Minnesota's Union depot
Rendering from St. Paul Downtown Station Area Plan by Urban Strategies
The Vision
In the comprehensive long-range transit vision laid out by the Ramsey County Regional Rail Authority, many modes of transit will come together at the refurbished Union Depot. At this regional transit hub, passengers will transfer seamlessly from passenger rail to buses and light rail trains. Commuters and visitors arriving on trains will connect with local transit lines to get to jobs, pro sports and entertainment venues, shopping and restaurants.
The Union Depot Multi-Modal Transit Hub represents the next stage in the East Metro region's transportation future. A revitalized Union Depot will blend transit modes that exist today with others that are programmed in the region's long-range plan in one historic location. This facility will allow for a seamless transfer among transportation modes while providing access to all of downtown St. Paul's services for passengers and those meeting them. It would serve regional, state and community needs.
The Latest News
Environmental Assessment Published
In order to secure federal funding for the purchase and renovation of Minnesota's Union Depot, Ramsey County and its partner agencies were required to perform an environmental assessment of the project. A notice of availability was published in the August 24, 2009 EQB Monitor on behalf of the Federal Highway Administration and Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority in cooperation with the Federal Transit Administration.
The comment period for the Draft EA will remain open from August 24-October 8, 2009. Written comments on the Draft EA will be accepted until the close of business on October 8, 2009.
Comments may be made by:
Mail: Steve Morris, Transit Project Manager, RCRRA, 50 W Kellogg Boulevard, Suite 6560 RCGC-West, St. Paul, MN 55102
Phone: (651) 266-2795 (note: This line will record comments only and is not staffed. To ask questions about the project or the environmental assessment, contact Steve Morris at (651) 266-2784)
Fax: (651) 266-2761
E-mail: Steve Morris
Public Hearings Scheduled
To afford an opportunity for all interested persons, agencies and groups to comment on the EA, two public hearings have been scheduled for September 9, 2009, at the Union Depot Head House, 214 4th St. E., St. Paul, MN 55101:
- 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The public hearings will be open house format with formal presentations. The formal presentations during the afternoon meeting begin at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.; for the evening meeting the formal presentations will be at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. A court reporter will be on hand to record oral comments. Individuals with a disability who need a reasonable accommodation to participate in the public meeting or comment on the Draft EA should contact the RCRRA Project Manager (651-266-2784).
Copies of Environmental Assessment Available for Review
Copies of the EA for the rehabilitation and reuse of Minnesota’s Union Depot as a multi-modal transit hub are available for review online (Click here for the complete assessment, broken into sections. Some of the sections are still large and might require some time to download) or at the following libraries and RCRRA offices during regular business hours:
- St. Paul Central Library, 90 West Fourth Street, St. Paul, MN, 55102
- Rondo Community Outreach Library, 461 N. Dale Street, St. Paul, MN, 55103
- Hamline Midway Library, 1558 West Minnehaha Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55104
- Merriam Park Library, 1831 Marshall Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55104
- St. Anthony Park Library, 2245 Como Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55108
- Dayton’s Bluff Library, 645 East 7th Street, St. Paul, MN, 55106
- Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority, 50 W Kellogg Boulevard, Suite 6560 RCGC-West, St. Paul, MN 55102
- Mn/DOT Library, Minnesota Department of Transportation, M.S. 155, Room 175, Transportation Bldg., 395 John Ireland Boulevard, St. Paul, MN, 55103
The Background
In 2002, the Ramsey County Regional Rail Authority formed a group, the LOCATE Task Force, made up of business and civic leaders, to help identify a site for a potential multi-modal transit center in downtown St. Paul. The group evaluated locations for the transit center and assessed which transit modes might be suitable for the facility. One facility stood out. The Union Depot is located on the Mississippi riverfront in the heart of the capital city. The Depot lies in the vibrant Lowertown neighborhood, just a mile south of the state Capitol.
To read a copy of the depot site analysis, completed by LTK Engineering Services in 2003, click on the links below (or right click and save to download the PDF files):
Report Cover
Report Summary
Body of the Report
Figures 1-2, 1-3, 3-3, 4-1, 4-2, 5-1, 5-2, 5-3, 5-4
Figures 2-1 through 2-10, 3-1, 3-2
Appendix One
Appendix Two
Appendix Three
Foresight
Thanks to generous federal funding and far-sighted county investment in the project to date, work on the multi-modal transit center will be ready to begin when the U.S. Postal Service moves its depot mail-sorting operations to Eagan by the end of 2010.
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Transit planned at the hub |
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| Light Rail Central Corridor Bicycles and pedestrians |
Regional and Inter-City Buses Metro Transit Greyhound Jefferson Lines |
Passenger Rail Amtrak Midwest High-Speed rail |
Other Corridors Rush Line Red Rock Robert Street Interstate 94 |
This page last updated
Monday, August 24, 2009 3:48 PM