MnPASS project
Status
This project is in development. It is scheduled to begin in 2013 and last through 2015.
Public meetings
You're invited to our upcoming open houses to discuss the Environmental Assessment (PDF, 26 MB) for the proposed I-35E MnPASS High Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lanes improvements. View news release for more details.
Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013
4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Hiway Federal Credit Union
840 Westminster Street in St. Paul
Monday, Feb. 11, 2013
4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
St. Jerome’s Catholic Church
380 Roselawn Ave. East in Maplewood
About
As part of the I-35E Cayuga project, MnDOT is planning the addition of MnPASS Express Lanes on I-35E between Pennsylvania Avenue and Little Canada Road. This will be the first MnPASS investment in the East Metro area and an essential link for people commuting between downtown St. Paul and the suburbs to the north.
The MnPASS project would also include:
- Reconstructing the pavement between Little Canada Road and Maryland Avenue
- Replacing the Arlington, Wheelock and Larpenteur bridges
- Replacing the mainline bridges at Roselawn Avenue, County Road B and Hwy 36
This segment of I-35E also is part of the Better Roads program, which aims to significantly improve state highway pavement condition, including MnPASS expansion and shoulder hardening for transit. Better Roads also increases safety and ADA accessibility while improving infrastructure such as drainage facilities and exploring innovative engineering and delivery techniques in order to get the most for the taxpayer dollar. Total cost: $80 million - $105 million.
Benefits
- MnPASS Express Lanes offer faster, more reliable travel options for the public to choose from and can move 50 percent more people than regular lanes during congested rush hour conditions
- Transit riders and car poolers (two or more people) get an advantage during rush hours because they can use the congestion-free MnPASS lanes free of charge
- Solo motorists with a MnPASS transponder can choose to use the lanes during rush hours by paying a fee that averages about $1.25
- Transit, carpool and vanpool users outnumber single-occupant vehicle tollpayers by more than 7 to 1 on the I-394 Express Lanes
- Lanes adjacent to the MnPASS lanes remain general purpose lanes, open and free to all vehicles and less congested because of MnPASS
Planning for the future
MnPASS Express Lanes demonstrate how congestion is reduced in high-demand urban corridors without expanding the highway footprint. In 2005, MnDOT converted underused car pool lanes to optional toll lanes along I-394 between I-494 and downtown Minneapolis. In 2009, MnDOT opened MnPASS Express Lanes on I-35W between Lakeville and downtown Minneapolis. MnDOT and the Metropolitan Council have recommended additional MnPASS lanes for the region in future years because MnPASS is a cost-effective strategy for managing congestion, using existing road capacity to reduce travel times on some of the busiest roads in the metro area.
Resources
- MnPASS project handout (PDF, 4 MB)
- MnPASS system fact sheet (PDF, 338 KB)
- MnPASS project layout (PDF, 4 MB)
Partners
Questions?
Brad Larsen
MnPASS Policy Manager
651-234-7024
Jennie Read
North Area Engineer
651-234-7713
Brian Kary
Freeway Operations Engineer
651-234-7022