ST. PAUL, MN: Metro Transit has hired New School Communications for
a $200,000 18-month community relations program.
The agency will work on all phases of community outreach for a new
undertaking - the Riverview Corridor Transit Project - that will link
St. Paul to the Mall of America and the Minneapolis Airport, said Dayna
Kennedy, Metro Transit communications manager. The agency oversees mass
transit systems in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
New School was selected because of its previous work in involving local
communities with transit projects in the area, Kennedy said.
The new corridor is envisioned as a combination of bus-only lanes on
major roads and buses traveling in regular lanes on other streets.
Citizens will be asked about the exact route the buses should take, as
well as about items such as the design of various stops.
In addition to organizing community meetings, New School will look for
public events at which Metro Transit officials can speak about the
project, handle a community newsletter, and run a website for the
project.
Wayne County, which runs the airport, is spending $1.2 billion on
the new terminal and adjoining structures, such as a parking garage, an
energy plant, and cargo facilities.