Overview

A rail freight transfer yard began operating in the late 1800s on relatively flat land midway between the Saint Paul and Minneapolis downtowns.  The intermodal facility moved goods between the nine railroads traversing the region.  Trucking became an important component of the facility beginning in the years after World War II.  An industrial area grew up around the facility, with many businesses, such as warehouses, closely connected to rail and truck transportation.

Map of West Midway Study Area
Brief History of West Midway

The West Midway Study is focusing on how land use strategies can be used to strengthen the city’s industrial sector and employment base, while, at the same time, fit with an existing neighborhood accessible by light rail transit. 

• Planning Commission Resolution Initiating Study
• Issues and Scope of West Midway Study
• What is "industrial" and "industry?"
• Working Definition Industrial

Policy framework

• Relevant Excerpt from Land Use Plan
• Citywide Future Land Use Map (from Land Use Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan)
• Future Land Use Map of Study Area (from Land Use Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan)

Task Force

The City of Saint Paul Planning Commission has appointed the West Midway Study Task Force, a community-based group chaired by Greg Haley and Planning Commissioner Jon Commers.  It includes residents of Districts 11, 12, and 13, as well as representatives of railroad and trucking companies, business firms and property owners in the West Midway. 

It is charged with developing recommendations for consideration by the Planning Commission, City Council, and Mayor intended to position the 1,500-acre industrial area to take advantage of economic changes in the early 21^st Century and construction of light rail transit as a major employment area for the city and the region.

• West Midway Task Force
• Decision Points in the Task Force Process
• Clarification Memo
• Revised Development Principles, Oct 11 (draft)
• Summary of process and working base map, Nov. 29 (note: large file, may take a min to open)
  • Working base map, 11/29/10 
• West Midway sub-districts and relationship to Central Corridor Station Area Plans, Dec. 13 (note: large file, may take a min to open)
• West Midway sub-districts and infrastructure and mobility analysis, Jan. 10. (note: large file, may take a min to open).
  • Revised West Midway sub-districts map, 1/10/11
  • Infrastructure & mobility map notes, 1/10/11: Flex area 1; Flex area 2; Emerging hi-tech area.
• West Midway revised sub-districts based on Feb. 14th land use analyses in sub-groups, Mar. 14. (note: large file, may take a min to open).
  • Opportunity land use map notes, 2/14/11
• West Midway draft future land use map and West Midway draft future land use category descriptions. (considered by Task Force on Mar. 14th).
• West Midway industrial design standards presentation - options to consider.  (on April 11th Task Force meeting)
  • Current standards:  Building design standards  / Site design standards / Parking design standards.

Task Force Meetings

• Calendar of West Midway Task Force Meetings
• Agendas: June 28; July 19; September 13; Oct 11; Nov. 8; Nov. 29; Dec. 13; Jan. 10; Feb. 14; Mar. 14; April 11. 
• Meeting notes: June 28; July 19; Sept 13; Oct 11; Nov 8; Nov 29; Dec. 13; Jan. 10 narrative and map notes; Feb. 14 narrative and map notes; Mar. 14; April 11. 

Relevant Documents

Current Snapshot

Map of West Midway Study Area
Map of Current Zoning in the West Midway
Facts about Jobs and Acreage
Acreage Analysis
West Midway Current Land Use

Clarification memo about industrial zoned land
Changes to Met Council Land Use - Calculations for Map
Change in Land Use - Industrial to Residential & Commercial
Change in Land Use - Residential to Industrial & Commercial

Central Corridor

Station Area Plans: Fairview, Westgate, Raymond Station Area Plans; Central Corridor Market Potential 
Central Corridor Zoning Study: Central Corridor/TN Zoning Study Overview; CCZS Existing Zoning; CCZS Proposed Zoning; Non-conforming Uses 
Transportation connections:Connections Existing; Connections Proposed; Central Corridor Bus Route Map
Central Corridor Station Areas – Relationship to West Midway Sub-districts.

West Midway as an employment center

Jobs by Industry Type in West Midway Study Area
Saint Paul Labor Market Update - March 2010
Saint Paul Location Quotient Bubble Chart
West Midway Employment Density 
NAICS Codes - West Midway Study Area Only
DEED ppt on Twin Cities Changing Labor Market
DEED Metro Economic and Labor market Trends and Projections
DEED Article - Defining Regional Industry Clusters 
NY Times Article - Excerpt on Manufacturing and Skills 
DEED Article - Keeping Manufacturing Strong in MN

Access and Transportation

Land Use - Transportation Worksheet (completed 10/11/10)
BNSF Intermodal Facility Summary Notes, and MN Commercial
MN Commercial Railway Summary Sheet
MN Comprehensive Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail Plan (Feb 2010) - excerpt
Trucking Projections Fact Sheet
Traffic Studies Fact Sheet (Northwest Quadrant and Snelling Avenue Studies)

West Midway Industry Clusters

Twin Cities Clusters in the West Midway - Background Summary Sheet

Cluster maps:
D&B Business Services Cluster Map
D&B Distribution Services Cluster Map
D&B Production Technology and Metal Manufacturing Cluster Map
D&B Financial Services Cluster Map
D&B Printing & Publishing Cluster Map
D&B Information Technology and Medical Devices Cluster Map
D&B Goods-related Transportation Map, NAICS 48
D&B Healthcare & Social Assistance Map, NAICS 62
D&B Administrative & Waste Services Map, NAICS 56
D&B Construction-related Map, NAICS 23
D&B Educational Services Map, NAICS 61
D&B Public Administration Map, NAICS 92

Job density:
West Midway Study Area D&B Jobs per acre, Block Calculation
West Midway Industry-specific Job Density - Average Square Feet per Firm Devoted to One Job

Questions / Contact

The staff contacts for the West Midway Study are:
Allen Lovejoy, Public Works,  651-266-6226 
Hilary Holmes, Planning and Economic Development,  at 651-266-6612