The proposed transit lines would have linked the St. Paul airport, downtown, and the Mall of America.
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.”
FULL STORY: A streetcar or rapid bus between St. Paul and MSP Airport? Ramsey County decides neither
St. Paul ‘Arterial BRT’ Could Be Faster, Cost Less Than Streetcar
Officials are eyeing a plan that could replace a proposed streetcar line with a bus rapid transit line.
New Bus Rapid Transit Route Breaks Ground in the Twin Cities
The Twin Cities are on a mission to become the bus rapid transit capital of the United States. The latest improvement to advance that ambition broke ground earlier this week.
The Future of Public Transit: The Bus
The solution to making public transit better doesn’t lie in technological innovations or hyper-modern trains, but in investing in one of its simplest tools.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie