West 7th Places Third in ABRT Evaluation – Community Reporter

Metro Transit Arterial Bus Rapid Transit (ABRT) Corridor Evaluation Report

Introduction and Project Scope

Metro Transit has completed a technical evaluation to identify the next three Arterial Bus Rapid Transit (ABRT) lines, designated J, K, and L, scheduled for implementation between 2030 and 2035. This initiative is a critical component of the region’s commitment to developing sustainable urban infrastructure, directly supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The West 7th corridor was recently incorporated into this evaluation following the discontinuation of previous transit studies by the City of St. Paul and Ramsey County.

Technical Evaluation and Alignment with SDGs

Evaluation Criteria and Sustainability Focus

Prospective ABRT corridors were assessed against a framework designed to maximize community benefits and long-term sustainability. The criteria directly reflect key principles of the SDGs, particularly those focused on urban development, equity, and climate action. The evaluation metrics included:

• Ridership Potential: Assessing the capacity to increase public transit use, contributing to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by reducing road congestion and emissions.
• Equity Considerations: Prioritizing corridors that serve diverse and historically underserved populations, directly advancing SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
• Land Use Integration: Analyzing current and future land use to ensure the transit investment supports compact, sustainable urban growth, in line with SDG 11.
• Project Costs: Evaluating financial viability to ensure a responsible and sustainable investment in public infrastructure, supporting SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).

Evaluation Results

The technical evaluation ranked the corridors based on a 100-point scale. The results highlight corridors with the greatest potential to advance regional sustainability and equity goals.

1. Nicollet Corridor (Minneapolis)
2. Franklin/Grand/3rd St. Corridor (Minneapolis)
3. West 7th Corridor (St. Paul)

The West 7th corridor achieved a score of 67.9, placing it significantly ahead of the fourth-place corridor and confirming its strong potential as a future ABRT line.

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Fostering Sustainable and Inclusive Communities

The ABRT expansion project is a strategic initiative to build a more sustainable and equitable metropolitan area. By improving public transportation, this plan makes substantial contributions to several SDGs:

• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): The project aims to provide residents with access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems, a core target of this goal.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): By offering a reliable and efficient alternative to single-occupancy vehicles, the ABRT network will help reduce the region’s carbon footprint.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Enhanced transit connectivity links residents to employment centers, fostering inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

Next Steps and Prioritization

With the technical evaluation complete, Metro Transit will proceed to the prioritization phase during the winter. This next step involves a practical assessment of implementation readiness to ensure the project’s success and alignment with broader urban development plans. Key considerations will include:

• Street and infrastructure readiness for ABRT implementation.
• Coordination with other planned construction projects to maximize efficiency and minimize public disruption.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: This goal is relevant because the article focuses on the development of public transportation infrastructure, specifically the planning and evaluation of new Arterial Bus Rapid Transit (ABRT) routes. This is a core component of building resilient, sustainable, and reliable infrastructure.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: This goal is directly addressed as the project aims to improve public transit within a major urban area (Minneapolis-St. Paul). The development of ABRT lines is a key strategy for creating more sustainable, accessible, and inclusive cities by providing better transportation options for residents.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 9.1: “Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.” The article’s discussion of Metro Transit’s plan to build new ABRT lines by 2030-2035 is a direct effort to develop quality and sustainable transport infrastructure. The inclusion of “equity concerns” as a primary evaluation criterion directly aligns with the target’s focus on “equitable access for all.”
• Target 11.2: “By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all… notably by expanding public transport.” The entire article is about the process of expanding public transport through new ABRT lines. The evaluation criteria, which include “ridership potential” and “equity concerns,” demonstrate a focus on creating an accessible and sustainable transport system for the city’s population.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention official SDG indicators, but it implies several metrics used in the project evaluation process that can serve as local-level indicators for measuring progress:

• Ridership Potential: Mentioned as a key ranking criterion (“Prospective projects were ranked based on ridership potential…”). This serves as an indicator for Target 11.2, as it measures the potential accessibility and convenience of the new public transport system for the population.
• Equity Concerns: This is explicitly stated as an evaluation criterion. It functions as a direct indicator for both Target 9.1 and Target 11.2, measuring the project’s commitment to providing equitable access for all community members, including vulnerable populations.
• Project Costs: This criterion is used to evaluate the financial feasibility and affordability of the infrastructure project, which is relevant to the sustainable development aspect of Target 9.1.
• Land Use: The inclusion of “land use, including future land use” as a criterion implies an indicator related to sustainable urban planning. It measures how well the new transit corridor integrates with and supports efficient and sustainable community development, which is central to SDG 11.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: communityreporter.org