MN Pass Lanes on 35E open Nov 30

Two new MnPASS Express Lanes on Interstate 35E in St. Paul will open for the first time on Nov. 30. To celebrate the arrival, current and new MnPASS account holders with a transponder or a new MnPASS Express Lane tag can drive in the MnPASS lanes on I-35E between Cayuga Street and Little Canada Road during peak-travel times for free between Nov. 30 and Jan. 3, 2016.

The MnPASS lanes on I-35E will operate like the MnPASS lanes on I-394 and I-35W.  During peak-drive times, vehicles with two or more passengers (HOV 2+), buses and motorcyclists can drive in the lanes for free, while solo motorists with a MnPASS account and MnPASS tag attached to their windshield can drive in the lanes for a fee. The fees for solo motorists using the MnPASS lanes during peak-drive times range from $.25 to $8. The MnPASS lanes are open and free to all motorists outside of the posted peak-drive times.

In addition to the two new lanes on I-35E, the MnPASS program is also introducing two new “tag” options for MnPASS customers and is dropping the monthly transponder/tag lease fees for all customers.

The tag options include a free sticker tag and a switchable tag that has a one-time $15 purchase fee. Both tags attach to the inside of the vehicle windshield. The switchable tag can be “switched” to the HOV 2+ (free) mode when two or more people are in the vehicle or to the MnPASS (fee) mode when the motorist is the only person in the vehicle. The sticker tag is free, is always in the fee mode and is deactivated once it is removed from the windshield. Both tags are compatible with all MnPASS Express Lanes in Minnesota and will replace the current transponders. Existing transponders and the new tags can be used I-35E, I-394 and I-3W.

There are also four MnPASS distribution centers in the Twin Cities:

·         MnDOT Metro Water’s Edge Building

1500 W County Road B2, Roseville, MN

·         Metro Transit Service Center

Skyway, US Bank Center

101 E. 5^th Street, St. Paul, MN

Currently, MnDOT is experiencing technical difficulties at the satellite distribution centers so new customers are unable to enroll in the program at the satellite locations until further notice.

Enrolling in the MnPASS program is fast and easy. New customers can enroll online any time at www.mnpass.org or stop by the MnPASS Customer Service Center at 2055 Lilac Drive N. Golden Valley, MN 55422.

MnPASS is a state transportation system that provides a congestion-free travel option during peak-drive times on highways with high levels of congestion. MnPASS Express Lanes give all commuters a reliable travel choice that saves them time, increases a highway’s capacity to move more people through a corridor and allows faster, more reliable public bus service

DAYTIME southbound I-35E closures NOV 24 in Saint Paul

MnDOT will be completing pavement striping on portions of the new southbound lanes of I-35E in St. Paul. With very cold temperatures occurring at night, they’ll need to do the work during the day in warmer temperatures to ensure that the striping adheres to the pavement properly.

They’ve scheduled this work for TUESDAY, Nov. 24. Weather forecasts currently show Nov. 25 as having favorable weather conditions for the work.Southbound I-35E will be reduced to a single lane between Maryland Avenue and I-94 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Nov. 25. You should expect significant delays during the lane closures; they recommend that you leave early for your destination if using southbound I-35E during this time, or use an alternate route. Please note that if poor weather conditions occur, the work may be rescheduled and updates will be sent out. Thank you in advance for your patience as MnDOT works to complete the striping before winter.

Ramsey County Recycling Wants your Feedback!

Ramsey County is getting ready to put together its Going Green Guide for next year.
They would like people to fill out a short survey to help them as they prepare it - to assure that it is as useful as possible.

Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey.

And Thanks! in advance

Minnesota Statewide Bicycle System Plan Seeking Public Comment through November 16, 2015

The Minnesota Department of Transportation is seeking public comment on the statewide bicycle system plan.

A draft of the plan is online for review atwww.mndot.gov/bike. Interested persons may email comments on the plan to bikeplan.DOT@state.mn.us. Comments may be submitted through Nov. 16.

The plan represents the agency’s vision and goal for bicycle transportation, implementation strategies and performance measures to evaluate progress toward achieving its vision.

MnDOT developed the plan through consultation with the public, agency staff and partners at state, regional and local planning agencies.

Help Shape the Future of Ramsey County's Ice Arenas

Ramsey County Parks & Recreation and the county’s Arena Task Force will host seven public meetings throughout November to gather input on current arena usage and provide the community a chance to learn about the work of the task force.

Ramsey County currently manages 13 sheets of ice at 11 arenas, making it one of the largest arena systems in Minnesota. Earlier this year, the board of commissioners appointed an Arena Task Force to lead a study of the county’s ice arenas and make recommendations for a long-term strategy for the system.

• Learn more about the mission and scope of the Arena Task Force.
• Learn more about the Ramsey County arena system.

Meeting schedule:

Saturday, Nov. 7
10 a.m.
Battle Creek Recreation Center75 Winthrop St. S.Saint Paul, MN 55119Arena focus: Harding, Phalen 

Thursday, Nov. 12
6 p.m.
Goodrich Golf Course1820 Van Dyke StreetMaplewood, MN 55109Arena focus: Aldrich, White Bear 

Thursday, Nov. 19
5:30 p.m.
Ramsey County Parks & Recreation2015 Van Dyke St.Maplewood, MN 55109Arena focus: All 

Community members who are unable to attend but are interested in learning more or providing input should contact Sara Ackmann, director of arena and golf operations, at 651-748-2500 orsara.ackmann@co.ramsey.mn.us​.

Wish-cycling - Ever Hear of It??

It’s when you put something in your cart that’s not recyclable, like a plastic bag, and hope it will get recycled.  But doing that does more harm than good.  These materials can get stuck in or damage sorting equipment, and they can lower the value of other recyclables collected. This summer a waste sort was completed to look at the recyclables collected in Vadnais Heights.  There were some interesting things found!

Lots of plastic bags, garden hoses, Styrofoam with motor oil on it, small appliances, a suitcase, metal and plastic hangers, PVC pipe for a sink, carpet, diapers, disposable gloves, a razor, dryer lint sheets, wrapping paper, Mineral spirits (HHW), a biohazard bag, black plastic, paper plates, planting pots, food covered trays, newspapers and magazines in plastic bags, eyeglasses, paper plates, tissue paper and tissue and paper towels. Furnace filters, a ceramic cup, power cord, crock pot, a sandal, door handle, disc player, and CD’s…  all garbage!!!! (some could go to the organics compost site, some to hazardous household waste site...)

Do you know people and machines try to sort your recyclables but it is hard for them when things come to the recycling facility that can’t be recycled?  So stick to the recyclables listed below:

Food containers (metal, plastic and glass): cans, bottles, jars, tubs and clam shells

Food Boxes from pantry, cupboard and refrigerator (not freezer), and pizza delivery boxes (no grease)

Food Cartons: milk, juice and soup cartons, etc.

Paper: mail, cards, newspapers, magazines, catalogs, phonebooks, packaging, school papers, office papers, shredded paper (in closed paper bag, labeled), and toilet and paper towel tubes

Boxes: cardboard boxes, shoe boxes, packaging, and tissue boxes

Other Containers: soap, detergent, shampoo bottles etc.

Bring plastic shopping bags to a recycling drop-off site.  For a list of participating retailers near you, go to PlasticFilmRecycling.org.

Bring non-recyclable paper (food-stained boxes, freezer boxes, tissues, paper towels, etc.) and food scraps, to an organics recycling drop-off site.  Find locations and hours at RamseyRecycles.com (click on Organic Waste).

If you have recycling questions, call 651-633-EASY (3279) answered 24/7 or go to RamseyRecycles.com (click on A to Z Recycling and Disposal Guide, top right to search for an item).

And don’t bag your recyclables, place loose in your container.  No one rips open your bag because it is too dangerous. If you bag your recycling it goes in the trash when it gets to the recycling facility.

Thanks for helping make sure your recyclables, get recycled!

Community Discussion about Civilian Review Board coming to the East Side.

This work compliments and expands the work that we did with community conversations with police. We came to some of the same recommendations. We encourage people to attend one of these opportunities...

Mayor Chris Coleman and City Attorney Sammy Clark announced plans for gathering public input on the recent independent audit of the Police Civilian Internal Affairs Review Commission (PCIARC), executed by the University of Minnesota’s Center for Restorative Justice and Peacemaking. The audit was released last week, and the Mayor has asked City Attorney Clark to meet with the community, gather feedback and provide a recommendation to the mayor for a path forward by the end of the first quarter of 2016.

“This is important work and I’m committed to bringing diverse voices to the table to explore the audit’s recommendations,” said Clark. “I look forward to meeting with community members throughout the remainder of this year and getting their input, before making my final recommendation to the Mayor.”

Thanks to a $20,000 grant from the Saint Paul Foundation, City Attorney Sammy Clark will be working with the University of Minnesota’s Center for Restorative Justice and Peacemaking to facilitate the community conversations, which will occur in each of the city’s police districts. After a community meal, the Center’s facilitators will guide residents through constructive dialogue, relying on a small group format.

The meetings are open to the public and all those interested are encouraged to attend. The community conversations schedule is as follows:

• Thursday, November 12, 2015, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. (Mayor Coleman to attend)

o    Pilgrim Baptist Church, 732 Central Ave West, Saint Paul, MN

o    Community meal from 6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., community conversation from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

• Thursday, December 3, 2015, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.

o    El Rio Vista Recreation Center, 179 Robie Street East, Saint Paul, MN

o    Community meal from 6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., community conversation from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

• Thursday, December 17, 2015, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.

o    Arlington Hills Community Center, 1200 Payne Ave, Saint Paul, MN

o    Community meal from 6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., community conversation from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

To view the Audit Report and the Executive Summary, people can visit www.stpaul.gov/PCIARCAudit.