Arcade & E7th Mitigation and Resilience

MnDOT has a project page with ongoing updates and information: MnDOT official Project - Arcade and E7th

Arcade South of Maryland Closed 4 months early! See the news coverage. This was surprising:

• Star Tribune
• WCCO Channel 4
• Pioneer Press

Since Monday March 31st the section of roadway identified by the project as Stage 2 has been closed to access from Magnolia to Case. This complete closure of lanes on Arcade is a surprise - businesses were expecting local business access to include open lanes on Arcade and access to them. This closure was to deter pass through traffic and allow utility crews to get their work done before the reconstruction of the road - but it has abruptly affected local business access traffic as well. This is very frustrating to businesses that planned for 1 month complete closures later in the project timeline - July - October. This early closure will make the significant impact 6  months instead of 1 - 3 monthes. Imagine the difference to your revenue if you expected a 1 month loss and were instead facing a 6 month loss! It will be much more difficult for businesses to survive. Businesses are asking for a change to the barricade as a commonsense solution to the situation, to repair trust, and curb loss of business:

• Open Arcade to Local Business Traffic: The southern closure was at York and Sims. But business advocacy got the project to move that to Case Ave.  Businesses would ideally love it if the barricade were altered to allow one lane northbound and one lane southbound right on Arcade. This would allow local business access but slow traffic and deter pass through traffic – but it is likely that customers will need to learn to navigate using local routes to get behind the barricade and travel to their destinations. MnDOT and ESABA will help you figure that out.
   
• Mitigation Money: ESABA, ESNDC, Payne Phalen Community Council, Indigenous roots, Storehouse Grocers and others are worked to get a mitigation fund allocated by the legislature. Read all about that in the attached one-pager. We were a part of two hearings in the Senate and were passed along by the Transportation Committee to the Job Committee. Though Senators were sympathetic and confirm they hear requests like this from all over the state, we were not included in the budget sections to be funded. We will need another source of funding to help our businesses. Thank you to Chair Dibble, Senator Hawj and Rep Lee and all our Representatives that learned about this need and are advocating and standing with us to try to help move the barricade. Stay tuned for ways to contribute to a mitigation fund.  If you want to join the effort, contact Paris Dunning 952-994-3746 or Marsha Allen 651-288-8751

Here is the Timeline as we understand it:

Also of Note:

• PPCC and Urban Roots are forming a coalition to sponsor and maintain Level 2 and Level 3 plantings by community (grasses and native perennials).  The intention is to plant in 2026 and 2027, contingence upon City of St. Paul maintenance agreement.  There are a total of twenty-seven (27) Level 2 and 3 planters on Arcade Street between Maryland and Neid.   
• Arcade Street/East 7th Street Mitigation Fund

Here is the Hotline to call and ask questions and get help with MnDOT: 651-728-4542 • info@e7tharcade.com

Megan Ryan  is our direct contact with MnDOT for the community including businesses. Ask for her by name when you call the hotline or send email.

We also have an engagement consultant working directly with our campaign for mitigation and resilience:

Marsha Allen
Engagement Consultant with ESNDC
651-288-8751
marsha.esndc@gmail.com