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Happy New Year!
2016 has been a great year in Ward 3—the preliminary framework for the Ford Site was released after almost 10 years of work, roads
and infrastructure were updated and improved, local projects have been awarded
statewide funding, and new businesses have opened and flourished. Thank you to
everyone who made the year a success—whether that was shopping at a local
business, being a good neighbor, or emailing my office with a suggestion or
concern. You are what make Ward 3 and Saint Paul great and as I look back in
2016 I am grateful for your partnership.
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Key Highlights of 2016
Transportation
- Welcomed the first bus rapid transit line in the
Twin Cities, the A-Line, which saw ridership increase along Snelling 35% in the
first month of operation
- Worked with Ramsey County to finish
reconstruction of Randolph Avenue from Brimhall Avenue to 35E
- Narrowed the alignment and mode options for the
Riverview Corridor, getting one step closer to improved transit service, and
game-changing economic development in between the airport and downtown Saint
Paul
Pedestrian Safety
- Began Safe Routes to School Programs at four schools and held two highly successful Walk/Bike to School Days
- Worked with the Saint Paul Police Department and community groups to launch and grow the Stop For Me Campaign, a multi-faceted pedestrian-safety campaign focused on eliminating pedestrian and bike crashes in our community
- Working with the Highland District Council, planned and secured funding for medians along Snelling Avenue from Highland Parkway to Randolph Avenue
At a Stop For Me event with the Highland District Council
Building Community Spaces:
- Began repurposing the Old Highland Pool Building
by conducting a structural analysis and rehabbing the roof
- Finished design work for Saint Paul’s first
universally accessible playground- a place for kids of all abilities to play
The historic Highland Pool Building with it's new roof.
Reflecting Saint Paul’s Values:
- Passed the strongest earned sick and safe time
ordinance in the country, ensuring that every Saint Paul worker has the ability
to care for their family and themselves during
an emergency or when sick
- Swore in Chief Todd Axtell, an inspiring,
community-focused leader, to head the Saint Paul Police Department
- Began delivering recycling carts across the
city—larger, lidded, rolling receptacles that will make it easier for residents
to recycle starting January 19, 2017
- Buoyed by the great work of the Macalester
Groveland Community Council, began the process of moving towards organized
trash collection meaning fewer trucks in our alleys and equitable costs for our
residents
Celebrating the first delivery of the City's new recycling bins. The recipients, Shelia Sweeney and John Rains, two environmental and neighborhood heros, were the perfect household to receive the inaugural bin.
Planning for
Our Future:
- Released the preliminary framework
for the Ford Site, engaging 820 people through three public meetings
- Championed the efforts to land Minnesota United FC new Major League Soccer stadium in Saint Paul
- Expanded the City’s youth-jobs program, Right
Track, providing both first jobs and professional experiences to Saint Paul
youth
- Passed a responsible 2017 Budget that protects
funding for the programs and services that matter most. Find more information
about the 2017 Budget on the City's new open data site
Ford Site preliminary framework
Looking Ahead
City Reevaluates Right Of Way Program: Following a court decision this
summer, the City of Saint Paul is reevaluating its Right of Way (ROW) maintenance
assessment program. The Right of Way program first begin in 1911 with watering
the roads to minimize dust, over the years it has expanded to include
other services, like street sweeping, tree trimming, and pot hole
repair. The City has formed a working group to evaluate the current
program. They will make recommendations on program alternatives to the
City Council in the first quarter of the year.
Ford Site Plan Moves
towards Adoption: In February City staff will present the next iteration of
the Ford Site Zoning and Public Realm Plan, updated using feedback and comments
received from neighbors, subject area experts and community members. Following
public review, a final draft will be presented first to the City of Saint
Paul’s Planning Commission and then the City Council for adoption. Sign up
here for updates on meetings and opportunities to weigh in.
Riverview Corridor: In
2017 a locally preferred alternative will be selected for the Riverview
Corridor. The selected mode and alignment will set the stage for our
neighborhood and city for decades to come. Stay in the loop by signing up here.
Summer 2017 Construction Projects:
More specific
information on timing and detours (if needed) will be available in the spring
- Ramsey County mill and overlay and Saint Paul
Regional Water Services Work on Ford Parkway from Mississippi River Blvd to
Howell
- Ramsey County mill and overlay and Saint Paul
Regional Water Services Work on Cleveland from Saint Paul Avenue to Ford
Parkway
- Snelling Avenue median construction from
Highland Parkway to Randolph Avenue
- City mill and overlay of Highland Parkway from
Snelling Avenue to Hamline Avenue
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