East Side to MN DOT
“MAKE IT FAIR, MAKE IT SAFE, MAKE IT WORK”
Complete the I-35E Plans: Connect the East Side!
COMMUNITY MEETING
WEDNESDAY – JULY 31, 2013 6:30 PM
Arlington Hills Lutheran Church, 1115 Greenbrier
(Greenbrier & Geranium, St. Paul, MN)
(Translation provided – Children’s Activity Table for young children)
Convened by: Payne Phalen District 5 Planning Council with committed participation from MN DOT, State,
County and City leaders. Join your Payne Phalen District 5 neighbors and public leaders
to help MN DOT improve I-35E project plans for everyone.
Construction and plans for I-35E Cayuga and MNPASS projects are well underway. Yet unresolved
issues still impact our area. District Five and public leaders called upon MN DOT to work with our
community to improve the projects. State MNDOT Commissioner Zelle responded and committed
his department to work with the community to find solutions. Join neighbors and public leaders
with MN DOT on July 31, 2013. Let’s make sure these I-35E projects reach their full public purpose
and respond to our community’s transportation needs and future goals.
Make it Good! Make it Safe!

Everyone must benefit - whether you bike, hike, walk, roll or stroll. The East Side is deserving
and needs a high-quality multi-modal transportation system for all modes and users. Fully address
pedestrian and bicycle needs and safety.

Fill the gaps and complete the connections! Restore access and connect East Siders fully to the
Gateway Trail and local streets.
Make it Fair! Make it Right!
“If you break it or take it – restore it or provide something new and improved”. Payne Phalen
will lose non-motorized trail access with the proposed removal of part of the State Gateway Trail. This
lost non-motorized trail and trail access must be addressed. What solutions best support our East
Side Payne Phalen neighborhoods?
This is a once in a lifetime project with significant local and regional impact.
Your ideas and voice are needed to improve this plan.
www.paynephalen.org or 651-774-5234 for more information
SIGN UP FOR MN DOT UPDATES AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE IMPORTANT PROJECTS.
I-35E CAYUGA, MARYLAND AVE AVE. BRIDGE AND MNPASS PROJECTS
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/35estpaul/index.html
I-35E MN DOT PROJECT HOTLINE 612-284-1781
35ecayugamnpass@zanassoc.com
Excerpted Citations: Final Environmental Impact Statement and Final
Section 4(F) Evaluation, 1999 (Phalen Boulevard – includes Cayuga)
At present, there is access to the Gateway Trail from Mississippi
and Case Streets east of the freeway via an underpass. We request
that the final design include future access to the Gateway Trail
from the residential neighborhoods east of the freeway.
Saint Paul Bicycle Advisory Board 1999
At the present time the access to the Gateway Trail from the
neighborhoods on the east side of 35E is Mississippi Street. This
access appears to be cut off on all build options and as a result will
have a negative effect on the large residential neighborhoods on
the east side of 35-E. This needs to be addressed in the EIS.
Part of the Gateway Trail along 35-E will be removed given the
intention of MNDOT to reconstruct 35-E. The EIS does not address
how the trail will be replaced.
Friends of the Parks and Trails, Saint Paul and Ramsey County
(2/8/1999)
The Public Works Department acknowledges that this is a
significant and important trail connection between the
neighborhoods east of I-35E and the Gateway State Trail.
City of Saint Paul Public Works, March 29, 2013
Several partial and early design concepts have offered to address
mitigation and achieve an improved project. No solution is yet
complete. On July 31st, the community will have an opportunity
to learn about concepts offered to date, to offer ideas and to
explore and discuss best solutions.
District Five has proposed an accommodation that would secure
east-west connections at Arlington, Maryland and Cayuga, while
establishing and completing north –south non-motorized
connections on the east side of I-35E.
Find out more at www.paynephalen.org
esson the east side of MN DOT right of way with possible
connections at mWe will work cooperatively with MN DOT to
Ask impacted neighborhoods to identify needs, goals and impacts with these 229 million dollar
transportation projects.
Mitigate loss of a critical neighborhood access and trail connection when part of the Gateway
State Trail at Mississippi is removed. District Five has called upon MN DOT to mitigate the
loss to our East Side neighborhoods when this connection is destroyed.
Make it Right! Make it Work for All!
Learn about the I-35E existing plans and impacts I-35E Cayuga and MN PASS projects (total budget 229 million). We
won’t have another chance in our lifetimes. Let’s get it right!
for our community.
Identify the best ways for MN DOT to mitigate loss of recreational trail access and improve the plan.
Connect the East Side and complete the plan.
How can we improve connections to assure a multi-modal transportation system that accomodates all modes and users as
the law provides.
How do we anticipate future transit connections.
How do we access the Gateway Trail from the East Side?
How do we enhance pedestrian and bicycle safety.
MITIGATE LOSS
A significant and important trail connection between the neighborhoods east of I-35E and the Gateway State Trail will be
lost with the Cayuga Interchange construction. This is part of the National Recreational Trail system and the DNR State
Gateway Trail.
Concerns for this loss were first voiced in the project Final EIS (Cayuga Project – Phalen Boulevard) in 1999.
At present, there is access to the Gateway Trail from Mississippi and Case Streets east of the freeway via an underpass.
We request that the final design include future access to the Gateway Trail from the residential neighborhoods east of
the freeway.
Saint Paul Bicycle Advisory Board 1999
Final Environmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(F) Evaluation, 1999
At the present time the access to the Gateway Trail from the neighborhoods on the east side of 35E is Mississippi Street.
This access appears to be cut off on all build options and as a result will have a negative effect on the large residential
neighborhoods on the east side of 35-E. This needs to be addressed in the EIS.
Part of the Gateway Trail along 35-E will be removed given the intention of MNDOT to reconstruct 35-E. The EIS does not
address how the trail will be replaced. This proposed reconstruction by MNDOT makes it impossible for a third party
(Dept. of Natural Resources) to construct the trail along the right-of –way at this time. MNDOT must take responsibility
for replacing/completing the Gateway Segment to/across University Avenue.
Friends of the Parks and Trails, Saint Paul and Ramsey County (2/8/1999)
It appears the current bike trail underpass to Mississippi Street is lost. How would this possible impact be
mitigated? Please show this existing trail connector on Figure II-4 and II-5.
MN Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) 2/10/1999
Final Environmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(F) Evaluation, 1999
And the response from MN DOT (in Final EIS) was :
“There is currently no bike trail underpass located along Mississippi Street”.
(Final Environmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(F) Evaluation, 1999, Page 56)
And in 2013
The Public Works Department acknowledges that this is a significant and important trail
connection between the neighborhoods east of I-35E and the Gateway State Trail.
City of Saint Paul Public Works, March 29, 2013
Ramsey County Board of Commissioners
The 14 million dollar Maryland Avenue Bridge is now constructed using some of the most
innovative and sophisticated technology!
You can see the trail. Can you get on the Gateway Trail at the Maryland Avenue Bridge
crossing?
No, no you can’t.
Something lost… something…??
With the I-35E Cayuga and MNPASS projects, a stretch of non-motorized pedestrian and bike path will be
lost. Gone. Kaput. This portion of the State Gateway Trail and National Recreational Trail has connected our
East Side Neighborhoods to the Gateway Trail at Mississippi Street. For years, neighbors had accessed the
recreational trail and Cayuga Park and transit options via this part of the trail.
The I-35E Cayuga and MNPASS Project will result in the loss of the short connector trail that is part of the Gateway State
Trail and a National Recreational Trail near Case Avenue under I-35E. This portion of the trail currently connects the
Gateway State Trail with Mississippi Street.
The District Five Planning Council is asking
MN DOT to do what for what the law
provides.
“If you take it, or break it… buy something as good or better to replace it. (Or was that Mom that said that?)
MN Statutes 2012, 160.264 REPLACING BIKEWAYS AND PEDESTRIAN WAYS.
So probably no one knew about this right?
Let’s go back to 1999
Whoops – wrong reference. Let’s check the Final EIS
The Public Works Department acknowledges that this is a significant and important trail connection between the
neighborhoods east of I-35E and the Gateway State Trail.
City of Saint Paul Public Works, March 29, 2013
The concern was voiced in the project Final EIS in 1999….
At present, there is access to the Gateway Trail from Mississippi and Case Streets east of the freeway via an underpass.
We request that the final design include future access to the Gateway Trail from the residential neighborhoods east of
the freeway.
Saint Paul Bicycle Advisory Board 1999
Final Environmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(F) Evaluation, 1999
At the present time the access to the Gateway Trail from the neighborhoods on the east side of 35E is Mississippi Street.
This access appears to be cut off on all build options and as a result will have a negative effect on the large residential
neighborhoods on the east side of 35-E. This needs to be addressed in the EIS.
Part of the Gateway Trail along 35-E will be removed given the intention of MNDOT to reconstruct 35-E. The EIS does not
address how the trail will be replaced. This proposed reconstruction by MNDOT makes it impossible for a third party
(Dept. of Natural Resources) to construct the trail along the right-of –way at this time. MNDOT must take responsibility
for replacing/completing the Gateway Segment to/across University Avenue.
Friends of the Parks and Trails, Saint Paul and Ramsey County (2/8/1999)
It appears the current bike trail underpass to Mississippi Street is lost. How would this possible impact be mitigated?
Please show this existing trail connector on Figure II-4 and II-5.
MN Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) 2/10/1999
Final Environmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(F) Evaluation, 1999
(MN DOT Response in Final EIS:
“There is currently no bike trail underpass located along Mississippi Street”.
(Final Environmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(F) Evaluation, 1999, Page 56)
You know that the East Side needs and deserves safe pedestrian and bicycling paths for recreation and getting around the neighborhood.
You can’t miss the heavy road construction with the I 35E Cayuga Project underway. Our community has been very patient. This project was
planned with the Phalen Boulevard project over 15 years ago. The project corrects past deficiencies in roadway construction that that kept our
side of town somewhat isolated and without full access. Our community is happy to get this key connection that is funded and underway. This 35E
/ Cayuga project – costs roughly $116 million and is an ongoing project with completion in late 2015.
With the Cayuga, Maryland Bridge and the MNPASS state projects (Total Cost: $229,000,000) an east-west non-motorized portion of the Gateway
State Trail that connected the Trail to Mississippi will be removed. District Five was by MN DOT that the cost to replace it might be five to six
million dollars. MN State Law (160.264 Replacing Bikeways and Pedestrian Ways) states “the road authority responsible
shall replace the destroyed facility or access with comparable facilty or access.”
It’s a common idea - “If you break it or take it – you replace it or buy something better”.
If you break it or take it – put it back or offer something better.
The community worked with District Five to define what was needed. A motion was passed that summarized key
priorities.
Join us at a Community Meeting on July 31, 2013 at 6:30 PM at the Arlington Hills Lutheran Church (1115 Greenbrier).
District Five has organized this community meeting with local public leaders and MN DOT. We want more for the East
Side from the I-35E Projects.
A east-west Trail Connection was lost to our neighborhood. We need that loss restored and equal treatment for our
neighborhood. District Five is seeking mitigation with a non-motorized pathway for pedestrians and bicyclists that is
safe, well-connected and which makes sense. We seek an excellent multi-modal transportation system for all modes
and users.
Links also found at www.paynephalen.org