Eastern end of Gold Line route is likely to change; project will move forward
T
he Gateway Corridor Commission will begin looking at alternatives for an eastern route alignment for the Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit project. The move comes as a result of a Lake Elmo City Council vote Jan. 5 to not support the proposed route through the city. Three miles of the 12 mile route, and two stations, were proposed to be located in Lake Elmo.
The Lake Elmo City Council voted unanimously in September 2014 to support the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) that identified the general route and mode of transit. An amendment to the LPA was required of Lake Elmo, Woodbury and Washington County to finalize the route on the east end of the line from Saint Paul to Woodbury/Lake Elmo. Woodbury approved the amendment in December.
Lake Elmo's decision does not stop the project. The Gateway Corridor Commission is committed to providing east metro residents with a transportation alternative which best meets the needs of the east metro. The Gateway Corridor Commission will begin to determine a process for redefining the eastern end of the route at its Jan. 14 Policy Advisory Committee and commission meetings. A number of alternate routes were already studied. These routes and additional routing information will be revisited for further evaluation in the coming months. The public will be invited to participate at each step of the way.
The public is invited to attend these meetings:
Policy Advisory Committee
Jan. 14, 1:30 p.m., Woodbury City Hall
Gateway Corridor Commission
Jan. 14, 3 p.m., Woodbury City Hall
There is a public comment period during the PAC meeting. The public is welcome to observe the commission meeting.
The Gold Line is expected to provide residents with access to jobs, recreation and shopping along the entire corridor by offering frequent, all-day service in both directions. The buses would ride in an exclusive lane which is conducive to business and residential development.
About the Gateway Corridor rapid transit project
The Gateway Corridor Gold Line BRT is a proposed bus rapid transit line that would run next to Interstate 94 for 12 miles in an exclusive lane on Hudson Road and 4th Street between the Union Depot in downtown Saint Paul and Manning Avenue. All-day transit service would stop at multiple stations and include connections to the growing regional transit system. The system could open for service by 2022 and will provide a focal point for new economic development opportunities as the region grows. This would be Minnesota's first BRT line in an exclusive lane. The work is led by the Gateway Corridor Commission, which is comprised of local elected officials, business and community leaders. More information is available at www.theGatewayCorridor.com.
|
|
|
Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit (Gateway Corridor) route change is likely after Lake Elmo's decision. The alignment will be re-evaluated by the Gateway Corridor Commission.
|
|
