Capitol Rice Street Reconstruction

Ramsey County and the City of Saint Paul are working in coordination with the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board (CAAPB) to design and construct a community-driven vision for Rice Street near the Minnesota state capitol from John Ireland Boulevard to Pennsylvania Avenue. This project will build off the connections formed during the visioning and construction of Rice Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Wheelock Parkway throughout the past five years (2019-2024) and is also being coordinated with Metro Transit’s METRO G Line BRT project.

This area of Rice Street is a hub of activity in downtown Saint Paul that serves a diverse mix of residents, visitors, businesses and modes of travel. The existing roadway is aging with safety and traffic concerns, and there is the need for strengthened community development, business vitality, bike and pedestrian connections, public safety, livability, and compatible land uses in the corridor. Dialogue between the community and the project team will help to deliver a successful project with a solution that was constructed by the very people who live and use the area.

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Timeline

• Existing Conditions Phase: August – December 2024
  • Review existing conditions in the project area and define goals for improvements
• Design Options Phase: January – December 2025
  • Define and review design concepts  
• Recommended Concept Phase: January – December 2026
  • Review and refine the proposed final design concept
• Construction Preparation Phase: January –  April 2027
  • Learn more about upcoming construction phasing and schedule
• Construction Start: Spring 2027

Community Engagement

Public engagement is a key part of the Rice Street Capitol Area project! We want to know how you use this area, including your concerns and what would make Rice Street a better place for everyone.

There will be several ways to share your insights with the team throughout the project, including:

• Open House meetings
• Pop-up meetings
• Digital comment mapping
• Online survey

Check back later for more engagement opportunities and scheduled events.  

Past Project Open Houses

• Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at Springboard for the Arts. For those who were unable to join us, you can view the materials below. We encourage you to leave your feedback using the online comment form. Your input is important as we move forward with this important project.
  • Existing Conditions Engagement Summary
  • Project fact sheet
  • Open House Boards 

Submit your feedback