Our tax dollars should be invested where we live and work—here on the West Side! But it’s been nearly 100 years since Robert Street was significantly updated. We deserve safe and vibrant streets that boost our local businesses and make it easy for all of us to get around.
That’s why WSCO has engaged hundreds of neighbors around the proposed Robert Street reconstruction project—and now is a critical moment to make YOUR voice heard.
In 2020, the Minnesota Department of Transportation started a process to update Robert Street, rated one of the most deteriorated roads in the metro area. With $32 million in additional funding from regional and federal grants, the project was upgraded from simply resurfacing the crumbling pavement to “reconstructing the road, upgrading pedestrian crossings, improving sidewalks and pathways, managing speed, expanding multimodal options, and improving transit access.”
WSCO has been engaged every step of the way, keeping West Siders informed and making sure our voices are part of the process. Over the past two years, our Destination Robert Street campaign came together to identify a strong vision for a vibrant cultural and commercial destination that represents and serves us. In late 2024, MnDOT released a proposed final design for this critical corridor that includes big changes, including wider sidewalks, safer bike infrastructure and a roundabout at the intersection of State and Sydney streets. At WSCO, we believe that we build the West Side so we took that proposed plan to the people, getting your feedback through events and a survey completed by hundreds of people impacted by the project.
Now, the final design is going before the City Council for Municipal Consent—and they need to hear from YOU!
Municipal consent is a process required for many big projects on major state roads. On June 23, MnDOT submitted a letter to the City of Saint Paul requesting municipal consent for the Robert Street project. The first step in that process is a public hearing on August 13, which will include a presentation of the final design from MnDOT and an opportunity to share your input on the proposal. There won't be a vote but the city council WILL take our input into consideration as they begin to draft the resolution for municipal consent that they must pass by mid-November.
As we outlined in our letter to city leaders, we support MnDOT’s articulated goal to “transform Robert St from a vehicle-centric road to a multimodal transportation corridor that enhances safety, connectivity, and quality of life for the Saint Paul West Side neighborhood.” AND we are urging the City Council to adopt a resolution for municipal consent that creates a roadmap for accountability before, during and after construction—and proactively commits to secure resources to prevent the displacement of local businesses.
Read more in our letter here and mark your calendar to join us at Saint Paul City Hall on Wednesday, August 13, at 3:30 p.m.