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Welcome, and thank you for your interest in the Twin Cities' next exciting transit project—the
Gateway Corridor. The Federal Transit Administration—or FTA—along
with the Gateway Corridor Commission and the Metropolitan Council have initiated the environmental
review process for the Gateway Corridor. This video will take you through what the
Gateway Corridor project is and why it's needed, as well as what's included in the environmental
review process and how you can get involved. This video summarizes information found in
the Scoping Booklet available at the upcoming open houses, in corridor libraries and city
halls, and on the project website. When you see this symbol throughout the video,
it means we want your feedback on what's being discussed.
Let's start by learning more about the project.
The Gateway Corridor is a planned 12-mile transitway in Ramsey and Washington Counties
in Minnesota. The Gateway corridor runs parallel to Interstate
94, connecting downtown St. Paul with its east side neighborhoods and the suburban cities
of Maplewood, Landfall, Oakdale, Lake Elmo, and Woodbury. The corridor connects the east
Metro to the regional transit network via connections at the Union Depot hub in downtown
St. Paul. By providing all-day, station to station transit service in both directions,
the transitway would help meet growing transportation needs.
Currently two modes are under consideration, as well as different route options—also
known as alignments—with stations proposed for each. These mode, station, and alignment
combinations are called Alternatives. The environmental review process will evaluate
Alternatives to help identify which alternative will ultimately be built.
Let's talk about what the project aims to achieve and why it's needed.
The purpose of the Gateway Corridor project is to provide transit service to meet existing
and long-term regional mobility and local accessibility needs for businesses and the
traveling public within the project area. The Gateway Corridor is needed for five overarching
reasons. Let's listen to what corridor residents and business owners have to say.
I work on the weekends a lot. Up until now it's only been commuter service Monday through
Friday, so now on the weekends, when I have the ability to get to work, be on time, and
have flexibility when I leave, that's really exciting.Transportation is getting more crowded
and more difficult all the time, and as people get older, it's harder and harder to drive
and park and those things. I think a real total transportation system is essential for
the aging population.Seeing all the economic development that has happened on University,
and I'm hoping that will continue on out this way. The east side you do see a fair amount
of development, and it's starting to come around, but I think it would be even better
with the Gateway transit.Let's take a look at the modes, alignments, and stations under
consideration. Both light rail transit, LRT, and bus rapid
transit, BRT, are under consideration for the Gateway Corridor. Each mode would provide
fast, frequent, and reliable service that would operate in both east and west directions
through the corridor. LRT is a mode of transit that operates on
a fixed rail guideway using multiple trains grouped together.
Just like the Twin Cities METRO Blue Line, LRT operates frequently, arriving every ten
to fifteen minutes at stations spaced about a mile apart.
BRT is a mode of transit that incorporates the features of LRT, such as level-boarding,
off-board fare payment, and shelters with amenities to provide a rail-like experience
on a bus. For the Gateway Corridor project, BRT would
generally operate in a "dedicated guideway" that runs in a separate facility apart from
other traffic. Just like LRT, BRT would operate frequently,
arriving every ten to fifteen minutes at stations spaced about a mile apart.
The Gateway Corridor route begins at Union Depot and connects downtown St. Paul to the
eastern suburbs of the Twin Cities. The route generally runs along the north side of I-94
to Maplewood -- for the eastern portion, several routes are on the table. The route and station
locations make up the alternatives that will be studied further in the EIS. The Scoping
Booklet has more detail on routes and station locations that have been studied previously,
and the routes considered during Scoping. We are especially interested in feedback on
Alignments for the eastern segments of the corridor.
The Gateway Corridor would be a part of a much wider network of other regional transitways.
Connections at the Union Depot include the METRO Green Line and many other planned routes.
Passengers would also be able to connect to the existing local and express bus network.
12 station locations are proposed. Some station locations depend on the alignment chosen.
Stations will be located to best attract walk up riders within a quarter mile, or drive-up
riders at park and ride stations. This is accomplished by locating stations with existing
or planned employment centers, shopping, schools, or high density residential areas, to serve
people wanting to travel in both directions along the corridor.
For example, a rider might use Gateway to get from home in St Paul to work at 3 M and
get groceries at Sun Ray on the way home. A Woodbury resident might meet a friend for
dinner on the weekend, then head to downtown St Paul for a concert.
And that's the project definition as it's proposed in the scoping booklet.
Taking a transitway project from an idea to reality is a long process involving many stakeholders.
Studies for the Gateway Corridor began in 1991. The most recent study completed was
an Alternatives Analysis Study in 2013. The AA evaluated a no build alternative and
a range of build alternatives, including commuter rail, LRT, and BRT alternatives on various
alignments as shown here. At the end of the AA process, based on community
input and technical analysis it was determined that both BRT and LRT alternatives adjacent
to Hudson Road best met project goals and objectives. Both alternatives end at the Union
Depot and near Manning Avenue. The eastern end point was chosen to be consistent with
Metro Transit's operating authority. We're currently in what's called the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement—or EIS—phase. An EIS examines both the impacts and benefits
of a proposed project. The EIS process involves ongoing public engagement. Within an EIS,
there are different stages of development, and we're currently in the Scoping Phase.
Scoping is the process of deciding which transit alternatives and issues will be evaluated
in the Draft EIS. Scoping confirms the purpose and need for the project, identifies appropriate
transit alternatives, names significant issues for study in the Draft EIS, and eliminates
issues that aren't significant or have already been addressed.
Your suggestions and opinions on the content of the EIS play a critical role in these decisions.
Scoping decisions are to be finalized in Spring 2014.
In the Draft EIS, the alternatives identified in Scoping are analyzed and one alternative
is recommended to advance into engineering. Public input is then requested on this recommendation.
A Draft EIS will be completed by early 2015. Environmental issue areas to be analyzed in
the Draft EIS will include the project's effects on natural, social, and
physical environments. A complete list of issues proposed for study
can be found in the Scoping Booklet. There will continue to be opportunities to
provide input on the Gateway Corridor throughout project development.
Through April 16, 2014 we're asking for your input on
The Purpose and Need for the project Which alternatives should proceed to the EIS
-- specifically regarding modes, stations, and alignments,
and Issue areas to be studied Your comments can make a difference.
The comments received will be considered by the Community, Technical, and Policy Advisory
Committees, the Gateway Corridor Commission, and the Federal Transit Administration in
their decisions about the alternatives and topics to be studied in the Draft EIS. You
can review the Scoping Decision Document that is scheduled to be completed in late spring
of this year to find the decisions and how your comments were considered in the process.
A comment form is available in the Scoping Booklet to assist you in providing written
comments. You can submit comments in writing by U.S. mail, e-mail, or fax to the Gateway
Corridor Project Manager at the address shown on the screen:
You may also provide your comments verbally to a court reporter at the open houses on
March 24 and 25th Further information on the open houses, other
engagement opportunities, as well as more information about the project can be found
on the project website at www.thegatewaycorridor.com Thank you for taking the time to learn more
about the Gateway Corridor!