Earl Street Reconstruction

In 2024, the Saint Paul City Council adopted the Bicycle Plan as an addendum to the Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan. This plan builds on the 2015 Bicycle Plan, emphasizing the need for bikeways across the city, better aligning with city policies.

The plan calls for on-street bike lanes and/or a shared lane on Earl Street to provide people in Saint Paul with a safe and comfortable space to ride bicycles.

To read the Bike Plan and learn more about the policies, processes, and priorities of the plan, please visit the City website: https://www.stpaul.gov/departments/public-works/transportation-and-transit/bike-saint-paul/saint-paul-bicycle-plan 

The selected design of on-street bike lanes will result in the removal of approximately 32 trees and the planting of 46 trees. The off-street trail option would have resulted in the removal and replacement of approximately 77 trees. 

Tree removal will be completed by March 31, 2026, due to endangered species habitat regulations. Additional trees may need to be removed during construction, only approved by a Certified Urban Arborist with approved findings.

An open house was held on January 13, 2026 to review the selected concept. The final design will be determined in January 2026.

Traffic speed is heavily influenced by the width of the roadway. Narrowing the roadway will aid in lowering traffic speeds. Removing parking also provides enough space to add necessary bicycle infrastructure while preserving as many mature trees as feasible. Parking is being removed along the entire corridor with the exception of some areas to accommodate specific needs.

Construction is scheduled to start in Spring 2026. The contractor responsible for the project has not yet been chosen; they will determine the order of construction. Access will be provided to properties throughout construction.

No additional land is needed for this project; the right-of-way width will remain unchanged. Temporary easements may be required during construction, with residents receiving compensation for their land for that time. For questions on temporary easements please contact Don Pflaum at 651-266-9147 or don.pflaum@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
 

The city will clear ice and snow from the bikeway, storing it on roadside boulevards or hauling it away when necessary. Property owners are responsible for clearing ice and snow on sidewalks.
 

If your property has been identified by Saint Paul Regional Water Services (SPRWS) as having lead service lines and is located in an eligible project area, then replacement will be covered by SPRWS.

There are two ways to discover the material of your water service line:

• View the City’s online map. 

• Visit the state’s online map.

Additional information can be found on the Lead Free SPRWS webpage. To enroll in the program for replacement or for questions about replacement, please contact Saint Paul Regional Water Services at 651-266-6350 or waterinquiries@ci.stpaul.mn.us.

If you have an older private sewer pipe (50+ years), have had a sewer back up in your basement, or have a need to have your private sewer service routinely cleaned of roots, the city recommends that you take advantage of this opportunity to replace the section of your private sewer service in the public right of way during this project at roughly half the typical cost. Please note that if your sewer service runs underneath a boulevard tree, the boulevard tree might need to be removed (at the expense of the city) to replace your sewer service.

• For work on the portion of your sewer service on your private property, you need to hire a private sewer contractor

• The Sewer Utility Division has a financial assistance program (loan program) available to property owners to help with the expensive cost of sewer repairs or replacements.

• If you would like to enroll in this program, please do so before January 31. If you have any questions about this program, please contact the Sewer Utility Division at 651-266-6234 or PW-SewerCounter@ci.stpaul.mn.us.

• For more information on your sewer system, visit the Property Owner Information page.

Construction work will be done fully within the city’s existing right-of-way. Any retaining walls that are located along the sidewalk’s edge will be avoided to the greatest extent possible. Temporary easements are not expected for this project.

The total estimated cost of the project is $13.92 million. The project is funded by two primary sources: a 1% local option sales tax called Common Cent and through assessments. Assessments are levied to benefiting property owners adjacent to the project and are verified by a special benefit analysis provided by an independent appraiser. The Saint Paul City Council will approve the Phase 1 Earl Street Project at a public hearing on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 3:30 p.m. at City Hall.
 

A special assessment is a charge imposed on real property (land and buildings) to help pay for a public improvement that benefits the property. The City is authorized by state law and city charter and ordinances to use special assessments to finance public improvement projects.

• Special assessments typically help pay for street reconstruction, mill and overlay (resurfacing), sanitary and storm sewer construction, sidewalks, alleys, and other public improvements.

• See the City’s Special Assessments webpage for an explanation on how a special assessment is calculated.

• For questions about assessments, email ofs-assessments@ci.stpaul.mn.us or call 651-266-8858.

• The City of Saint Paul held a public hearing for Phase 1 of the Earl Street reconstruction project during the City Council meeting on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
  • Property owners, tenants, and others were invited to attend the hearing to provide comments. If you were unable to attend the meeting, you can watch a recording of the public hearing from January 28. A sample notice mailing is included in the Project Documents section below.
  • For more information about the assessment, or to see if you are being assessed, please call 651-266-8858 with the parcel ID/address listed in your letter. All property owners were mailed a notification letter with the hearing information and the estimated assessment details from the Office of Financial Services.

• Letter to residents in English, Hmong & Karen - September 17, 2025
• Letter to Phase 1 residents in English, Hmong & Karen - August 15, 2025
• Earl Street Project Flyer in English, Hmong & Karen - August 2025
• Earl Street Sample Assessment Letter - December 2025
• Earl Street Open House Letters in English, Hmong & Karen - December 2025
• Earl Street Construction Information Meeting Letter - Direct Impact - March 2026
• Earl Street Construction Information Meeting Letter - Neighborhood Impact - March 2026

• Open House 5 Engagement Summary - January 2026
• Open Houses 1-4 Engagement Summary
• January 2026 Open House 5 Project Boards in English, Hmong and Karen
• October 2025 Open House Project Boards in English, Hmong and Karen
• August 21, 2025 Community Meeting Boards in English, Hmong and Karen

• Earl Street Bike Lanes - Design Option 1
• Earl Street Trail - Design Option 2
• January 2026 Open House 5 Bike Lane Layout