Bruce Vento Regional Trail Extension – Buerkle Road to Whitaker Street

Phase 1 design project

This project area is located between Buerkle Road and the intersection of Hoffman Road and Highway 61 in the cities of White Bear Lake, Vadnais Heights and White Bear Township. Few pedestrian facilities exist within the proposed trail extension area, as industrial/office use and major vehicular transportation routes primarily dominate the corridor.  As a result, a major planning effort was initiated in 2014 to determine an alternative three-mile trail alignment out of the railway right-of-way from Buerkle Road to Highway 96 in White Bear Lake in hopes of reducing the remaining gap for the Bruce Vento Regional Trail.

In 2018, the county initiated additional design for a 2.7-mile extension of the Bruce Vento Regional Trail between Buerkle Road and the intersection of Hoffman Road/Highway 61 in White Bear Lake. This project provides an alternate trail alignment in an active railway corridor, completes approximately one-half of a major gap in both the Regional Bike Transportation Network and National US Bike Route 41, and extends through the cities of Gem Lake, White Bear Lake, White Bear Township and Vadnais Heights. 

Significant access barriers will be eliminated from industrial areas and major vehicular transportation routes, providing a new multi-modal trail. In addition, the trail will connect populations near the southern Saint Paul segment of the existing Bruce Vento Trail which extends through highly urban and concentrated areas of poverty making it a regionally important connection that will directly benefit diverse populations.

Other connections that will be achieved as a result of this project include:

• Highway 96 Regional Trail, Lakes Link Regional Trail, Lake Avenue Trail, and the South Shore Boulevard Trail, which are identified in the Ramsey County Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan and the Lake Links Trail Network Master Plan.
• Future connections north of Highway 96 to County Road J connecting to the Hardwood Creek Trail in Washington County.

Phase 1 Plan Overview

Project benefits

• Completes approximately three miles of a six-mile gap in the regional and national trail system.
• Eliminates several barriers and provides access to several different modes of transportation in an area that does not have facilities.
• Connects two areas with racially and economically diverse populations and substantial concentrations of youth, elderly and disabled residents with increased access to several different modes of transportation.
• Provides connections to other local and regional trail systems.
• Reduces the risk of crashes and conflicts between pedestrians/bikes and vehicles.
• Provides residents with safe access to jobs, retail, schools and recreation areas.

Phase 1 Project Construction Funding ($10,000,000):

• State Bond Amount: $5,000,000.
• Federal Funding Amount: $4,000,000.
• Ramsey County Amount: $1,000,000.

Phase 1 Estimated Project Timeline:

• Completion of Final Construction Plans – Summer 2024.
• Construction Solicitation – Late Summer 2024.
• Anticipated Construction Start –Spring 2025.
• Anticipated Construction End – Spring 2027.

Project goal

Extend trail from Buerkle Road to intersection of Hoffman Road and Highway 61. This will include:

• Build on the Preliminary Design Study completed in 2016.
• Complete final construction plans for a shovel-ready construction project.
• Host community engagement meetings to seek additional input and present design options.
• Align with regional solicitation funding and other federal funding opportunities. (Anticipated implementation is dependent on funding.)

Next steps

• MNDOT State Aid Process (ongoing).
• Complete municipal and regulatory permitting.
• Land Agreements/Easements.
• Finalize Construction Plans and Specifications.

Previous community engagement

Phase 1 Preliminary Design Study: 2014 - 2016

• 2 public meetings.

North extension (Phase 1 design, Corridor Realignment and Feasibility Study): 2018 - 2020.

• November 19, 2019 – presentation (PDF)
• October 25, 2018
• October 4, 2018 –​ presentation (PDF)

Long-Range Plan Amendment.

• Engagement integrated with projects between 2018 – 2020.
• 30-day public feedback: September 2020.