the Metropolitan Council, Minnesota Department of Transportation and University of Minnesota. During that study, numerous modes of transportation and multiple alignments were considered. The options ultimately were narrowed to three – light rail transit, bus rapid transit or an enhanced version of the bus service already being provided. These options were examined in-depth in an Alternatives Analysis and Draft Environmental Impact Statement completed in April 2006.

The Central Corridor Coordinating Committee then held four public hearings and solicited public comment by telephone, mail and e-mail. A total of 916 people offered comments, with 684 favoring LRT, 92 opposing LRT and 140 expressing no mode preference.

Why not bus rapid transit?

While BRT would be less expensive, the corridor cannot accommodate enough buses to meet the projected transit demand in 2020 and beyond. LRT will serve a projected weekday ridership of 38,100 in 2020 and 43,270 in 2030.

LRT vehicles will have 66 seats, with comfortable standing room to accommodate another 70 people. The line will be designed for two-car trains, but could be modified to accommodate three-car trains if they are needed post-2030.

What is the proposed alignment?

LRT will operate on exclusive right-of-way for the entire 11-mile length of the corridor. As presently proposed, the line will have 15 new stations, connect with the Hiawatha line at the Metrodome station and continue to its terminus at the new Minneapolis multimodal station, which also will serve the soon-to-be built Northstar commuter rail line.

Will private property be needed for the project?

Within most of the corridor, LRT will stay within the existing street right-of-way. No homes will be displaced within the corridor. Some property may be needed along the corridor to accommodate project components. In addition, several businesses could be displaced near the University of Minnesota depending on the final alignment of the line through the campus area.

Will travel lanes and parking be affected?

The University Avenue right-of-way is 120 feet wide within the City of St. Paul. This is wide enough to accommodate LRT and still leave enough room for two travel lanes in each direction. Some on-street parking will remain on University Avenue where possible but much space will be used to create a safe and inviting environment for pedestrians and accommodate left turn lanes to allow smooth traffic flow. See illustration of how the tracks fit into University Avenue in St. Paul. (pdf)

What will happen to bus service in the Central Corridor?

The Route 16 bus will still operate on University Avenue for people traveling to destinations that aren’t located near one of the LRT stations. There still will be express buses on I-94 for those people who want a quick trip from one downtown to the other. And enhanced north-south bus service will be provided along the corridor for people wishing to access the LRT line.

 

What is the cost of the project?

In 2003, the capital cost was estimated at $840 million. This estimate assumed the line would be constructed during the years 2006-08. However, the study and planning process took longer than anticipated. It is now estimated that the project could move into construction by 2010 and be completed in 2013.

As currently proposed, the project has an estimated cost of $909 million. As the line moves through preliminary engineering, costs will be refined.

How will the project be funded?

If the project wins final federal approval and moves into construction, the Federal Transit Administration will fund 50 percent of the capital costs. The other 50 percent will be paid with state and county funds.

Who will be responsible for land-use planning?

The Metropolitan Council’s 2030 Regional Development Framework encourages communities to “plan land use patterns that support transit service and development.” However, the primary responsibility for land-use planning rests with the cities. In St. Paul, which includes 70 percent of the line, Mayor Chris Coleman has appointed two task forces to craft a development vision for the corridor, along with principles goals and strategies to achieve that vision.

What is the process for public involvement?

The Council intends to work very closely with the community as the planning proceeds. The Central Corridor Project Office includes an eight person outreach team. The purpose of the community outreach team is to be an intermediary for the Metropolitan Council and the community on the Central Corridor LRT project. We will do this by building relationships with the public by informing, listening and gathering feedback throughout engineering, construction and operation. In 2007, the Council formed the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) to consult with community, business, and ethnic groups on such issues as station design and access, traffic, safety, parking and mitigation of construction impacts.

The CAC will meet regularly on the third Thursday of every month, held its first meeting on January 18, 2007. Meeting notices, agendas and minutes will be posted on this website. It is likely that subcommittees will be created to provide input on specific topics and issues.

In February 2007, a special Business Advisory Council (BAC) was established by the business-led Central Corridor Partnership to provide business input on LRT design and plans to mitigate the impacts of construction.

What’s next?

In December 2006, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) gave its approval to begin preliminary engineering. During this two-year phase, the Council and our project partners will resolve questions relating to the scope and cost of the project, including the final alignment, station placement and design. We also will finalize management plans, demonstrate our ability to meet federal cost-effectiveness requirements, and obtain commitments for state and local funding needed to match federal dollars. See the project timeline.