Welcome to the Robert Street Transitway Project Website!
Welcome to RobertStreetTransit.com. This site will serve a focal point for information and public involvement opportunities for the Robert Street Transitway Alternatives Analysis. The Alternatives Analysis is a joint local and federal planning effort to determine possible improvements to transit service, which aims to ultimately identify a single transit route and mode for development in the future. Up-to-date information on the Alternatives Analysis and study reports will be made available here as the study progresses, as well as announcements for public involvement opportunities. Public comments and inquiries are always welcomed, and can be made on the Contact Us page.
Alternatives Study Spring Tasks
With the alternatives identified and introduced for public review at the February open houses, the Alternatives Study project team has been busy developing details on construction and right-of-way needs, operations, costs and benefits of each alternative route and mode. This process will take us through to early summer. A number of the most promising alternatives will be given closer look which will include an assessment of environmental impacts, expected ridership, and land use. We will provide an update on the process once we narrow the field of alternatives.
Project Update
For a summary of the initial screening of alternatives, Download AA Initiation Package.
Next Open Houses Set for February
A second round of open house meetings for the Robert Street Transitway Alternatives Study is now scheduled for February 26 and 28. The focus with this round is to provide a general update on the progress of the Alternatives Study and also introduce the initial alternative alignments identified for analysis. Project staff will seek feedback from attendees on the selection of the initial alignments, as well as prospective modes, station locations, and land and traffic impacts. Attendees will be able to review and comment on aerial map displays of the initial alignments and the surrounding areas.
The Feb. 26 open house is scheduled from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Dakota County Northern Service Center, Room 110, 1 Mendota Road West, West St. Paul, with a short presentation at 5 p.m.
The Feb. 28 open house is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Neighborhood House, Ferber Room, 179 Robie Street East, St. Paul, with a short presentation at 6:30 p.m.
Dakota County will provide accommodations to persons with disabilities or those who are in need of an interpreter. Contact Dakota County Transportation at 952-891-7100 seven business days prior to the meeting.
Alternatives Analysis activities in the New Year
The start of 2013 will see a number of tasks for the Robert Street Transitway Study wrapping up as others get started. Work on the project Purpose and Need document and Preliminary Screening report is nearly complete, with both going to Steering Committee for review on January 24. The Purpose and Need document outlines the major transportation issues in the study area, as well as goals and objectives that can address the identified needs. The Preliminary Screening report applies basic criteria to roadways and other available rights-of-way in the study area to determine those where investments in transit service and facilities could best address the project goals. Once finalized, both documents will be made available on this site. Once directed by the Steering Committee, the project staff and consulting team will develop a set of alternative route alignments to get a better picture of operations, station and runningway needs, costs, and rider benefits. A second round of open houses is planned for late winter/early spring to share these alternatives with the public and take comments and suggestions on how well they may improve transit service in the area. Notice for the open house meetings will be posted here once dates are set.
Thrive MSP 2040
The Metropolitan Council has recently begun its Thrive MSP 2040 project. This is a long range planning effort to help the Twin Cities region maximize opportunities for growth and prosperity and guide future decisions on transportation (including transitway development), housing, natural resources and economic development. There are several ways to get involved including several rounds of listening sessions and an online message board to share your ideas. Current public involvement information and additional project information is available at http://www.metrocouncil.org/ThriveMSP/
Open Houses and Next Steps
The first round of open houses was held on September 12 and 13 at the Northern Service Center and the Wellstone Center. Project staff and the project consultant were on hand to present the basics of the Alternatives Analysis process and to field questions and comments from the public. We received excellent feedback from attendees on the needs of the study area, possible routes and modes for consideration and project schedule.
Input from the open houses will be used to finalize the study framework, including the project goals and objectives. Following this the project staff and consultants will begin work on identifying alignments and modes for transit service that can effectively address the project goals. A second round of open houses is anticipated in late winter/early spring to present the alternatives for public comment.
Thank you to all those who attended and shared your thoughts. If you did not make it to the open houses, please be sure to share your thoughts with us on our contact us page. You can also view the open house presentation and meeting materials on the documents page.