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St. Croix Lift Bridge

New Connections

A St. Croix National Scenic and Recreational Riverway
Transportation and Development Plan
  1. Permanent rehab and continued vehicle use of the Historic Lift Bridge. Use of a thin, visually compatible marked height screen, or possibly even an infrared beam across the approach routes, on each side of the river to stop any trucks or other vehicles too high to fit through the bridge spans before such vehicles rich the bridgehead, so as to eliminate this source of damage to the bridge. Any vehicle triggering the height screen would be subject to a substantial fine and citation. Turn around space or route would be provided at the height screen location to ensure the oversize vehicle could exit the area in the direction it arrived, or another direction other than the bridge, without adding to traffic congestion;
  2. Emergency and transit vehicle access lanes. Exclusive westbound, Wisconsin approach lane and eastbound, downtown Stillwater bypass lane for emergency vehicles, buses, carpools and factory shuttles to access the Historic Lift Bridge whenever there is a back-up. The Wisconsin lane would be built in existing excess right-of-way; the downtown Stillwater lane would be built, with historic landscaping and streetscape upgrades and amenities, where surface parking now occupies the riverfront. Structured parking for downtown Stillwater would replace the lost surface parking, with a net gain in efficiency and access for restaurant and business customers.
  3. Transponder opticons inside emergency and transit vehicles allowing the vehicle itself, or the driver if necessary, to open the access lane gate as the vehicle reaches the lane entry point. The lanes would begin sufficiently up the hill on the Wisconsin side and south along the river on the Minnesota side so that, when used in combination with shoulders prior to the restricted lane entrance, will ensure no waiting regardless of the length of traffic back-up.
  4. Park-and-Ride facilities on the Wisconsin side of the St. Croix River at Hudson and Houlton to accommodate 2000 cars and 1000 cars, respectively, when opened. Reserved space in the Houlton park-and-ride for Andersen Corp workers with a prioritized land transit service through Stillwater, and water transit service direct, connecting to the Bayport plant at shift changes;
  5. Riverway Water Transit. The St. Croix, being a navigable waterway under Coast Guard regulation, should be exploited for water born north-south or diagonal transit routes, with appropriate marketing, infrastructure and incentives. Over time, behavior can develop that recognizes and appreciates the river as a more direct, more scenic transportation option for selected categories of trips;
  6. Negotiated agreement with the Coast Guard regarding Lift Bridge operations, allowing for lowering the lift when it is open if an emergency vehicle approaches; the emergency vehicle would radio the bridge operator from a distance sufficient that the bridge would be down by the time the emergency vehicle, using the restricted access lane, reached the bridgehead.
  7. Rush Hour Transit Access. During peak time, at the morning rush westbound, the evening rush eastbound, the eastbound vacation traffic on Friday and holiday afternoons and the westbound vacation traffic on Sunday and holiday afternoons, transit runs would be timed with the normal lift bridge schedule so as to arrive, via the restricted access lanes described under #2 above, at the bridgehead when the bridge is down and accessible to vehicles;
  8. Metro Transit express bus route extensions to St. Croix County with appropriate marketing, incentives, convenience and comfort to achieve ridership sufficient to provide alternatives for commuters to the Twin Cities downtowns. These bus lines would serve the park-n-ride ramps/lots described under #4 above, but might also reach directly to New Richmond, Roberts and other key connection points in the interior of St. Croix County. Bus and emergency vehicle priority access to the bridge from either side at peak timeson the Minnesota side, by routing buses along the shore connecting to the existing Highway 36 opposite the Oasis Caf; on the Wisconsin side, by designating one lane as priority for a certain distance near the bridge during peak times; on both sides, the use of meters to give preference to priority vehicles;
  9. St. Croix Valley Transit Authority (SCVTA) to establish and operate transit connections between St. Croix Falls and Hastings, on the Minnesota side, between Osceola or Taylor's Falls and Prescott on the Wisconsin side, between Minnesota and Wisconsin using existing bridges, and between high trip generators on both sides of the river using waterbuses and water taxis;
  10. St. Croix Valley Transportation Management Organization, similar in scope and mission to those in downtown St. Paul, downtown Minneapolis, the I-494 corridor, and the Midway area of St. Paul. Allowing carpools and vanpools preferential bridge access at the traffic meters at either end of the Lift Bridge, and also priority parking in the park-n-rides;
  11. Designated Wisconsin Highway 65 development corridor commercial growth zone, with Expansion of St. Croix County Highway 65 to four lane status between I-94 and New Richmond and appropriate land use designations accommodating planned commercial growth;
  12. Restrictive Highway 35 zoning between Houlton and North Hudson, including possible Scenic Byway designation. Compatible residential development would be permitted, but commercial would be directed as described in #10 above or to other suitable areas such as existing New Richmond or Somerset commercial zones;
  13. Full partner status for St. Croix County in the planning and research processes of the Metropolitan Council of the Twin Cities;
  14. Mode choice and land use incorporated as inputs or independent variables to Met Council traffic modeling algorithms rather than the secondary. dependant or excluded variables they are now;
  15. Implementation the St. Croix Valley Development Design Study of 2000, by Peter Calthorpe Associates, sponsored by the Metropolitan Council of the Twin Cities. Accelerated development of examples for downtown Stillwater, with transit circulator serving structured parking, historic district and other local sites as appropriate (see Gatlinburg, TN); possibly building on existing tourist trolley.
  16. Revised St. Croix County Comprehensive Plan that ensures adequate protection of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and its watershed;
  17. Commuter rail service, using existing rail bridges north of Stillwater and/or at Hudson, between Twin Cities and New Richmond and/or Hammond, with park-and-rides at station areas, local feeder transit and shuttles.
  18. Comprehensive bicycle system. For three-season recreation and commuting, expand St. Croix County Bicycle Plan to a comprehensive system of lanes, trails and paths, with emphasis on connections between western St. Croix County and Minnesota. Bicycles and cyclists could use all the transit options described above to cross the river.

For more information, please contact Mat Hollinshead at mat.hollinshead@northstar.sierraclub.org.