The New West 7th Corridor

The New West 7th Concept

The New West 7th Corridor Concept was introduced in early 2025 for community input as a comprehensive vision for the corridor. The concept combined three major elements: 

• Full reconstruction and investment in West 7th Street
• A higher level of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) improvements, including dedicated lanes and guideway
• A regional multi-use bike and pedestrian trail along the CP rail spur 

What is happening now?

While partners continue to work together on ways to improve West 7th Street for all users, a coordinated corridor concept is no longer moving forward. Project partners were unable to reach agreement on a funding plan for this coordinated concept. 

Even though this vision will not move forward as a single project, project partners remain committed to improving the condition of West 7th Street and enhancing transit service and multimodal connections in the corridor. 

What will still move forward

Some elements will advance in other forms or as part of other projects, including: 

• Street resurfacing (MnDOT): MnDOT will move forward with planned resurfacing (mill and overlay) of West 7th Street. This project is scoped to include traffic signal replacement and some ADA improvements. You can learn more about the project at MnDOT's website: https://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/w7thst-stpaul/index.html
• Arterial BRT (Metro Transit): Metro Transit will study arterial BRT on West 7th as part of the current Arterial BRT Plan Update. If advanced, arterial BRT service could begin in the 2030-2035 timeframe. You can learn more about the Arterial BRT Plan Update at Metro Transit's website: https://www.metrotransit.org/arterial-brt-plan

To be determined 

The status of other parts of the concept is not yet determined: 

• Utility work and replacement
• I-35E bridge widening for pedestrian and bus-only lanes
• Multiuse bike and pedestrian trail along the CP Rail Spur
• Bus lanes
• Other pedestrian improvements, including emerald ash borer tree replacement, refuge islands, sidewalk and intersection simplifications, and parking triangles 

New West 7th Corridor Concept Video

Join us to learn more about the New West 7th Corridor Concept.

The New West 7th Corridor Concept

Explore the corridor and the concept components. 

Printable map of the New West 7th Corridor Concept

Community Meetings

The city and its project partners hosted two in-person and one virtual community meetings in early April. All the events had the same information and a summary of feedback is being compiled. When finished, the summary of feedback will be posted to this website. 

Missed the meetings? 

Watch a recording of the virtual community meeting on April 9, 2025, or feel free to review meeting materials on your own time at the links below: 

• PowerPoint presentation slides
• Meeting boards
• Recording of virtual community meeting on April 9, 2025

Coordination with Other Work

The concept spans 12.5 miles, crosses two counties, two cities, an international airport, and multiple regional destinations. As such, it’s related to dozens if not hundreds of other initiatives and will work to be supportive of each and of every one of them. The major work that the government agencies have coordinated on and are using as foundational to implement this concept include MnDOT’s West 7th Mill and Overlay, the City of Saint Paul’s Downtown Streets and Sidewalks Plan, and Metro Transit’s investment in bus rapid transit for the METRO network.