Met Council's Plan for 770 Park and Ride Spaces Draws SLP Council's Ire

New plans for the Southwest Light Rail line, released last week, would bring 770 park and ride spaces to lots near the proposed Beltline and Louisiana stations.

Park and rides are seen as something of a necessary evil in the light rail project—needed to make the mass transit system work, but uncomfortable for cities such as St. Louis Park asked to replace businesses or developable land with parking lots.

“We’re not real excited about taking land with businesses on it for park and rides,” said Kevin Locke, the city’s community development director.

The Met Council’s estimates revised forecasted costs from the initial $1.25 billion to as much as $1.82 billion, including $33 million in additional costs for St. Louis Park.

The specific proposals for station and park and ride locations are open to city input and change before the Met Council’s August 28 decision, which is fortunate for St. Louis Park staff and council members who voiced strong objections to a number of details in the plan.

The placement of a 545-space park and ride at Beltline, at the site of Steel Toe Brewery and a number of other industrial businesses, was extremely unpopular with the city council, with Locke calling the plan “dead on arrival.”

Here's a rundown on the Met Council's plan and elements of contention with St. Louis Park:

• Louisiana Station:

• Met Council’s proposal: Build 225 park and ride surface spaces north of corridor, adjacent to Sam’s Club parking lot, connected by underpass to light-rail station on southern side of corridor.

• Met Council’s proposal: Build station south of corridor, just east of Woodale Avenue.

• City’s gripes/suggestions: This will create traffic congestion on Wooddale. Since, as Locke says, “the practical physics of trying to grade separate Woodale and the corridor just don’t work,” the station should be moved east to Xenwood Avenue, which would make it possible to grade separate Woodale. Xenwood could then be extended and also pass under the light rail and freight lines.

• Met Council’s proposal: Build station just east of Beltline Boulevard, and build 545-space park and ride on West 35th Street, at current site of Steel Toe Brewing, APEX Personal training and other businesses.

• City’s gripes/suggestions: Beltline, as “the only north-south route between Lake Calhoun and Hwy 100,” must be always available and should be grade separated. The park and ride should be moved or eliminated. If a park and ride is built at Beltline, the city should retain the right to develop the site.