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Rice Street redesign reaches 30% midpoint; $25M state appropriation to fund multimodal conversion, with construction targeted for 2027
Summary
Planners presented a 30% midpoint design for the Rice Street corridor — funded by a 2023 $25 million appropriation — proposing a hybrid approach (shared-use path north; separated cycle tracks south), a conversion from four to three lanes on segments, greening, and BRT coordination. Board members requested deeper traffic modeling, parking impacts analysis, and ongoing stakeholder engagement.
Planning staff and consultants gave a midpoint update on the Rice Street redesign project, describing emerging 30% designs and an engagement plan for what staff called the corridor’s most transformational public-realm project since light rail.
Peter Rusty (planning and zoning administrator) and consultant Hyla/Hyla Mayes described the project's policy foundation in the CAP Board 2040 comprehensive plan and the $25,000,000 appropriation from the 2023 Minnesota Legislature that is funding design and implementation steps. The design approach is context-specific: the narrower northern section would favor a shared-use path, while the wider southern section could support separated cycle tracks, medians and additional greening. The team proposed converting some four-lane segments to three lanes to create space for multimodal facilities and reduce conflict points.
Consultants emphasized coordination with Metro Transit (G Line stations), MnDOT projects (John Ireland/BRT intersections) and city/county agencies. The project team aims to reach 90% final design by the same time next year, with construction bidding targeted for 2027 and potential construction start later in 2027.
Board members raised detailed concerns: Representative Cleburne asked about mobility-hub pull-offs and traffic flow near a new State Office Building garage; Senator Nelson asked about net parking impacts after prior construction removed trees and parking; small-business representatives raised worries about loss of on-street parking and access during construction. Consultants said traffic modeling and staged coordination are ongoing and committed to further stakeholder meetings and iterative engagement (pop-ups, open houses, business door-knocking and targeted outreach).
