Q: What is the Red Rock Corridor?

A: The Red Rock Corridor is a proposed 30-mile transitway, connecting the Twin Cities’ southeastern suburbs to St. Paul and Minneapolis. The transitway originates in Hastings with stops in Cottage Grove, Newport and St. Paul’s Battle Creek neighborhood before connecting to St. Paul’s Union Depot, the University of Minnesota and downtown Minneapolis Interchange Station. Future plans call for extending the corridor into Goodhue County with potential station stops at the Prairie Island Indian Community and the city of Red Wing.

Q: Who is the Red Rock Corridor Commission?

A: The Red Rock Corridor Commission is comprised of 11 members representing the counties and communities within the corridor. In addition to the 11 members, representatives from Goodhue County, the city of Red Wing, Prairie Island Indian Community and the Canadian Pacific Railway serve as ex-officio members.

Members:

Myra Peterson, Chair, Washington County
Joe Harris, Vice-Chair, Dakota County
Mark Stenglein, Hennepin County
Janice Rettman, Ramsey County
John Hunziker, City of St. Paul Park
Barb Hollenbeck, City of Hastings
Jim Keller, Denmark Township
Myron Bailey, City of Cottage Grove
Corbin Hopkins, City of Newport
Lee Helgen, City of St Paul
Cam Gordon, City of Minneapolis

Ex-Officio Members:
Goodhue County
Prairie Island Indian Community
City of Red Wing
Canadian Pacific Railway

Q: What does Red Rock mean?

A: The name "Red Rock" is the English rendering of the Dakota designation eyah-shaw, referring to the boulder daubed with vermilion and venerated by Native Americans. It was the northernmost of two steamboat landing sites used by early settlers and missionaries. Red Rock was founded by the Methodists in 1837 as a mission serving the Sioux Tribe. The five-foot long granite boulder now resides in Newport United Methodist Church.

Q: When is the transitway scheduled to be completed?

A: Met Council’s 2030 Transportation Policy Plan plans to construct one additional commuter rail corridor in the Twin Cities between 2020 and 2030. The Red Rock Corridor is one of 8 corridors that has been identified as a potential transitway in the Twin Cities to be implemented by 2030. To achieve that goal, the Met Council is seeking to increase transit ridership within the Red Rock Corridor to support implementation of commuter rail service when high speed rail is developed in the corridor. Current plans call for enhanced commuter coach bus routes, with limited stops within the corridor.

Q: What work has already been completed?

A: The Red Rock Corridor Commission has completed its Alternatives Analysis Study, which resulted in commuter rail being determined the most appropriate transit mode for the corridor, with initial improvements to commuter coaches. This work followed the completion of the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) Commuter Rail System Plan, which identified the corridor as the second priority for commuter rail following the Northstar Corridor.

Q: What is the next step in the process?

A: The Red Rock Corridor Commission has started an 18-month Station Area Planning study to finalize transit station locations and start the design process. During the study, the Commission will be leading an extensive public participation process to gather public comments and feedback on potential locations and designs for each proposed station. It is anticipated that the study and recommendations will be completed around the end of 2011.

Q: How will the Red Rock Corridor connect with other regional transit improvements?

A: The Red Rock Corridor will seamlessly connect to other transit lines and services at the stations along the corridor. At downtown St. Paul’s Union Depot, Red Rock will connect with Metro Transit buses, taxis, intercity bus (Greyhound and Jefferson Lines), Central Corridor LRT, high-speed passenger rail from Chicago, Amtrak’s Empire Builder and future connections to both the I-94 and Rush Line Corridors. At the downtown Minneapolis Interchange Station, Red Rock will connect to buses, taxis, Hiawatha LRT, Northstar commuter rail and the planned Southwest Corridor LRT and Bottineau Corridor transitway. At the other stations, Red Rock will provide convenient connections with local bus services.

Q: Will the Red Rock Corridor compete with the Central Corridor?

A: No, analysis completed by the Central Corridor showed that there is minimal overlap in the corridors’ markets. Riders on the Central Corridor are more likely to travel to destinations primarily along University Avenue, including stops in both downtown areas and the University of Minnesota, while Red Rock riders are commuters primarily destined for either downtown St. Paul or downtown Minneapolis. Riders for each corridor will take the system that most effectively meets their needs.

Q: Will the Red Rock Corridor be extended?

A: Commuter rail service within the corridor could be extended to the Prairie Island Indian Community and the City of Red Wing as part of a later phase. In the near-term, commuter coach bus service may be extended to these communities to build the ridership prior to commuter rail.

Q: Where will transit stations be located?

A: A previous study identified several transit station locations. Currently the commission is finalizing locations and starting the design process. While the locations have not been finalized, the proposed locations include former train depot in Hastings, the Lower Afton Park & Ride in St. Paul and the former Knox Lumber site in Newport. In addition to these locations, specific sites within Cottage Grove will be explored.