News
Traffic Plan, Phase I, Announced
SAINT PAUL, Minn. (June 18, 2008) – The Saint Paul Police Department today released the first phase of the traffic management plan for the Republican National Convention (RNC). The plan ensures that nearly all major access roads – including Interstates 94 and 35E, Wabasha and Robert streets, and Shepard Road – will remain open. This reflects the City of Saint Paul’s goals to limit the traffic impact in the downtown area and keep the city open for business during the RNC.
As part of the plan, the city is also undertaking a comprehensive outreach effort to contact every business in the area immediately surrounding the Xcel Energy Center to help answer questions and address concerns. City officials will also meet with every district council across the city, as well as a number of other civic groups and associations over the next few weeks. And, community meetings will be held in Room 40 of St. Paul City Hall on Monday, August 11, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Wednesday, August 13, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. to provide more information to the public. The goal is to continue to share information about the city’s plans for the convention and to help address concerns. More...
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St. Paul Scrambles to Fill Store Fronts Before Convention (MPR)
With the Republican National Convention only two months away, the city of St. Paul and local business leaders are scrambling to fill all of those empty downtown storefronts.
St. Paul has a downtown office vacancy rate of more than 20 percent, so they're trying to lure merchants from other parts of the city to set up temporary shops along the skyways and ground level storefronts, at least for the week of the convention.
The move is partly intended to make the city's core look more alive when the national spotlight shines on St. Paul the first week of September. More...
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Twin Cities spots: What's open, what will close for the RNC?
As GOP convention fever mounts, Twin Citians have to wonder: Which local restaurants, clubs and attractions will be open? More...
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St. Paul Releases Parking Plan for the RNC
SAINT PAUL, Minn (July 15, 2008)– The City of Saint Paul today released the downtown parking plan that will be in effect during the upcoming Republican National Convention. The plan identifies a number of parking ramps and lots near the Xcel Energy Center that will be closed during the convention, as well some of the arrangements being made to accommodate companies, employees, residents, and others who do business in Saint Paul. As part of the plan, the city will also work closely with a number of downtown organizations to help address people’s concerns and prepare for the event.
“It has been our commitment from day one to make sure Saint Paul is open for business during the RNC,” said Saint Paul Mayor Christopher Coleman. “In addition to making sure people have places to park, we will also continue to reach out to our entire downtown neighborhood network to make sure the convention goes smoothly for people who live and work in downtown Saint Paul.” More...
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Republican National Convention Demonstrations / Anti-war group plans 'militant' protest
But members say they don't want violence at RNC. More...
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Conventional Business Won't Be As Usual
The upcoming Republican National Convention will present some serious challenges for employers in downtown St. Paul. By some estimates, about 45,000 people could be in town for the convention, making it hard to conduct business as usual in downtown St. Paul. More...
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St. Paul Releases Information about Public Viewing Area and Free-Speach Stage
The City of Saint Paul today released additional information about the open forum area that will be set up during the Republican National Convention. The area is less than a block from the Xcel Energy Center and will include a stage to allow groups and individuals the opportunity to express their opinion within an earshot of the RNC. The stage will be set up September 1 – 4, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day, and reservations will be accepted until August 11.
The public viewing area will be open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day and is part of an ongoing commitment by Saint Paul to make it possible and safe for anyone to be able to view and experience the convention. People can also come to downtown and see live media broadcasts, live music, and other activities associated with the convention from this location.
Each person or organization will get 50 minutes to speak from the stage. Interested groups and individuals must fill out a permit application to be considered for one of the timeslots. Similar to the parks permits process at the beginning of the year, a lottery will determine the schedule. All applications are due August 11 by 3 p.m., and the lottery will be held on August 12. The initial schedule will be announced on the City’s Web site on August 18. More...
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SPPD Releases Trafic Plan Phase II
The Saint Paul Police Department and the City of Saint Paul today
released the second phase of the traffic management plan for the
Republican National Convention (RNC). The plan outlines an area
immediately surrounding Xcel Energy Center where vehicles and bikes
will be restricted. The plan will go into effect starting after the
evening rush hour on Friday, August 29, and will end by Saturday,
September 6.
The second phase of the plan includes the following additional information:
• St. Peter Street: Will be open; no parking, stopping or standing will be allowed • Chestnut Street: Southbound lane will be open • 10th and 11th streets: Will be open; no parking will be allowed. More...
