North/East briefs: Plans firmed up for busway link to Woodbury

A new route for the proposed Gold Line busway through Oakdale and Woodbury has been chosen, pending a public hearing on Nov. 10.

An advisory group this month opted for a route from downtown St. Paul that enters Oakdale, turns south on Helmo Avenue, crosses over Interstate 94 on a new bridge with special bus lanes and then heads south on Bielenberg Drive. It ends at an express bus park and ride stop at the Woodbury Theater.

Planners estimate that the new route could cost $25 million, which would be less expensive and have two fewer stations than another route through Lake Elmo to east Woodbury that had to be abandoned when the Lake Elmo City Council opted out of the project.

About 1.9 million square feet of stores, offices and other features are within walking distance of the new route in Woodbury, as well as 2,000 jobs near the Oakdale station, officials said.

The Gold Line is designed to provide frequent all-day service, with buses that have their own lane and aren't slowed by traffic. It would run from the Union Depot in St. Paul through the East Side of St. Paul, Maplewood, Landfall, Oakdale and Woodbury. For details, visit http://thegatewaycorridor.com/.

David Peterson

The St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce last week announced the winners of its 2016 Leaders in Local Government Awards, made annually to recognize public organizations and individuals that demonstrate innovation, excellence and success. With nearly 1,200 members, the St. Paul chamber is the largest local chamber in Minnesota.

The winners:

• The planning division of the St. Paul Planning and Economic Development Department, for planning "through an unparalleled period of growth and development in St. Paul." Projects cited included land use related to Green Line light-rail transit, redevelopment of the former Ford plant in Highland Park and planning for the Major League Soccer stadium in the Midway area.

• The Maplewood Public Works Department, for an initiative to make streets easier to use for pedestrians and cyclists, stormwater runoff improvements and a comprehensive plan for public infrastructure.

• The Roseville Communications Department, for a new webpage to make it easier for residents to find specific information and important newsletters.

• The city of St. Paul, for financial performance in developing the downtown Penfield market-rate apartment project and selling the complex for an $8.7 million profit.

• Ramsey County, for business retention and expansion in razing a former county office building and jail to free up riverfront property for new development.

• Shoreview City Council Member Ady Wickstrom, who recently announced her retirement after 20 years on the council and has worked hard to promote transportation and transit investments among communities in the east metro area.

KEVIN DUCHSCHERE

An off-leash dog park has opened at Arden Hills's Perry Park, using a Little League ball field that has seen little activity in recent years.

The park is mostly contained by ball field fencing, although additional fencing costing $4,000 was needed to fill some gaps.

There's an off-leash area at Hazelnut Park, but Perry Park is said to be easier for users to reach. Bleachers there provide seating as well.

The season for the facilities runs from May 1 to Nov. 1. They're open from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.

David Peterson

Woodbury staffers are warning the City Council that the city needs to do a better job in cutting back on water use.

More "water efficiency efforts will be crucial" as time goes on, according to a newly drafted memo, adding: "Failure to do so, could result in DNR [Department of Natural Resources] action to restrict or reduce allowable groundwater appropriations; and in worst case, an alternate water source could be required."

The DNR oversees the process of granting access to underground supplies, which Washington County depends on.

The memo, from Jonathan Williams-Kinsel, assistant to the city administrator, and Utility Superintendant James Westerman invokes the possibility of hugely expensive measures such as piping in water from the Mississippi River if cities like Woodbury fail to conserve.

The city's staff suggested that Woodbury's "first formal water efficiency program" will focus on "larger nonmunicipal water users, to reduce their draw on the aquifer."

David Peterson