We all know that Robert Street’s renewal is long overdue. Instead of speeding traffic and crumbling pavement, we deserve a safe and vibrant street that boosts our local businesses and makes it easy for all of us to get around.
After years of community engagement, the Minnesota Department of Transportation is about to begin a major reconstruction of Robert Street. We support investments to transform this dangerous thoroughfare into a multimodal corridor that improves safety, connectivity, and quality of life. But, without intentional safeguards and strong accountability to community, this project could displace the very people and businesses that sustain the West Side.
That’s why WSCO created the Robert Street Accountability Taskforce: to make sure our voices and our interests are included before, during and after construction. With government and project leaders at the table with community, we’ll make sure information is shared and problems are solved so a revitalized Robert Street benefits the people here now and generations of West Siders to come.
In August, we made it clear at the public hearing that the taskforce needs to be included in the City of Saint Paul’s resolution for municipal consent — and we got public support from key leaders. But we’re not waiting for the vote to begin to take action together. Our first meeting is coming up this month and we’re committed to keeping you up-to-date!
Why do we need a taskforce?
“For so long in this neighborhood, it’s felt like people come in with special dollars and nothing happens,” says Monica Bravo, WSCO’s Executive Director. “This is an opportunity that will bring something tangible to life so people can see results.”
“Too often, public dollars don’t benefit the people most impacted by the projects being thought of,” adds Joy Sorensen Navarre, a West Side business owner. “Having lived here for 30 years, I really want to see dollars invested benefit our community.”
How do we ensure those public dollars have a tangible benefit for those of us who call the West Side home now? We need the community infrastructure to hold the process accountable.
“It’s clear that WSCO residents and businesses alike agree that infrastructure improvements are sorely needed on Robert Street,” says E. Coco, WSCO’s Interim Associate Director. “The Robert Street Accountability Taskforce builds a different kind of infrastructure — community infrastructure — a container to hold and lift West Siders' concerns, dreams and priorities. This can be a blueprint for future projects and other communities who will face similar displacement concerns.”
For instance, studies have shown that transportation improvements cause significant declines in revenue for the businesses along the route. One study in Houston reported a 37% decline in sales for food service businesses during a roadway rehabilitation project. We need concrete commitments and financial resources to ensure that disruption doesn’t lead to the displacement of our neighbors who live and own businesses along Robert Street.
We’ve seen that happen just across the river already. With the construction of the Green Line Light Rail, government, nonprofit and philanthropic organizations came together to create a Catalyst Fund, which provided flexible grantmaking to ensure “stable, thriving neighborhoods throughout the corridor that reflect community identities.” That fund made more than 160 grants, totaling nearly $12 million and leveraging more than $54 million of additional investment. Just this year, the Minnesota legislature allocated a $250,000 grant to distribute up to $5,000 to local businesses along Arcade Street to offset their losses during reconstruction of that East Side corridor.
We need those types of financial resources — but we also need better communication and collaboration than East Side residents have received on the Arcade Street Project. At a recent public hearing, Chris Bowers from MnDOT suggested the Robert Street Accountability Taskforce can be a pathway to better outcomes for West Siders.
“I want to acknowledge that another project MnDOT did this year on Arcade has not gone well,” Bowers said. “We need to learn some lessons from that and apply them to this project to do better. [The] accountability task force [can] help us figure out how to address some of these challenges.”
What will the taskforce do?
Our first meeting is coming up next Monday, September 29, and our vision is to meet at least twice per month over the next several years in order to:
▪️Create an ongoing space to share important information with other stakeholders and the community
▪️Cultivate accountable relationships to ensure problems are solved quickly as issues arise
▪️Advise and consent on major decisions throughout construction —like selecting a contractor
▪️Hold the project accountable to community demands, leveraging Equitable Development Scorecard as a guiding approach and values
The work will look different as the project progresses. In 2025, for instance, we’ll continue to provide input on MnDOT’s plan and advocate for an agenda for small business displacement mitigation strategies. Once construction begins in 2026, we’ll provide oversight of the Transportation Management Plan and engage in active problem solving and develop strategies to minimize disruptions and support businesses and residents.
Who’s on the taskforce?
For the taskforce to be effective, we need to bridge different stakeholders, while holding community leadership at the center. That’s why the taskforce includes:
▪️Monica Bravo, WSCO Executive Director
▪️E. Coco, WSCO Interim Associate Director
▪️Nan Kafka, West Side resident
▪️Raniya Z. Abawari, West Side resident
▪️Jose Rojas, West Side business owner
▪️Joy Sorensen Navarre, West Side business owner
▪️Chris Bower, Minnesota Department of Transportation
▪️Rebecca Noecker, Saint Paul City Council President, Ward 2 City Councilmember
▪️Rep. Maria Isa Perez Vega, Minnesota State Representative District 65B
▪️Daniela Lorenz, City of Saint Paul Planning and Economic Development Department
▪️Reuben Collins, City of Saint Paul Department of Public Works
▪️General contractor (TBD)
▪️Philanthropic Representative (TBD)
The West Siders stepping up to serve also see the promise of this project and the critical importance of getting it right — for West Siders.
"I joined the taskforce because, as a young person growing up in the West Side along the Robert Street corridor, I have seen the need for this project for a very long time,” Raniya Z. Abawari says. “My friends and I have often felt unsafe, and I recognize the importance of a project like this, particularly ensuring that a youth voice is present so that young people have a say in the decisions that will permanently impact us."
“Robert Street is part of my life on the West Side,” Nan Kafka says. “I walk to West Side Hair Care, Michael’s Pizza, St. Paul Flatbread, the Post Office on Eva, and across the Robert and Wabasha Street bridges to enjoy downtown activities. The reconstruction of Robert Street is a once in a lifetime opportunity to remake a streetscape in the image of our community. I want to contribute to the wellbeing of the West Side!”
“Robert Street is more than just a corridor — it supports the daily lives of residents, students, the elderly, and surrounding neighbors,” says Jose Rojas, a Robert Street business owner. “Ensuring their safety through clear traffic signs, proper pedestrian crossings, and accessible routes is critical during construction. At the same time, small businesses along Robert Street depend on the community and on visitors from surrounding areas who rely on safe and open road access, by maintaining safety and accessibility.”
We’re excited to kick off the taskforce next week and we’re committed to keeping West Siders informed.