Capital City Bikeway Interim Design Study

What is the Capital City Bikeway?

The Capital City Bikeway is a planned network of bicycle facilities throughout downtown Saint Paul. The bikeway network will connect to existing trails and on-street bikeways, allowing people comfortable and convenient bicycle access to and through downtown.

The development of bicycle facilities in the downtown was a top priority of the Saint Paul Bicycle Plan, adopted by City Council in March 2015. Following the adoption of the City’s Bicycle Plan, the City developed the Capital City Bikeway: Network Study and Design Guide in 2016, which includes a bikeway network study, bikeway network map, bikeway design guide, and bikeway implementation plan.

The first segment of the Capital City Bikeway was completed in 2017 along Jackson Street from University Avenue to Kellogg Boulevard. The network will include bikeways on Kellogg Boulevard, 9th Street/10th Street, and St. Peter Street or Wabasha Street.

What is the Interim Design Study?

The Capital City Bikeway Interim Design Study will build off the work completed in 2016-2017 and take the network development a step further. The project includes the development and evaluation of interim designs along with a public engagement process for the following segments of the Capital City Bikeway:

  • 9th Street/10th Street
  • St. Peter Street or Wabasha Street
Capital City Bikeway Map highlighting 2019 Interim Design Study on 9th Street and 10th Street and St. Peter Street and Wabasha Street in downtown Saint Paul.

The bikeway designs are considered “interim” because they will be at street-level and incorporated into the existing, between-the-curbs street width. The long-term vision for each of these segments is to develop protected bikeways, but design and development of those bikeways will likely not happen until there are full street reconstruction projects along each segment.

The project is being conducted in 2019 due to street resurfacing projects that are taking place over the next several years on 9th Street, 10th Street, St. Peter Street, and Wabasha Street. Bikeways will be incorporated as part of the street resurfacing projects on 9th Street, 10th Street, and either St. Peter Street or Wabasha Street.

The Capital City Bikeway: Network Study and Design Guide recommended St. Peter Street as the primary north/south route on the west side of downtown. This project will include an evaluation of two potential routes - St. Peter Street or Wabasha Street - as well as engagement with stakeholders to help arrive at a recommended route alignment.

Anticipated Project Schedule

Capital City Bikeway Interim Design Study Timeline for 9th Street & 10th Street and St. Peter Street & Wabasha Street. Timeline goes from Spring 2019 to Winter 2019/2020. A public engagement activity will be held in each quarter of the project timeline.

Engagement Activities and Materials

2nd Open House - Thursday, October 10, 2019

This was an opportunity to provide feedback on design concepts for different segments of 9th Street/10th Street and different configurations of bike lanes on St. Peter Street and Wabasha Street. 

Open House - Thursday, May 30, 2019

This was the first opportunity to learn about the project and provide some initial feedback about the corridors.

Project Materials