Phase 2 Bruce Vento Regional Trail Design Project Frequently Asked Questions

What are the phases for the Bruce Vento Regional Trail extension?

The extension of the Bruce Vento Regional Trail (BVT) is split into two phases. Completing both phases will close the remaining gap between Buerkle Road and County Road J.

• Phase 1 BVT extension is located between Buerkle Road to the intersection of Hoffman Road/Highway 96.  Phase 1 BVT extension was conducted as a separate planning process and began in 2014.
• In 2018, the county initiated additional projects to evaluate options for the Phase 2 extension. Phase 2 BVT extension is located between Whitaker Street and County Road J and is currently being designed.

What was involved in the Phase 2 Feasibility Study?

Ramsey County Parks & Recreation previously completed an exhaustive evaluation of potential routes through White Bear Lake and White Bear Township from 2017 to 2019. Partners included in this work are Ramsey County Public Works, White Bear Lake and White Bear Township.

Several routes were analyzed on the east and west sides of Highway 61 to:

• Assess existing trail infrastructure.
• Re-evaluate the original route.
• Evaluate railway adjacent areas and downtown routes including Long Avenue.
• Examine usability and efficiency for both bikers and walkers.
• Determine impacts to property and infrastructure.
• Evaluate connections to downtown.

After the evaluation and engagement with public agencies and private landowners, it was determined many of these corridors, including downtown White Bear Lake and the Long Avenue route, were not viable options.  During the evaluation and public engagement process, Route 1 (Lincoln, Bald Eagle Ave/Blvd/Taylor/Hugo Road) was identified as the preferred route for connection to Hugo Road for the following reasons:

• Route 1 scored the highest in the survey at community meetings and from other public engagement.
• Provided the most appealing trail alignment and atmosphere for a regional trail.
• Route 1 has less turns and impact on local streets in White Bear Lake.
• Route 1 has good connections to the high school.
• Route 1 has the highest quality viewing of Bald Eagle Lake.
• Potential partnerships/coordination for railway crossing improvements.
• City’s desire to incorporate local trail connections from Bald Eagle Ave to downtown area.
• Could provide long-term trail loops between Bruce Vento and Lakes Link Regional Trail. 

What is the Phase 2 Bruce Vento Regional Trail Design Project timeline?

Initial design activities have been completed for the development of the Phase 2 Preliminary Design Report.  Follow-up agency engagement with White Bear Lake and White Bear Township for Phase 2 Preliminary Design Report outcomes will be completed by early Spring 2023. The next planning/design step for the Phase 2 design project will begin late spring/early summer 2023 and is estimated to be completed by the end of 2025.  This project will include several rounds of engagement, design advancement and preliminary and final design.

What public outreach has been done?

There were several opportunities for the public to comment on route selections and trail design within the initial design phase. A total of three rounds of engagement was completed in addition to two online surveys, online map comments, and feedback received from residents, public agencies, and private landowners through public meetings.  Additional engagement opportunities are planned for the next step of design, which will occur between late spring/early summer 2023 - 2025. 

When will this project be constructed?

Construction for the Phase 2 is undetermined at this time. Construction advancement is estimated at least six years out after all Phase 2 design work has been completed and funding received.

Will this project impact my property?

We are very sensitive as it relates to property impacts. It is early in the design process, but we are currently investigating potential impacts. Additional design will be required to determine the extent of infrastructure and site impacts, but proposed improvements will be in public road right-of-way. Final plans will need to account for stormwater runoff per City/Township/Watershed permitting requirements.

Are trees being removed for this project?

Ramsey County is sensitive to tree impacts that may result as part of this project. Based on an initial review, it is anticipated that there will be minimal tree impacts along Bald Eagle Boulevard and Taylor Avenue for a one-way roadway scenario.  We are currently investigating design options and potential infrastructure along Hugo Road. It is too early to tell exactly what impacts may exist on the east side of Hugo Road.

Will the trail block access to the Lake?

No, access to properties along Bald Eagle Lake will remain as it is today.

Will on-street parking be provided?

On-street parking is not planned to be provided on Bald Eagle Boulevard from Bald Eagle Avenue to Hugo Road. To add a trail along Bald Eagle Boulevard, between Bald Eagle Avenue to Park, existing on-street parking will be removed to allow a trail and two-way traffic. Currently, there is no on-street parking provided on Bald Eagle Boulevard between Park Avenue and Hugo Road and this will remain the same to avoid impacts to adjacent properties. For Hugo Road, we are investigating if parking opportunities can be provided along the roadway where space and right of way allows.

Can a trail be located on the east side of the railway or Highway 61?

No, there is not a viable option for this implementation.

Is there a connection between the Hugo Road pavement improvement project and the Phase 2 Bruce Vento Regional Trail Project?

The Phase 2 BVT project is planning for future implementation of a regional trail at least 8-10 years out. Due to the current pavement conditions on Hugo Road and timing for future trail improvements, Ramsey County Public Works initiated a pavement project in 2022 to improve pavement conditions on Hugo Road. The anticipated life cycle of pavement improvements is approximately 10 years.

An evaluation of potential routes through White Bear Lake and White Bear Township occurred between 2018 and 2020. Agency staff included in the feasibility study consisted of Ramsey County Parks & Recreation and Public Works, the City of White Bear Lake and White Bear Township.

Results of engagement activities completed in 2018 included a request by the public to re-evaluate downtown White Bear Lake for the use of the original route identified in the 1993 plan. Re-evaluation included areas adjacent to or near the railway corridor, east and west sides of Highway 61 and Long Avenue. The study also evaluated additional routes east of Highway 61 through the east downtown section of White Bear Lake and the potential use of the Lake Avenue Trail (Lake Links Regional Trail), Stewart Avenue, Pacific Avenue, Buffalo Street, Northwest Avenue, and Portland Avenue. After significant evaluation, it was determined that these corridors were not viable options for the following reasons.

Downtown White Bear Lake (Near or adjacent to the railway, west and east side of Highway 61, Clark Avenue):

• Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway would not support the route adjacent to the railway tracks due to spacing requirements from an active railway and impact to railway property.
• Lack of available right-of-way space throughout the downtown area. Significant redevelopment of existing buildings, parking lots, public roadways and other public facilities would be required to allow space for the trail.
• Greater impact on public infrastructure and adjacent private property.
• Impact on existing building infrastructure adjacent to the railway.
• Lack of connectivity to Long Avenue.
• High amount of turns north of Fourth Street to Long Avenue.
• Greater impact on existing buildings, public infrastructure and adjacent private property along Clark Avenue. Additional signal crossings would be required on Highway 61 at Seventh or Eighth Street.
• Lack of right-of-way space, harsh trail environment and ability to provide proper trail maintenance adjacent to Highway 61 (east and west side) and significant impact to adjacent properties, public infrastructure and building infrastructure.

Routes West of Highway 61:

• Routes 2 and 3 scored the lowest in the route survey at the November 19, 2019, community meeting.
• Lack of available right-of-way space along routes 2 and 3.
• Does not provide high-quality trail use and atmosphere for a regional trail along routes 2 and 3. 
• Does not fit into the overall regional trail context for planning alignment routes along routes 2 and 3. 
• Numerous turns for Route 2 and 3 through established urban areas.
• Greater impact with existing road-right-of-way and public infrastructure along routes 2 and 3. 
• Greater impact on existing mature canopy trees along routes 2 and 3. 
• Route 2 does not work with the proposed White Bear Lake High School development. It would create back turns to get to Long Avenue.

Routes East of Highway 61 (Lake Avenue, Stewart Avenue, Highway 96, Pacific Avenue, Northwest Avenue, Portland Avenue, Buffalo Street and Highway 61 north of Highway 96):

• Does not provide high-quality trail use and atmosphere for a regional trail and does not fit into the overall regional trail context for planning alignment routes.
• High amount of turns in urban areas.
• Greater impact with existing road right-of-way, public infrastructure and adjacent private property.
• Greater impact on existing canopy trees.
• Additional acquisition or easements.
• Too many crossing points with Highway 61.
• Lake Avenue already has many trail users.
• Adding more to the Lake Avenue Trail (Lake Links Regional Trail) would create too much congestion.
• Utilizing the Lake Avenue Trail (Lakes Link Regional Trail) does not meet regional trail separation distance requirements.
• Due to significant wetlands, extensive boardwalk structures would be required north of Pacific Avenue. 
• Lack of trail connectivity and available right-of-way on Highway 96.
• Creation of trail back turns for routing to crossing points on Highway 61.
• Harsh trail environment on Highway 61, north of Highway 61 to Buffalo Street and County Road J.
• Greater impact to existing right-of-way, wetlands, drainage ways, mature canopy trees and adjacent private property along Portland Avenue, Buffalo Street, and Northwest Avenue.

The evaluation analyzed design intent, usability and effectualness for both bikers and walkers, impacts, connections to downtown and trail user experience. Results of the feasibility study were incorporated into the master plan amendment and the county received letters of support/resolutions from White Bear Lake and White Bear Township in late 2020. The master plan amendment was approved by the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners in May 2021 and by the Metropolitan Council in August 2021.