Reintroducing the Riverview Corridor

Dear Community Reporter readers, 

I am happy to share that we have just begun the Engineering and Pre-Environmental Phase of the Riverview Corridor. To review for those of you who are familiar with the line, and to share details for people who are unfamiliar with it, the Riverview Corridor is a 12-mile modern streetcar line traveling mainly along West Seventh Street from the Union Depot downtown to the airport and the Mall of America. Modern streetcar vehicles can operate on the same track and stations as light rail, but modern streetcar vehicles and stations are generally smaller than light rail.

This is the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) chosen by the Riverview Policy Advisory Committee, Saint Paul, Bloomington, Metropolitan Airports Commission, Hennepin County and Ramsey County and adopted into the region’s 2040 Transportation Policy Plan by the Metropolitan Council as the alternative most likely to be competitive for federal funding.  

In August 2020, the Riverview Corridor Modern Streetcar project passed a major milestone with the approval of four contracts that established the project team for the Engineering and Pre-Environmental Phase. Throughout the three-year phase, the project team will undertake environmental and project-development work including engineering, environmental review, station area planning and community engagement to prepare for the completion of an Environmental Impact Statement as part of a future project phase.

We also have two advisory committees for citizens to participate on. One is the Community Advisory Committee and the other is the Station Area Planning Committee. Applications can be found on the project website, www.riverviewcorridor.com. The deadline to apply for both is December 15. I encourage you to apply if you want to be more involved. 

And, as always, email me directly if you’d like to share your thoughts: rafael.e.ortega@co.ramsey.mn.us.