White Bear Avenue Route Options Under Development
Over the last several months, staff have developed potential layouts that show roadway design and transit station locations for the four White Bear Avenue route options presented in October.
Staff are evaluating these layouts to better understand their effects and benefits before presenting them at community meetings in early 2024 to gather public input. Read about the current station proposal in September’s newsletter.
The route options presented at the last Corridor Management Committee (CMC) consist of typical cross sections. All cross sections have four lanes, not counting turn lanes at intersections. There will be two lanes for general traffic and either two lanes for transit or one lane for transit combined with a continuous left-turn lane. Watch last month’s CMC meeting for information on the options and the selection process
Image of side-running transit lanes. This option allows cars in the transit lane to access businesses or local roads.
Options minimize property impacts, ensure reliability & safety, and meet requirements for federal funding.
The project’s goals include delivering a high-quality reliable transit service that improves safety for all travelers and users while meeting requirements necessary to receive federal funding. Staff spent several months studying how to include dedicated transit into Maryland, White Bear, and Beam avenues and how these options could benefit the community.
A primary federal funding requirement is including elements that prioritize transit operations. To meet this federal requirement, each option includes transit, or bus-only, lanes. Side-running transit lanes can be used by general traffic to access driveways, businesses, and local roads. Center-running transit lanes can be used by only transit or emergency vehicles.
Image of center-running transit lanes. This option allows use by transit and emergency vehicles only.
The best cross sections were combined into six possible options. Staff evaluated these options based on property impacts, property access, transit reliability, and pedestrian safety. From this analysis, staff recommended four options for further development. The four options present various combinations of transit lanes. Combinations include transit lanes on both sides of the roadway, transit lanes in the center of the roadway, or a transit lane in just one direction.
Image of the single transit lane option. This option allows for a continuous left-turn lane throughout the roadway.
Community Outreach and Engagement Update
In the meantime, public engagement will continue along Maryland and White Bear avenues through meetings with community groups, tables at community events, and canvassing.
Do you know a community group we should contact? Please let us know how to schedule time with any community group by emailing colin.owens@metrotransit.org.
The project will host community meetings in the coming months to hear your feedback on the layouts and evaluation results. Your feedback will inform the selection of the best option for the White Bear Avenue route. Your input is critical to this process!
Station Area Planning Update
Image of September’s Station Area Working Group’s meeting
Station Area Working Group participants met on Sept. 12 to learn about Purple Line and Station Area Planning. These participants represented 10th Street through Cook Avenue stations. Attendees discussed their hopes, fears, and goals for their station area(s). Find presentation slides and notes from the meeting on the Station Area Planning webpage. There is also an overview of Metro Transit’s efforts on transit safety and security, a main concern among participants. Each working group met during the fall to map location-specific assets and envision the future. The working groups will meet again in January/February and a third time in May/June. Please contact emma.lucken@co.ramsey.mn.us to learn more about Station Area Working Groups.
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