Bus Rapid Transit Extension at Risk in St. Paul

"A proposed two-mile loop through downtown St. Paul — an extension of the [Gold Line] rapid-transit bus line — is in doubt after two Ramsey County commissioners said they oppose it," reports Bob Shaw.

"The Gold Line would run from downtown St. Paul through Maplewood, Oakdale and Woodbury," explains Shaw. "The rapid-transit service — the first in the state — would run buses every seven minutes during rush hours." The loop section of the project in question would add another 1,000 riders to the system every day, according to system planners. Those additional riders might be necessary to secure funding for the rest of the $420 million Gold Line project.

According to Shaw, the two opposing commissioners question the project's cost whether the project would duplicate existing service, and whether the addition of so many buses to the streets would exacerbate traffic in St. Paul. Shaw also reported on opposition to the project in some of the suburban communities the Gold Line would link to Downtown St. Paul.