July 25 Policy Advisory Committee meeting, trail input, stormwater research, upcoming public engagement

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July 19, 2019


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July 25 Policy Advisory Committee meeting to focus on engineering plans

The Policy Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday, July 25 at 2:30 p.m. at the Maplewood Community Center. At this meeting, Rush Line BRT engineers will discuss recent refinements to engineering plans for the project. Project staff will also share updates on public engagement and project coordination with the various jurisdictions along the Rush Line BRT route.

All Policy Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public and include an opportunity for public comment.

Public input to guide Ramsey County rail right-of-way Visioning Framework

People on the trail discussing Rush Line

Four "Tuesdays on the Trail" events were held in June to gather input about the future design of the Bruce Vento Trail and Rush Line BRT.

A portion of the Rush Line BRT will operate in former railroad right-of-way owned by Ramsey County. Within this right-of-way, a bus-only roadway, known as a BRT guideway, will be co-located adjacent to a reconstructed Bruce Vento Trail.

In June, Rush Line BRT staff organized public events and shared an online survey to collect input about the future design of the trail and BRT guideway. Hundreds of trail users, neighbors and other community members shared their thoughts. Many people expressed a preference for maintaining a natural feel and plenty of vegetation within the right of way. The importance of safety for pedestrians, bikers and transit riders was another high priority.

Project staff are using this input to develop a Visioning Framework for the Ramsey County rail right-of-way. The Visioning Framework is a document that will guide the design of the trail, BRT guideway and buffer spaces within the right-of-way. It will address topics including landscaping, trees, safety and trail amenities such as seating.

UMN student project considers creative stormwater practices along Rush Line route

Students presenting a board about Rush Line stormwater management

As part of its year-long collaboration with the Resilient Communities Project at the University of Minnesota, Ramsey County partnered with students in the Sustainability Studies program to consider creative approaches to managing stormwater along the Rush Line BRT route.

For their report, titled "Green Infrastructure and Placemaking Strategies for the Rush Line Bus Rapid Transit Project," students researched stormwater management practices used around the world and recommended strategies to be considered as the design process for the Rush Line BRT Project advances in the years to come.

Read the students' report.

Upcoming public engagement

Rush Line BRT staff will be at the following community events to talk to people and answer questions about the project: