Sponsor: Community & Economic Development
Public Works
Title
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Fund Balance Transfer and Engineering Agreements for RiversEdge
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Recommendation
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1. Authorize the County Manager to transfer up to $350,000 from Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority fund balance to the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority capital fund for railroad review of the RiversEdge Project’s preliminary engineering plans and completion of associated engineering work.
2. Authorize the County Manager to account for the $350,000 fund balance transfer in the Riverfront Redevelopment project budget established by the County Board.
3. Approve the Preliminary Engineering Agreements with Union Pacific Railroad Company and Soo Line Railroad Company, doing business as CPKC, for preliminary engineering for the RiversEdge Project.
4. Authorize the Chair to execute the agreements.
5. Authorize the County Manager to enter into subsequent engineering agreements and execute amendments to agreements in accordance with the county’s procurement policies and procedures provided the amounts are within the limits of the funding.
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Background and Rationale
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Ramsey County owns property in downtown Saint Paul, roughly bound by Kellogg Blvd. to the north, Wabasha St. to the east, railroad tracks to the south, and District Energy to the west. This property is commonly referred to as RiversEdge, a transformative redevelopment project in the capitol city. This project includes four major components including two pieces of infrastructure: (1) a parking ramp built into the bluff to serve the new uses on the site and (2) a structure above the railroad tracks and Shepard Road bridging the gap between the county-owned property and the river. Other pieces of the RiversEdge Project (Project) include (3) a public realm or park extending all the way from Kellogg Blvd. to the river’s edge and (4) a series of private towers that will sit on top of the parking structure.
Each component is related and critical to the overall success of the Project, however, without the structure connecting Kellogg Blvd. to the Mississippi River the Project’s transportation, economic development and public space benefits will be reduced. As currently planned, the structure will bridge over track owned by Soo Line Railroad Company doing business as CPKC (CPKC) and Union Pacific Railroad (UP) in addition to Shepard Road necessitating a final design that is railroad compliant and approved. Ensuring the continued safe and efficient movement of freight through the corridor is critical as this corridor connects St. Paul and the Twin Cities region to larger national networks of CPKC, UP and BNSF Railway. Additionally, this corridor connects directly to Union Depot, a premier multi-modal transportation hub served by multiple light rail, bus rapid transit, local bus, intercity bus, and Amtrak passenger trains.
Ramsey County has reached out to CPKC and UP as owners of the track to engage them in the Project and to identify additional areas of coordination and approval. Both Railroads have engineering, operations and real estate teams ready to review and comment on the current Project design and identify any necessary changes prior to advancing the project thought its approval process. Railroad review, comment and approval requires a series of agreements between the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority (RCRRA) and each railroad. These agreements allow the project to advance through design and to request individual railroad approval. If approved, additional construction and operation and maintenance agreements will be needed.
The first of these agreements, engineering review agreements, provide for the reimbursement of railroad staff time for their work on the RiversEdge Project. Upon entry into these agreements both CPKC and UP will formally review the Project plans, provide comments and work with Ramsey County on advancing the Project including the determination of property ownership and impact. It is anticipated that the review, comment and work needed to resolve comments will take approximately twelve months. As part of this work, a Memorandum of Understanding between the RCRRA and each railroad will be developed that will detail the project elements, agreed to and outstanding issues, party roles and responsibilities and necessary future agreements. This approach is the same approach taken by the RCRRA and the BNSF Railway, Canadia Pacific Railway, and Union Pacific Railroad for improvements related to bringing Amtrak service back to Union Depot in 2014.
RCRRA approval of the Preliminary Engineering Agreements is an initial step to realizing the RiversEdge Project. This Project represents an opportunity to improve access and strengthen linkages between transportation assets that state, regional, and federal governments have already invested heavily in, including the METRO Green, Gold, Bronze, B and H Lines, Union Depot, regional trails, and a multitude of downtown pedestrian and bicycle mobility and safety improvements. The Project will address the current deficiencies with stairways, narrow sidewalks, and difficult crossings along Kellogg Blvd. that create real risks in one of the busiest pedestrian areas in the capitol city. Better, universally accessible connections to transit mean more Minnesotans - regardless of age, mobility, or income - can safely participate in downtown’s jobs, activities, and riverfront amenities.
This project creates opportunities for economic and community development reflective of county goals and values, utilizing strategies from the Economic Competitiveness and Inclusion Plan, Equitable Development Framework, Comprehensive Plan and Transit and Transportation Investment Plan. It will significantly bolster downtown’s contribution to the overall tax capacity, fostering economic opportunities, and contribute to sustaining and enhancing vitality for the county.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☐ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
The Ramsey County Board has adopted the Economic Competitiveness and Inclusion Plan that provides a guide for comprehensive economic development strategy centered on equitable growth and strengthening economic competitiveness. The county also has an Equitable Development Framework to guide any redevelopment project with county participation. These strategies prioritize inclusion in future investments and other actions related to housing, job creation, workforce development and place-based investments.
The overall project is being guided by these strategies whose impacts will be seen and felt most strongly with future phases.
Community Participation Level and Impact
The RiversEdge Project is informed by years of shared community engagement and stated city and county goals. County staff met regularly throughout 2019 with staff from the City of Saint Paul in the City-County Working Group, which provided the basis of integration of the RiversEdge Project with the city’s River Balcony Master Plan. County staff have also been present at several public gatherings focused on the city’s River Balcony initiative.
The community continues to be engaged, most recently through an open artist call which will temporarily activate and beautify the site with a series of artworks until construction begins. The next opportunity for community input is on Saturday, May 30, 2026, as part of a Riverwalk Inauguration event highlighting the finalists from the artist call.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☒ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
The funding for this request is coming from the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority tax levy fund balance. Adequate fund balance is available to accommodate this request. The requested amount of $350,000 will be budgeted utilizing the existing Riverfront Redevelopment project ID but will remain in the RCRRA capital projects fund for tracking and reporting purposes.
Last Previous Action
None
Attachments
1. UP Preliminary Engineering Services Agreement
2. CPKC Service Agreement