ST. PAUL NOTES | Under construction: July 12 Central Corridor update

By |

One thing the Central Corridor crew does well is sending out press releases. Here are the highlights from this week’s construction updates:University Avenue looks the same to drivers, but if you’re on the sidewalk, you may see some street paving and laying paver blocks for sidewalksOn July 17 traffic is scheduled to begin switching from the north side to the south side of University Avenue, at least between Emerald and Hampden. That will mean changes in bus stops, too.If you’re watching, the first train stations have appeared (below), but the trains themselves … not until 2014.(Photo from Central Corridor press release)In the meantime, bus information, including changes in stops and schedules, is at www.metrotransit.org/construction or call the Transit Information Center at 612-373-3333. (Photo from Central Corridor press release)This week’s Central Corridor construction update highlights Caribe Caribbean bistro at 791 Raymond Avenue. I had lunch at Caribe with my family today, and it was, as always, terrific.As far as the impact of construction, I can report that we had no trouble finding on-street parking. Continue Reading

Railway woman: Beatriz Mendez-Lora has worked on all three Minnesota LRT projects

By |

Electrical engineering consultant Beatriz Mendez-Lora was content to be a solo entrepreneur until the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Project (CCLRT) came along. Mendez-Lora, who earned her electrical engineering degree from Boston University, has come a long way since getting her start in the field as an intern in the electrical department of a Florida architectural and engineering consulting firm. “It was the Central Corridor LRT Project that helped [my company] grow,” said Mendez-Lora, who started M-P Consultants 15 years ago. The Northstar commuter rail project, from downtown Minneapolis to Big Lake, was the largest project her company-Mendez-Lora and one CAD technician-had worked on until the CCLRT project. The current project will connect downtown Minneapolis to downtown St. Continue Reading

AEDA and Asian businesses discuss light rail concerns with FTA

By |

The Asian Economic Development Association and Asian business owners met with Federal Transit Administration Administrator Peter Rogoff in St. Paul on April 26 – just hours before he was scheduled to sign a full funding grant agreement (FFGA) with local officials for the $957 million Central Corridor light rail line.Metropolitan Council Chair Susan Haigh was also in attendance. The Met Council is the lead agency in charge of building the Central Corridor light rail line that will run along the center of University Avenue. There are about 200 Asian owned businesses along the avenue Approximately 20 business owners along the Central Corridor light rail line attended the meeting, which was held at Mai Village in St. Paul and hosted by AEDA. Continue Reading

The train is coming, like it or not

By |

Outside the Lyric Apartments meeting room, orange construction barriers, fences and torn-up streets contrasted with the good cheer and artist-decorated hard hats of the Central Corridor Creative Enterprise Zone party.

The vision of the Creative Enterprise Zone at the crossroads of Raymond and University Avenue is to be a livable, mixed-use neighborhood, recognized and sustained as a center of creativity and enterprise. [From CEZ web page.]

The event was billed as a celebration of the arts and businesses along the Central Corridor, and it lived up to that promise. Food, drinks, art, music and determinedly upbeat speakers touted stronger ties among creative folks on the Central Corridor, a plan for supporting enterprise and creativity, support for local businesses, and hope for the future.

Continue Reading