Sponsor: Public Works
Title
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Eligible Projects for the Ramsey County Transportation Sales and Use Tax Funding
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Recommendation
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1. Approve the removal of the following projects from the Ramsey County Transportation Sales and Use Tax Capital Improvement Plan.
a. METRO Green Line: Operating.
b. METRO Gold Line: Operating.
c. Riverview Corridor: Capital and Operating.
d. Ramsey County 2017-2021 Transportation Improvement Program.
2. Approve the addition of the following projects to the Ramsey County Transportation Sales and Use Tax Capital Improvement Plan.
a. Roadways and Interchanges
i. Lexington Avenue at CSAH 96 - Arden Hills and Shoreview.
ii. Hamline Avenue at CSAH 96 - Arden Hills.
iii. Snelling Avenue at Larpenteur Avenue - Falcon Heights.
iv. Rice Creek Commons Spine Road at CSAH 96 - Arden Hills.
v. White Bear Avenue at I-94 - Saint Paul.
b. Corridor Improvements
i. White Bear Avenue: Beam Avenue to I-94 - Maplewood and Saint Paul.
ii. Maryland Avenue: Johnson Parkway to White Bear Avenue - Saint Paul.
iii. Larpenteur Avenue/Parkway Drive: Hennepin County Line to Hwy 61 - Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Maplewood, Roseville, and Saint Paul.
iv. Lexington Avenue: CSAH 96 to County Road J - Arden Hills and Shoreview.
c. Transformative and Innovative
i. Rice Creek Commons Spine Road - Arden Hills.
ii. County Fleet Electric Vehicle Transition - Countywide.
iii. RiversEdge Transportation Infrastructure - Saint Paul.
d. Union Depot and Railroad
i. Union Depot Track Three Extension - Saint Paul.
ii. Union Depot Train Deck Repairs and Modernization - Saint Paul.
iii. Union Depot Facility Modernization - Saint Paul.
iv. County Road C Bridge over BNSF Railroad - Roseville.
v. Victoria Street at CPKC Railroad - Shoreview.
vi. Larpenteur Avenue at CPKC Railroad - Maplewood and Saint Paul.
e. Other
i. Purple Line Corridor - Maplewood and Saint Paul.
ii. Bruce Vento Regional Trail Extension - White Bear Lake.
iii. Trout Brook Regional Trail Extension - Little Canada, Maplewood, Saint Paul, and Vadnais Heights.
iv. All Projects contained in the 2024-2028 Ramsey County Transportation Improvement Program.
3. Authorize the use of Ramsey County Transportation Sales and Use Tax Funding for the completion of projects identified in the Ramsey County Transportation Sales and Use Tax Capital Improvement Plan.
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Background and Rationale
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To provide a safe and efficient multi-modal transportation system, the Ramsey County Board approved the imposition of a one-half percent sales tax and $20 excise tax on new vehicles in Ramsey County, Ramsey County Transportation Sales and Use Tax (Sales and Use Tax), for specific transportation projects consistent with the requirements of Minnesota Statute 297A.993 on June 13, 2017, by Resolution B2017-143. State statute allows new projects to utilize Sales and Use Tax funding following a public hearing and a resolution passed by the county board.
The Ramsey County Transportation Sales and Use Tax Capital Improvement Plan was updated to reflect changes in project eligibility since 2017.
On June 3, 2025, the Ramsey County Board held a public hearing to solicit comments from the public on the Ramsey County Transportation Sales and Use Tax Capital Improvement Plan. This updated plan contained the removal of projects and the addition of new projects.
Removal of the following projects:
• METRO Green Line operating costs.
• METRO Gold Line operating costs.
• Riverview Corridor capital and operating costs.
• 2017-2021 Transportation Improvement Program.
Addition of new projects:
a. Roadways and Interchanges
i. Lexington Avenue at CSAH 96 - Arden Hills and Shoreview.
ii. Hamline Avenue at CSAH 96 - Arden Hills.
iii. Snelling Avenue at Larpenteur Avenue - Falcon Heights.
iv. Rice Creek Commons Spine Road at CSAH 96 - Arden Hills.
v. White Bear Avenue at I-94 - Saint Paul.
b. Corridor Improvements
i. White Bear Avenue: Beam Avenue to I-94 - Maplewood and Saint Paul.
ii. Maryland Avenue: Johnson Parkway to White Bear Avenue - Saint Paul.
iii. Larpenteur Avenue/Parkway Drive: Hennepin County Line to Hwy 61- Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Maplewood, Roseville, and Saint Paul.
iv. Lexington Avenue: CSAH 96 to County Road J - Arden Hills and Shoreview.
c. Transformative and Innovative
i. Rice Creek Commons Spine Road - Arden Hills.
ii. County Fleet Electric Vehicle Transition - Countywide.
iii. RiversEdge Transportation Infrastructure - Saint Paul.
d. Union Depot and Railroad
i. Union Depot Track Three Extension - Saint Paul.
ii. Union Depot Train Deck Repairs and Modernization - Saint Paul.
iii. Union Depot Facility Modernization - Saint Paul.
iv. County Road C Bride over BNSF railroad - Roseville.
v. Victoria Street at CPKC railroad - Shoreview.
vi. Larpenteur Avenue at CPKC railroad - Maplewood and Saint Paul.
e. Other
i. Purple Line Corridor - Maplewood and Saint Paul.
ii. Bruce Vento Regional Trail Extension - White Bear Lake.
iii. Trout Brook Regional Trail Extension - Little Canada, Maplewood, Saint Paul, and Vadnais Heights.
iv. All Projects contained in the 2024-2028 Ramsey County Transportation Improvement Program.
The Ramsey County Transportation Sales and Use Tax Capital Investment Plan is not inclusive of every project discussed in the Ramsey County Transit and Transportation Investment Plan or by the board at its November 19, 2024, and April 8, 2025, workshops, but identifies eligible projects based on county board discussion, project readiness, and alignment with county plans. Identification of projects for inclusion in the Ramsey County Transportation Sales and Use Tax Capital Investment Plan is predicated on their alignment with the county’s strategic priorities and guiding plans. To ensure the greatest benefit possible is provided, while ensuring consistency with Ramsey County’s strategic priorities, the following guiding principles will be utilized:
• Funding will be spent countywide, with a primary focus on the county transit and transportation system.
• Funding will be used to advance the county’s All-Abilities Transportation Policy.
• Funding will be used to grow economic competitiveness by improving mobility between housing, jobs, essential services, and community amenities.
• Funding will focus on increasing access and reducing barriers to multimodal transportation options.
• Funding will be used to mitigate the impacts of climate change and improve transportation infrastructure resiliency.
Ramsey County will utilize its Transit and Transportation Investment Plan, Economic Competitiveness and Inclusion Plan <https://www.ramseycounty.us/your-government/projects-initiatives/economic-development-initiatives/economic-competitiveness-inclusion-plan>, All-Abilities 2050 Transportation Plan <https://www.ramseycounty.us/residents/roads-transportation/multi-modal-planning/all-abilities-2050-transportation-plan>, and the Climate Equity Action Plan <https://www.ramseycounty.us/climate-action/climate-equity-action-plan> as guiding plans as they are dynamic documents that will be reviewed regularly and updated as needed to ensure they evolve to meet the changing needs and priorities of Ramsey County. The Ramsey County Transportation Sales and Use Tax Capital Improvement Plan is a living document and the inclusion of additional projects in the plan will be at the discretion of the county board following a public hearing and adoption of a resolution on their eligibility consistent with Minnesota Statute 297A.993.
Adoption of the Ramsey County Transportation Sales and Use Tax Capital Improvement Plan will make the projects within it eligible for Sales and Use Tax funding. Programming of the projects will be done through the Ramsey County Transportation Improvement Program adopted annually by the Ramsey County Board.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Ramsey County is the most racially and ethnically diverse county in the state of Minnesota. An improved multi-modal transportation system will benefit all residents of the county, including communities of color, and Native Americans who are more likely to benefit from increased investments in transportation projects consistent with Ramsey County’s All Abilities Transportation Policy. All transportation capital construction projects, including roadway, bridge, trail and sidewalk, and transit projects will include workforce inclusion goals consistent with the Transportation Improvement Program they are adopted into. These goals currently are 32% minority and 20% women in the construction workforce.
Public Works also has a goal of 5% growth year over year for use of Certified Small Business Enterprise (CERT SBE) companies on its construction projects. The CERT SBE companies are further categorized into minority and female owned businesses that can be contracted with on Public Works’ professional/technical and construction agreements.
Community Participation Level and Impact
A public hearing was held to provide the opportunity for the public to provide direct input on the projects identified for Sales Tax use. Additionally, the selection of these projects was informed by the All-Abilities 2050 Transportation Plan which included engaging with more than 1,500 residents, city, county, and township officials throughout its development. These projects also align with the goals of the county’s Climate Equity Action Plan which was developed with engagement from more than 300 county residents and subject matter experts. Significant engagement with residents, businesses, community leaders, a steering committee, and the county board informed the strategies and actions within the Economic Competitiveness and Inclusion Plan to help shape the development of an implementable plan (and subsequently future budgets) over the last five years. An update to the ECI Plan will be underway in 2025.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☒ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
Approval of the Ramsey County Transportation Sales and Use Tax Capital Improvement Plan will allow for the continued collection of the one-half percent sales tax and excise tax to be used on projects specified within the plan. These projects will be funded by current and future proceeds of the sales and use tax, and the costs associated with these projects will be contained within the annual Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
Last Previous Action
On June 3, 2025, the Ramsey County Board Of Commissioners held a Public Hearing in the Council Chambers, third floor of Ramsey County Courthouse, 15 West Kellogg Boulevard, Saint Paul, MN 55102 to afford the public an opportunity to comment on the revisions to the list of projects eligible for Ramsey County Transportation and Sales and Use Tax funding and approve a list of eligible projects for the Ramsey County Transportation and Sales and Use Tax funding.
On May 27, 2025, the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority approved the Transit and Transportation Investment Plan (Resolution R2025-010).
On May 27, 2025, the Ramsey County Board approved the Transit and Transportation Investment Plan (Resolution B2025-104).
On May 13, 2025, the Ramsey County Board set the Public Hearing Date for the use of Ramsey County Transportation Sales and Use Tax Funds (Resolution B2025-092).
On April 8, 2025, the Ramsey County Board held a Workshop/Discussion on 2025 Transportation Funding.
On November 19, 2024, the Ramsey County Board held a Workshop/Discussion on Transportation Funding.
Attachments
1. Ramsey County Transportation Sales and Use Tax Capital Improvement Plan
2. Public Testimony at the June 3, 2025, Public Hearing
3. Ramsey County Sales and Use Tax Capital Investment Program Project Selection Fact Sheet
4. Transit and Transportation Investment Plan