Saint Paul's east metro area possesses an extensive network of bicycle/pedestrian trails including the Bruce Vento Regional Trail, which connects to the Gateway Trail, and the Mounds Park Trail, which connects to the Battle Creek Park Trail. Because of numerous barriers including roads and active rail lines this trail network dead ends as it approaches downtown and the Mississippi River. As a result, Saint Paul's East Side neighborhoods and trails have been cut off from the river, and it has been difficult for the growing downtown population to access key sections of the existing recreational trail network.

The Lower Phalen Creek Project and its partners are working to change this situation - and we are making exciting progress.

New link to downtown is open!

More than seven years of work came to fruition in July 2007 when the new Bruce Vento Regional Trail extension opened to the public. This link extends the Bruce Vento Regional Trail out of Swede Hollow Park, connects with the Mounds Park Trails and feeds both trails into the Lowertown district of downton via Fourth and Fifth Streets. The connection includes an overlook from an abandoned rail bridge over Fourth Street and other interesting features.

The new connection will have enormous benefits for bicycle commuters heading toward the city center, for downtown workers who want to stroll to the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary during their lunch hour, and for East Side residents who want to walk or bike downtown for work, school, shopping and cultural events.

Direct connection to the Mississippi is partially funded and in the planning phase

Creating this direct link to the Mississippi River has been a long-term community goal, and Lower Phalen Creek Project's planning for the area conducted in 2000-2001 recommended a pedestrian/bicycle bridge over the railroad tracks and Warner Road from the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary into Lower Landing Park. This bridge plan raised concerns from the National Park Service's Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA) about impacts on the scenic resources of the river corridor and the cultural resources on the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary.

In 2005 the Lower Phalen Creek Project, City of Saint Paul and MNRRA began an effort to revisit the full range of options available to create a direct connection from the Bruce Vento Regional Trail to the Mississippi River. A federal appropriation of $1.2 million for planning and beginning implementation of this trail connection added urgency to the effort.

With technical assistance from the National Park Service's Rivers Trails and Conservation Assistance Program, a planning process was initiated in November 2005 and a task force was formed with representation from Saint Paul Public Works and Parks and Recreation, Lower Phalen Creek Project, Minnesota Department of Transportation, MNRRA, District 4, District 17, Ramsey County, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Saint Paul Riverfront Corporation, Friends of the Parks and Trails of Saint Paul and Ramsey County and others.

The task force examined a wide range of options for achieving the connection, including tunnels, an at-grade crossing of Warner Road and use of existing structures such as the Kellogg Bridge. After numerous meetings and a site visit, the task force identified two options for making the connection between the Bruce Vento Regional Trail and sanctuary and the Mississippi River:

1. A pedestrian/bicycle bridge over both Warner Road and the railroad tracks. The bridge would need to be an estimated 37'- 39' tall and would require ramps or other structures to achieve the needed height within grade requirements.

2. A bridge over the railroad tracks with a tunnel under Warner Road. After traveling over the bridge (which would be an estimated 37'-39' tall) the trail connection would continue at-grade running west adjacent to Warner Road for approximately 300' before traveling into a tunnel under Warner Road. The tunnel would be an estimated 100' long and could be constructed in two sections with daylight in between.

Both connection options extend from a pedestrian/bicycle trail into the sanctuary off of the new Lower Phalen Creek Trail.

Selection of a preferred alignment and establishment of design guidelines are the goal of the planning task force. Once the task force has completed its work, an engineering firm will be hired to develop additional details, including cost estimates.

Public meetings took place in January and Febriuary 2007 to gather public input and answer questions about the two options under consideration. The task force report is currently in process.

For more information on trail connections, contact Sarah Clark at sclarkmmc@comcast.net, 651.290.0002.