Minnesota Department of Transportation

511 Travel Info

ABC Ramps

Timeline

1937

  • Trunk Highway 12 is added to the Twin Cities Federal Aid Interstate System.

1956

  • Minneapolis Planning Commission examines a distributor road between the Hawthorne Interchange and Washington Avenue to better connect Highway 12 to downtown streets.
  • MPC recommends parking to directly connect to inbound traffic.

1969

  • MPC commissions “Metro Center 85” plan, which endorses fringe parking facilities to mitigate traffic congestion and maintain walkability in the urban core.
  • A site plan shows the location of the three ramps, then called the Third Avenue Distributor Parking Garages, in their current location.

1973

  • The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency releases a compliance plan to achieve carbon monoxide ambient air quality standard.
  • The plan calls for the development of 7,000 off-street parking spaces served by micro-transit and skyway connections to bring travelers to the central business district.

1974

  • Minnesota Highway Department approves garage location.
  • Federal Highway Administration approves building garages as part of the I-394 system.

1974

  • Conflict from community advisory panels and community pushback over the I-394 construction stalls the project.
  • Concerns are raised of revenue losses from expansion of the right of way and the effect of noise from the highway.
  • Metropolitan Freeway Moratorium Coalition forms with support from the Sierra Club. As the oil embargo of 1973 continues to unfold, the downsides of completely car-dependent transportation landscape become more apparent to the public eye.

1975

  • Minnesota state legislature halts funding for planning and construction efforts. By 1976, the legislature agrees to resume funding on the condition that no more than six through lanes be built.

1984-86

  • Construction on I-394 and Third Avenue Distributor begins with the High Occupancy Vehicle or carpool lanes and incentives for HOV travel.
  • The Transportation System Management Plan for Interstate 394 outlines the design and operation of a diverse travel corridor.

1989

  • FHWA provides MnDOT with the Maintenance and Operation Plan for the I-394 Third Avenue Distributor Garage A, Garage B and Garage C.
  • The State of Minnesota signs agreement with the city of Minneapolis to manage the Third Avenue Distributor Garages.
  • The original 20-year term starts July 29, 1989, and ends June 30, 2009, with three 10-year renewal options.

1992

  • Third Avenue Distributor, or TAD, garages are completed.
  • Metro Transit (then called MTC) operates bus layover and passenger waiting areas in Ramps A and B.
  • Carpool and vanpool parking discounts offer reduced price monthly carpool contracts for commuters coming from the west on I-394 and westbound I-94.

2002

  • Area private parking operators file complaint with the FHWA that SOV vehicles are taking advantage of the discounted rate.
  • Employee monitors are placed at all ramp entrances during peak commute times to ensure vehicles entering the ramps have at least two people or pay the daily rate.
  • Despite further discounts and extra incentives, the extra layer of verification lead carpool contracts to drop by half.

2003

  • The ramps are branded as the ABC Ramps.

2008

  • Construction for the Twins baseball stadium begins.
  • Event revenue at the ramps increases from 10 percent to over 30 percent.

2010

  • All six bus lobbies are used for the first time.
  • All the ramps fill for the first time during Twins weekday daytime games.
  • $17 million ramp improvements include street level entrances, skyway connecting Ramp B to Target Field, enhanced signage to help game-day visitors, bicyclists showers and bicycle lockers

2010

  • Monthly carpool contracts continue to decline due to changes in travel behavior and demographics.
  • MnDOT and City of Minneapolis look at ways to develop new programs to reduce Single Occupancy Vehicle travel.

2014

  • Electric vehicle charging stations are added to Ramps A and B.

 2017

  • A lighting retrofit project includes switching to energy-efficient LED lighting.
  • New security measures result in a 64 percent reduction in reported incidences.

2019

  • The University of Minnesota studies travel behaviors of ramp users, who said they want flexibility in their travel options.
  • The solar garden opens on the top of Ramp A, generating solar energy to subscribers.
  • A new carpool parking rate structure includes lifting a geographic restriction and allowing people to take advantage of reduced parking rates regardless of where they live outside the downtown core.
  • Mobility Hub added to ABC Ramps’ name, reflecting the transportation options available at the ramps.