Laserfiche WebLink
Purple Line drops downtown White <br />Bear Lake, considers Century College <br />Frederick.M*dlo <br />PUBLISHED: dune 17, 2022 at.4:35:p.m. I UPDATBD;.June 10, 2022 at. I;53 p.m. <br />Local News, Uncategorized <br />A key transportation planning eommitteer plotting the future path of the Purple Line —a poiential bus <br />rapid transit corridor from .downtown.St. Paul -- has chosen not to.route the: line to downtown White <br />Bear Lake. <br />"The rest of the line up and to White Bear Lake is still strong and goingtorwatd," said Ramsey County <br />Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt; addressing Charlie Zelle,-chair-of the Metropolitan Council, and other <br />membersof the Metro Purple Line BRT Corridor Managerrient.Coinniittee. <br />.Based on recommendations of Met Council planning staff, the committee on Friday unanimously rejected <br />the "locally preferred. alternative'' design that has guided. planning discussions to date. The project is <br />estiinated to cost.$475 million, -to be paid by Ramsey County and the Federal..Transit Administration. <br />The decision comes as little surprise to those who have been involved in crafting the corridor,. given .that <br />in ]ate April, the committee directed Met Council planning staff to study route modifications , wi.i <br />negative feedback from the White Bear Lake Citv Council. <br />Still, it does throw open the door to potential new route configurations, partners and even-opporients. <br />The bus likely will travel through St, Paul, the Maplewood Mall Transit:Center and possibly Vadriais <br />Heights. Staff is in the midst.of.a teelmical. evaluation of potential station stops; which should be:complete <br />in July. Possible endpoints include.sites near Century Colleges west campus .in White Bear Lake, the <br />TCO Sports -Garden in Vadnais .Heights or the Interstate 35E and County Road E park -and -ride by <br />Vsdnais Square, among other locations. <br />.Committee members noted that routing the bus along Willow Lake Boulevard in. Vadnais:Heights could <br />.connect workers to the city's industrial. corridor, though another configuration would route the bus along <br />County. Road E or Interstate 694 toward Century College. If Century College. becomes a preferred <br />endpoint, "we are introducing riew folks t6the discussion," aeknowiedged senior project manager Craig <br />Lamothe. <br />The next committee meetings are Ju1y.13.and.,aug. 24. A route,. could be selected this fall, <br />