City of Saint Paul Begins Community Engagement Related to Future of West 7th Corridor

SAINT PAUL – The City of Saint Paul, in partnership with Ramsey County, Metro Transit, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation, is seeking community engagement on a new concept for the future of the West 7th Street Corridor.  

Building on previous analysis led by the county, the updated concept centers around a combination of Bus Rapid Transit connecting downtown Saint Paul to the Mall of America, along with the reconstruction of West 7th Street and creation of a new pedestrian trail on an abandoned railroad spur that will connect to the Highland Bridge development.   

"Public transportation is the backbone of a thriving, connected city,” said Mayor Melvin Carter. “The need to improve the West 7th Street Corridor remains clear. We are committed to delivering a solution that expands access, enhances surrounding infrastructure, and makes it safer and more reliable for everyone to move through our city.” 

“We look forward to advancing a Bus Rapid Transit solution as part of this multimodal approach with the City of Saint Paul and other partners,” said Met Council Chair Charlie Zelle. “The West 7th Street Corridor connects many key regional and community destinations and is a significant part of our transit system. Investing in transit improvements that are fast, frequent, and reliable will benefit the people who live, work, and play in this area and is essential to advancing our regional transit network.” 

Residents are encouraged to visit stpaul.gov/West7 to review the concept and provide feedback, and attend any of the upcoming engagement sessions:  

Meetings will include a presentation about the project status, benefits, and what to expect. There will be a roundtable-style conversation where participants can provide feedback and ask questions.  

“As we move forward, it is essential that we continue to prioritize community engagement, ensuring that local businesses, residents, and transit users continue to be involved in this stage of the project,” said City Council President Rebecca Noecker. “West 7th Street deserves thoughtful, effective investment that supports both the immediate needs and long-term goals of the neighborhood and broader city. I am excited to act on this opportunity to create a future where our streets are more than just throughways, but are places where businesses thrive, pedestrians feel safe, and people can easily access reliable transit.”  

“West 7th deserves a major investment, said Ward 3 Councilmember Saura Jost. “West 7th is long overdue for better and safer transit. Adding a trail connection from West 7th to Highland Bridge is something our community has been asking for. I’m eager to hear from my community and move this process forward.” 

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