Granary Crossing: More Than A Bridge
December 05, 2024What is Granary Crossing?
The concept for Granary Corridor and Crossing has a long history that has focused on providing new critical connections for the region. Alongside our partners, Towerside is taking up a more than 30-year community vision for Granary Crossing to be much more than a bridge. Granary Crossing is essential to improving multi-modal transportation access and movement in and around the Towerside Innovation District. It is a keystone component in the Towerside long-term priorities and collaboration with the University District Alliance (UDA), and Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB). It would be a major segment of a regional recreation corridor that includes pedestrian and bicycle trails that provide the “Missing Link” in the Grand Rounds. What’s more, it would serve as an iconic district gateway that is artful, sculptural, and elegant in design and physical presence. In the context of the broader landscape and surrounding development, Granary Crossing is essential to numerous initiatives currently underway that will preserve, restore, and re-create natural systems and diverse habitats. Finally, Granary Crossing has an important role to play in demonstrating 21st Century approaches in response to climate change, resource conservation, economic constraints, and equitable development.
Granary Crossing Planning Ramps Up (Again)
For the past four years, Towerside has been engaged with the detailed development planning of Malcolm Yards and adjacent properties. The outcome of this collective approach has defined the route of the Bridal Veil Regional Trail/Grand Rounds through the Innovation District geography, in addition to incorporating an extension of the district stormwater system of the Mississippi Water Management Organization (MWMO) and establishing a destination (MPRB) park.
In order to connect the Grand Rounds from where it currently ends in SE Como with the East River Parkway in Prospect Park (known as the “Missing Link”), an MPRB process informed by the community has determined that the railroad yards be bridged just west of Highway 280 and the St. Paul city line. The route of the Missing Link, as adopted by the MPRB and the Metropolitan Council, passes over the railyard, and would be a major segment of a regional recreation corridor. Towerside is helping to lead the key next step of working across agencies in our current Granary Crossing Study. This project is setting design priorities and investigating the technical engineering details of the area to identify one or more ideal alignments for bridging the railyard crossing.
In addition to completing the Grand Rounds, the Granary Crossing would increase pedestrian and bike access between Como and Prospect Park, areas with high densities of students who rely on non-car transportation. It is directly related to meeting the City of Minneapolis Transportation Plan’s mode shift goals and is a key component included in the Saint Paul Bicycle Plan.
Although the planning, funding, and construction of this infrastructure framework will take years, there are active development plans underway in Towerside including Malclm Yards, UMFREA’s MIX (Minnesota Innovation Exchange), and more. The need is urgent to identify the site requirements of this complex combination of roadways, ramps, bridges and structures so that private sector development can proceed without compromising future infrastructure design. In order to address this high-priority need, Towerside has embarked on a professional analysis of the issues involved to explore alternatives and develop a more detailed conceptual plan based on engineering judgment. This study is not intended to be a final design. The purpose is to identify the core issues related to this complex structure in order to inform the follow up process of developing broadly based community, multi-government, and agency support for making real the long-held vision for Granary Crossing.
Funded by MPRB, MWMO, the City of Minneapolis, and UDA, Towerside has commissioned Kimley-Horn and Associates for this work, with support from Bruce Jacobson Landscape Architecture. Kimley-Horn was previously commissioned to prepare detailed studies of Granary Corridor for the City of Minneapolis and, more recently, the University District Alliance; they are exceptionally well-grounded in all aspects of the district and this project. Towerside is responsible for project stewardship, including facilitating and maintaining ongoing community engagement and cross-sector partnerships. Towerside’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) is stewarding this work and providing the forum for broader community and partner input. The TAC meets every other month on the second Thursday morning of that month. All are welcome to attend.
Granary Crossing Site Tour
On a sunny and brisk early November afternoon, a group of Towerside partners and community members came together for a tour of potential sites for Granary Crossing. The tour was an opportunity to learn more about Towerside’s current study, better understand the opportunities and constraints of the prospective landing points, and provide feedback to the Kimley-Horn study team and Towerside.
As illustrated in the map above, a variety of options for both the bicycle and pedestrian trail as well as a vehicular road, were presented. Some of these options place the trail and road alongside one another while others include a combined crossing. Beginning at O’Shaughnessy Distilling, the group began with a discussion of a trail alignment that could cross north of or between Surly Brewing Co. and the distillery. It was noted that this would demonstrate the economic benefits of biking and walking to local businesses, creating a similar regional destination to Minnehaha Falls or Bde Maka Ska. Some group members suggested that 5th Street, located just south of Surly, would be an alternative route to consider.
The tour then traversed along the rail line and over the Minneapolis-Saint Paul border through parking lots toward Westgate Drive in order to view the potential touchdown points on the south side of the rail lines. Tour members were struck by the cityscape views, the changing topography between parcels, and how many connections the different touchdown points might impact.
By bus, the tour traveled north of the rail yards to view and discuss the landing point options and Missing Link connection that Kimley-Horn is currently studying. The group also talked through various green space opportunities, the potential realignment of Kasota Avenue, and watershed implications to consider.
Next Steps
By the end of 2024, Kimley-Horn’s completed Concept Plan will include graphic and narrative descriptions of potential crossing alignments along with an assessment of pros and cons for each. It will also identify basic structural elements, impacted properties, estimated costs, potential funding sources, ownership, lead agencies/advocates, and a range of benefits across issue areas. Described as ‘Feasibility Study Lite’, the outcomes of this process will provide greater clarity in terms of technical/engineering elements, but also deliver a first-look at potential design character and overall aesthetics. Together this is the baseline information needed to continue expanding the conversation with partners and actively engaging new constituents. Ultimately we are eager for this crossing to serve as a key component in our expanding network of innovative and integrated local, district, and regional infrastructure.
Do you have ideas for Granary Corridor and Crossing? We want to hear from you! Contact Stephen Klimek at sklimek@towersidemsp.org. We are excited to share more with you in 2025.