I’m a big fan of the River-to-River Greenway trail, a Dakota County project that will complete a regional trail through West St. Paul with a tunnel under Robert Street.
I’ve talked about why I think it’s an awesome idea and I’ve explored some misconceptions about the project.
I’ve also been accused of spreading misinformation about the project. That’s certainly not my intent. I’ve researched the original documents from Dakota County, talked to people involved and done my best to provide clear, honest answers. I’ve pushed to have an open dialogue about this project so we can consider all arguments and make the best decision.
With that in mind, I wanted to address some of the questions I’ve heard about the project:
- What’s it going to cost?
- Why a tunnel and not a bridge?
- Will a tunnel be safe?
- How will construction impact Robert Street?
- What about development?
- Can the River-to-River Greenway cross Robert Street anywhere else?
- What happens when the trail crosses Wentworth Avenue?
- Will the trail really see 140,000 people?
- Why do we say WSP Greenway?
Ready? Let’s dive into the details… Continue reading River-to-River Greenway Questions →
Last fall I explored the history of women in Minnesota politics. One of the interesting angles was that West St. Paul had never had a female mayor—until now. In 2016 West St. Paul elected its first female mayor in Jenny Halverson.
It made me curious about the history of women in other roles in West St. Paul’s history, so I did a little digging.
Female Firsts in West St. Paul:
- 1955: Police Officer, Dorothea Binder
- 1963: City Clerk, Benedicta Southwick
- 1967: City Council, Devona Weatherhead
- 1996: City Manager, Dianne R. Krogh
- 1996: Fire Fighter, Linda McMillan
- 2005: City Attorney, Korine Land
- 2008: Finance Director, Sandy Christensen
- 2017: Mayor, Jenny Halverson
Continue reading Women’s History in West St. Paul →
Dakota County has proposed a River-to-River Greenway trail through West St. Paul that includes the Robert Street tunnel. This isn’t a new idea. A separated crossing has been proposed in various incarnations going back to the 2001 Renaissance Plan.
The proposals have shifted over the years, the cost has changed dramatically and the funding has gone from $0 to 100%. In all that time plenty of misconceptions have taken root.
I think the tunnel is a great opportunity for West St. Paul. So let’s look at some of the common misconceptions about the Robert Street tunnel that seem to be standing in the way of this project:
1. The Project is Too Expensive
The number one misconception about the Robert Street tunnel is that it’s going to cost West St. Paul too much money. A citizen comment at the Feb. 27 city council meeting urged the council to be fiscally responsible and reject the tunnel. But this is often based on earlier reports about the tunnel that had a higher price tag and no secured funding. Continue reading 7 Misconceptions About the Robert Street Tunnel →
A work-at-home dad wrestles with faith, social justice & story.