Six. That's the number of options that still remain in play for new transit options to connect downtown St. Paul with the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and Mall of America.
On Thursday, Riverview Corridor Policy Advisory Committee could narrow that number even further when it meets at 9 a.m. at Union Depot in St. Paul.
The options to improve transit in the corridor includes regular city bus service, a Bus Rapid Transit line or a streetcar on and near West 7th Street.
Here is a snapshot of the six options:
1. No Build: This options would use the existing Metro Transit Route 54 along W. 7th Street and cross the Mississippi River at Hwy. 5. It would have 26 stations and a total travel time of 41 minutes from Union Depot to Mall of America. Projections show 10,700 riders by 2040. The cost would be zero.
2. Arterial BRT: This option would operate similar to the A Line on Snelling Avenue with buses sharing lanes with general traffic. It would have 26 stations along W. 7th Street and cross the river at Hwy. 5. Projections show 11,100 riders by 2040 The cost is $75 million.
3. Modern streetcar: This option would run in a dedicated lane along W. 7th Street or on a track in general traffic. It would have 20 stations and take 44 minutes to make the trip from Union Depot to Mall of America. Options include building a new river crossing bridge at Hwy. 5 or replacing the current bridge. Tracks could tie into Blue Line Tracks at Fort Snelling. The cost would be $1 billion.
4. Modern streetcar serving the Ford site: This options would have vehicles operating in a dedicated lane or on a track shared with traffic. The route would use the existing Ford Parkway bridge to cross the Mississippi River and could tie into the current Blue Line near 43rd Street. The option would require a new tunnel be built at Hwy. 55. The line would have 27 stations, take 56 minutes from Union Depot to Mall of America and serve up to 19,000 riders by 2040. The cost is $1.2 billion.
