Minnesota's Union depot
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.
Planning
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.
Transit planned at the hub:
Light Rail
Central Corridor
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
Bicycles and pedestrians
This page last updated
Friday, October 3, 2008 5:10 PM