Gateway Corridor Commission Axes Option With Rail Station at County U

Bus rapid transit is emerging as a top option for mass transportation in the Interstate 94 corridor from St. Paul into Wisconsin, according to a report to the Gateway Corridor Commission by its advisory committees.

The committees ranked two of the  "high" and two "medium," based on their projected daily ridership, cost, potential for economic development, need for property acquisitions, traffic impacts and travel times. The commission also eliminated one of the options at its meeting Thursday, March 15. 

All four of the high-to-medium options call for a park-and-ride bus station in Hudson near I-94 and Carmichael Road. Late last year, the commission eliminated the possibility of commuter rail or light rail crossing the St. Croix River on I-94. Some Hudson residents are advocating for the vacant tourism information center on Crestview Drive to become a that bus station. Hudson Center LLC for $1.3 million.

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Here’s information on the high, medium and eliminated options from Thursday's meeting:

HIGH

• Alternative 3, bus rapid transit in a dedicated 11.5-mile long lane along Hudson Road and Interstate 94, scored high in the areas of cost ($420 million) and travel time (16 minutes from Oakdale to the Union Depot). It scored in the midrange on daily ridership at 5,400. The dedicated lane would end at Manning Avenue. A bus shoulder lane would be used from there to Hudson.
• Alternative 8 includes bus rapid transit in a 14.4-mile long managed lane—similar to a MnPASS lane—that would also be used by carpoolers and individual drivers who pay a fare. It’s the only option that would measurably improve traffic flow in the Manning Avenue to Woodbury Drive/Keats Avenue segment of the interstate, said Stephanie Eiler of CH2M Hill. The option also ranks high in the area of cost ($590 million) and travel times (15 minutes from Oakdale to the Union Depot). It ranked low in daily ridership at 4,600. It's unclear how this option would get across the St. Croix River bridge to service Hudson riders.

MEDIUM

• Alternative 2, adding simple upgrades such as shoulder lane improvements for buses and park-and-ride lots, scored high in the area of cost ($65 million) and travel times (15 minutes from Oakdales to the Union Depot). It scored low in its impact on economic development and daily ridership, at 3,300.
• Alternative 5, light rail transit for 11.5 miles along Hudson Road and Interstate 94 scored high in daily ridership, at 9,100 and travel times (14 minutes from Oakdale to the Union Depot). At $980 million, it scored low on cost. The light rail would end at Manning Avenue. A bus shoulder lane would be used from there to Hudson.

ELIMINATED

Alternative 7, a 99.9 mile commuter rail line on existing track that would have passed through Hudson on existing tracks from Eau Claire to St. Paul, was eliminated Thursday by the Gateway Corridor Commission. This option called for a park-and-ride facility near the rail line at County Road U.

“Where that track is, it just doesn’t lie within the dense population and employment areas of Minnesota,” Eiler said.

It ranked low in cost at $1.23 billion and projected daily ridership at 3,900.

The Gateway Corridor Commission is scheduled to choose a preferred option in early summer. To learn more about the different options and give feedback, visit TheGatewayCorridor.com, or attend the .