The Red Rock Corridor is a proposed 30-mile transitway, connecting the Twin Cities’ southeastern suburbs to St. Paul and Minneapolis. The transitway originates in Hastings with stops in Cottage Grove, Newport and St. Paul’s Battle Creek neighborhood before connecting to St. Paul’s Union Depot, the University of Minnesota and downtown Minneapolis Interchange Station. Future plans call for extending the corridor into Goodhue County with potential station stops at the Prairie Island Indian Community and the City of Red Wing.

Station locations

Recently a study identified several transit station locations. Currently the commission is finalizing locations and starting the design process. While the locations have not been finalized, the proposed locations include former train depot in Hastings, the Lower Afton Park & Ride in St. Paul and the former Knox Lumber site in Newport. In addition to these locations, specific sites within Cottage Grove will be explored.

Timeline

Met Council’s 2030 Transportation Policy Plan plans to construct one additional commuter rail corridor in the Twin Cities between 2020 and 2030. The Red Rock Corridor is one of 8 corridors that has been identified as a potential transitway in the Twin Cities to be implemented by 2030. To achieve that goal, the Met Council is seeking to increase transit ridership within the Red Rock Corridor to support implementation of commuter rail service when high speed rail is developed in the corridor. Current plans call for enhanced commuter coach bus routes, with limited stops within the corridor.

For more information and the latest news on the Red Rock Corridor, visit the Red Rock Corridor website.