Officials Kill St. Paul Streetcar, BRT Proposals

The proposed transit lines would have linked the St. Paul airport, downtown, and the Mall of America.

1 minute read

September 10, 2024, 6:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Evening view of downtown St. Paul, Minnesota across Mississippi River.

pabrady63 / Adobe Stock

Ramsey County, Minnesota officials nixed a proposal to build a streetcar or bus rapid transit (BRT) line between downtown St. Paul, the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, and the Mall of America, reports Adam Uren for Yahoo News.

The proposed Riverview Corridor project was slated to cost roughly $2 billion, with some half being funded by federal grants. A BRT alternative would only cost $120 million, but county officials say the BRT proposal “was mainly included in the plans for comparative purposes, and wasn't a priority for the county.” According to the county, “During engagement sessions, issues were raised about potential construction impacts, safety and security concerns facing transit and communities overall, among other issues.”

“Rafael Ortega, District 5 Commissioner for Ramsey County, told the Pioneer Press he realized the Riverview Corridor project was doomed when the Metropolitan Airports Commission raised concerns about a streetcar sharing a track with the Blue Line light rail, as well as road improvements required approaching MSP.”

Friday, September 6, 2024 in Yahoo News

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View from inside car's driver seat while driving.

Car Designs Make it Harder to See Pedestrians

Blind spots created by thicker pillars built to withstand rollover crashes are creating dangerous conditions for people outside vehicles.

15 minutes ago - Bloomberg CityLab

Red and white "Wildfire Evacuation Route" sign on signpost.

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions

An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

July 10 - The Markup

Protester at Echo Park Lake, Los Angeles holding sign that says "Housing is a human right"

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?

The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.

July 10 - Shelterforce Magazine

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Home and Land Services Coordinator

Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA