July Policy Advisory Committee Meeting

Thursday, July 26 | 3 - 5 p.m.

Learn about the latest activities of the Rush Line BRT Project at this Thursday’s regularly-scheduled Policy Advisory Committee meeting at Hiway Federal Credit Union, 840 Westminster Street in Saint Paul (not 111 Empire Drive, as stated in a previous email message).

Project team members will discuss recent and upcoming public engagement activities, share a recap of the July 12 Community Advisory Committee meeting and review upcoming project milestones and the municipal collaboration process. You will also hear highlights from recent station area planning activities. Policy Advisory Committee meetings include a public comment period at the end of the meeting.

Community Advisory Committee Holds First Meeting

Newly-appointed members of the Community Advisory Committee held their first meeting July 12 at the East Side Enterprise Center. Project team members and community representatives also attended. 

Meeting highlights included:

• An overview of the committee and its role and responsibilities as a source of community input throughout the environmental analysis phase.
• Plans for committee governance, including electing a chair at the committee’s next meeting.
• An update on project progress including the purpose, need and goals of the project.
• Small group dialogue on public engagement, access to stations and key destinations along the route.

The next Community Advisory Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 18 from 6-8 p.m. at the East Side Enterprise Center. 

Summer Public Engagement Continues

The Rush Line BRT Project team has been busy this summer organizing and participating in public engagement activities to broaden awareness of the project and gather community input. Some of the recent major events attended by the project team include:

• Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District Waterfest, June 2 in Saint Paul.
• Ride and Walk on the Bruce Vento Trail, June 16 in Maplewood.
• Ice Cream Social and Music in the Park, June 19 in Vadnais Heights.
• East Side Employment Xchange Career Fair, June 20 in Saint Paul. 
• Maplewood Business Council, June 28 in Maplewood.
• Dragon Festival, July 14 in Saint Paul.

A few of the themes that the project team has been hearing from the community include:

• Safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders and motorists near stations and the BRT guideway must be a priority.
• Connecting bus service is important and will enable more people to utilize the BRT to get to work, school, health care facilities and other destinations.
• Employers and job seekers will benefit from increased access to jobs and employment centers.

Speak to a member of the project team this week at these upcoming activities:

• Pop-up event on the Bruce Vento Trail (at the trail circle just north of Frost Avenue), Wednesday, July 25, 4-6 p.m.
• Marketfest in White Bear Lake, Thursday, July 26, 6-9 p.m.

You can also share your input online.