Sponsor: Public Works
Title
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Transfer of Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority Funds for Union Depot Facility Improvements
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Recommendation
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1. Authorize the County Manager to transfer up to $3,000,000 from Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority fund balance to the 2025 Union Depot operating budget for operational and capital maintenance costs for near-term improvements.
2. Authorize the County Manager to establish a project budget for Union Depot Facility Improvements of up to $6,000,000, utilizing up to $3,000,000 of Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority fund balance and up to $3,000,000 of Transit and Transportation Improvement fund balance in the Union Depot operating budget.
3. Authorize the County Manager to account for the operational and capital maintenance costs in the Union Depot operating budget.
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Background and Rationale
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In 2012, Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority (RCRRA) renovated the Union Depot in downtown St. Paul into a multi-modal transit and transportation hub. The renovation included rail and bus improvements fostering greater regional and national connectivity along with building improvements to provide a welcoming space for transit and transportation users as well as providing event space that has been thoroughly programmed throughout the years. Union Depot is approaching 15 years since its renovation and needs additional resources to continue its service as a hub for transit and transportation, public and private events and as a gathering space for the community.
The Union Depot hosts a multitude of indoor/outdoor events, including public events, private events, arts and cultural festivals, concerts, yoga classes, games, tours and more. Events at Union Depot are typically scheduled for more than 200 days out of the year and growing. The biggest events including the annual Hub for the Holidays, Train Days and Doggie Depot drawing approximately 170,000, 15,000 and 6,000 people annually. An increase in funding would allow for a higher level of maintenance associated with the desire to increase activities beyond current levels prior to staff developing and presenting a transit and transportation plan that reallocates Riverview Corridor funds to the board in Spring of 2025.
Activities anticipated to be funded via the additional funds include:
• Resiliency
o Flood wall mitigation in Lot B
o Energy initiatives and LED lighting
• Transportation
o Bus and train deck structural improvements
• Building
o Historic building preservation
o Enhancements to public and event space, technology and wayfinding
o Security system upgrades
• Strategic Marketing
o Increased marketing activities to catalyze Union Depot’s role in the activation of downtown St. Paul and the greater East Metro.
Maximization of the near-term impact of these funds on Union Depot operations and capital maintenance will be done through the coordination of Public Works, Property Management, Community and Economic Development and the County Manager.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☐ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☐ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Transportation provides access to jobs, workforce training opportunities, education, healthcare, recreation, shopping, and other key destinations regionally and nationally. Improving Ramsey County’s transportation system to prioritize people who walk, bike and ride transit over automobiles and freight will ensure that the needs of all residents are met while improving resident safety and prosperity. As the most diverse county in Minnesota, Ramsey County is pursuing the implementation of transportation investments that provide reliable, low-cost, and high amenity transportation to reduce and eliminate transportation barriers for transit-dependent households, areas of racially concentrated poverty and areas of low income. Reducing these barriers by elevating pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and passenger rail investments over automobile focused investments will reduce the financial and environmental cost on these groups by improving access to fast, frequent, and reliable passenger rail and transit while improving pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure to provide residents with safe and convenient alternatives to driving allowing them to choose the best transportation option for them.
Community Participation Level and Impact
Community engagement is essential to informed and transparent decision making and has occurred through the development of Ramsey County’s transportation projects. Public works engages with community members and organizations on transit and transportation projects as part of project development and the development of long-range plans. This engagement has led to common themes including: “Safety should be key in priorities projects”, “Improvements to multimodal facilities are important, but should be balanced with roadway improvements”, “increase multimodal infrastructure in suburban areas”, “Providing a safe and accessible system in a state of good repair is a priority”, “Speeding is a concern” and “vehicular travel efficiency needs to be balanced with multimodal safety”.
☐ Inform ☐ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
The funding for this request will be a transfer of up to $3,000,000 in fund balance from the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority Tax Levy fund. Adequate funding is available to accommodate this request. These funds will be allocated to the 2025 Union Depot operating budget for operational and capital maintenance costs.
Last Previous Action
None.
Attachments
None.