The Minnesota Department of Transportation has unveiled plans to reconfigure Robert Street south of downtown St. Paul, turning much of it into a three-lane road between Kellogg Boulevard and Annapolis Street, with one traffic lane in each direction and a center turn lane.

Informational meetings with business owners and the general community are planned Nov. 1 and Nov. 7, respectively.

The new concept plans would add two-way separated bike lanes on the east side of Robert Street from Cesar Chavez Street to Kellogg Boulevard, and medians along nine sections of Robert to improve safety by shortening pedestrian crossings and calm traffic speeds.

Parking study, roundabout, viaduct

A parking study showed many places with on-street parking along Robert are not fully used, and MnDOT said in a statement that “the new design will right-size parking to align with demand.” Officials said that would entail preserving parking where it’s needed for access to housing and businesses.

In 2025, MnDOT plans to deactivate the traffic signal at Curtice Street and install temporary safety improvements to evaluate their effectiveness and inform a final design there. A roundabout would be added at Robert, State and Sidney streets, with the goal of calming vehicle speeds and improving left-hand turns onto Robert Street.

MnDOT completed repairs to the viaduct between King Street and Cesar Chavez Street in 2022, but the department says more extensive repairs or even a replacement will be needed in the future.

“Until funding is secured, we will continue to monitor and inspect the viaduct repairs as needed,” reads the statement.

The overall project will replace sidewalks and repair or replace roadway pavement. Construction is likely to occur in 2026 through 2028.

Listening sessions

MnDOT will host a listening session for Robert Street businesses from 8 to 9 a.m. and 12-1 p.m. on Nov. 1 at Girl Scouts River Valleys, 400 South Robert St.

An in-person community meeting will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Nov. 12 at the Villa del Sol Community Space, 88 Cesar Chavez St. There will be a brief presentation at 4:30 p.m.

Bike lanes

Along the Robert Street bridge from Kellogg Boulevard to Fillmore Avenue, MnDOT would restripe a two-way separated bike lane on the east side of Robert and add a new stoplight at Fillmore.

From Fillmore Avenue to the railroad, Robert Street would undergo a three-way lane conversion, with one traffic lane in each direction and a center turn lane, as well as new stoplights at Fillmore Avenue and Plato Boulevard. Two-way separated bike lanes would be added on the east side of Robert Street, with added green space in boulevards on either side of the street. A new raised median would be installed across the bridge.

Work would continue in three more segments, each with their own design details, from the railroad to Cesar Chavez Street, from Cesar Chavez Street to State Street and from State Street to Annapolis Street.

More information is online at tinyurl.com/RobertSTP2024.