Lee and Penny Anderson Arena

How does St. Thomas plan to mitigate potential traffic impacts at the Anderson Parking Facility and the intersection of Grand and Cretin avenues?

As a part of our Event Traffic Management Plan required by the City, we will take steps to control the flow of vehicles arriving and departing from the Anderson Parking Facility at Cretin and Grand avenues. Some of the steps that St. Thomas will implement are an app-based system that will notify patrons on where to park prior to their arrival to campus, and other wayfinding measures like proper signage and detailed drop off locations for ride sharing services. Additionally for our large events, we will hire Saint Paul Police Department (SPPD) traffic officers to monitor pedestrians and vehicular traffic in a safe and efficient manner at key intersections near the arena.

The arena will seat a maximum of approximately 4,000 for hockey and 5,500 for basketball. We currently work with SPPD on traffic management for home football games, where we experience attendance between 4,000-5,000 people.

How many large sporting events do we expect to be hosted at the arena? And has this number changed from original plans?

We have heard various neighbors express concern with the potential frequency of “at-capacity” events. We anticipate four to six at-capacity hockey and basketball events each year (zero to two basketball events and four hockey events). We estimate that there are approximately 35 events within a five-month period over the winter that would be considered large events (approximately 3,000 attendees or more).

There is considerable concern that traffic on residential streets could increase as drivers circulate the neighborhood to find parking spaces. This will be particularly difficult in winter months with snow build up and with cars parked on either side of the street. How can St. Thomas ensure that this will not be an issue?

As part of the mitigation strategies required by the City, St. Thomas has agreed to establish incentives for the use of public transportation and/or rideshare when attending events at the multipurpose arena. St. Thomas will also implement a reasonable parking system to specify parking spots for ticketed patrons and to inform patrons which lots are sold out/full for major events. St. Thomas will also encourage the use of transit, rideshare or carpool, and will use off-site parking and shuttle services as needed when large events occur at the multipurpose arena. In addition, St. Thomas will open some daytime employee parking for use at evening events.

The university is accustomed to handling events that require traffic management in partnership with SPPD such as home football games, where we experience attendance between 4,000-5,000 people.

Did St. Thomas consider the increased volume of traffic on Cretin Avenue due to the Highland Bridge Development as a part of their planning for the multipurpose arena?

Yes, future Highland Bridge Traffic was accounted for, as stated on Page 29 of the Transportation Study: "Year 2025 no build volumes were developed by both applying a background growth rate of 0.25 percent to the existing pre- and post-event volumes and included trip generation estimates for the Highland Bridge development." The Transportation Study recommended that the Cretin Avenue and Goodrich Avenue intersection be monitored and traffic control officers or campus crossing guards be utilized as needed if the crossing is heavily utilized during events. Pedestrian safety is important to the City and St. Thomas. St. Thomas, in consultation with the City, will continue to evaluate pedestrian safety improvements at intersections adjacent to the arena during the design phase.

It is projected that 60+ hockey and basketball games will take place over a three-month season, not including playoffs. Does this also include special campus events and/or external events? (This is a myth)

It should be noted that hockey and basketball seasons occur over a five-month period. We anticipate four to six at-capacity hockey and basketball events each year (zero to two basketball events and four hockey events). We estimate that there are approximately 35 events within this five-month period that could be considered large events, which we define as up to 3,000 attendees.

It is expected that there will be an overall net loss of 264 parking spaces on the south campus. How does St. Thomas plan to supplement the loss of parking spaces?

As part of the mitigation strategies required by the City, St. Thomas has agreed to establish incentives for the use of public transportation and/or rideshare when attending events at the multipurpose arena. St. Thomas will also implement a reasonable parking system to specify parking spots for ticketed patrons and to inform patrons what lots are sold out/full for major events. St. Thomas will also encourage the use of transit, rideshare or carpool, and will use off-site parking and shuttle services as needed when large events occur at the multipurpose arena. In addition, St. Thomas will open some daytime employee parking for use at evening events.

The Transportation Study indicated a potential deficit of 740 parking spaces for Thursday night, at-capacity men’s basketball games (which may occur 0-1 times per year) and notes that this deficit will likely lead spectators to park on residential streets. It assumes that no other events will be occurring on campus during those games. With the addition of a new theater in the Schoenecker Hall and reception halls on campus, how does St. Thomas plan to monitor events that will run concurrently?

It should be noted that there is not a theater space inside the almost completed Schoenecker Center. There is a small performance space with a seating capacity of 150 and a small rehearsal hall which will primarily be used for music instruction with student seating capacity of 100. St. Thomas operates a centralized event registration system and can control events and room rentals to minimize overlapping events that cause additional parking concerns. St. Thomas has hosted many events in different campus locations that overlap without significant traffic impacts to the surrounding area. When there are events that overlap, we will monitor vehicular and pedestrian movement to ensure the safety of those visiting and traveling around campus.

Has the size and capacity of the arena changed since the original proposal?

The size of the arena has decreased since the original plan and the seating capacity projections for the arena have maintained consistent with the original plan.

In the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW), it was stated that the proposed project will include a 270,000 square foot multi-purpose competition venue for the University's hockey and basketball programs with capacity for approximately 4,000 (hockey) to 5,500 (basketball) spectators.

In the process of more detailed planning, the arena has decreased to approximately 250,000 square feet, the basketball spectator capacity has decreased to 5,311 seats, and the hockey spectator capacity is at 4,006 seats.

The EAW also states that additional events in the future will be considered, including events like commencement. In public and neighborhood meetings, St. Thomas spokespersons have consistently stated the floor-seating capacity could be up to a maximum of 6,000 seats. That number has significantly decreased as more detailed planning has ensued. According to the current design, those numbers are now estimated to be 4,524 for an event with an end stage configuration, and 5,497 for an event that used a center stage configuration. This accounts for a reduction of 1,476 and 503 seats, respectively.

There is a concern from nearby neighbors that our quality of life will be impacted by the arena. There will be added noise, pollution, congestion, and other environmental impacts in our neighborhood. What will St. Thomas do to mitigate impacts to our quality of life?

Like our neighbors, ensuring a high quality of life for those who live near the arena is a high priority for the university. St. Thomas also wants the best experience for our supporters, fans and students who plan to attend the games at the arena. It is in everyone’s interest that we implement solutions to mitigate traffic and parking concerns on residential streets.

As part of the mitigation strategies required by the City, St. Thomas has agreed to establish incentives for the use of public transportation and/or rideshare when attending events at the multipurpose arena. St. Thomas will also implement a reasonable parking system to specify parking spots for ticketed patrons and to inform patrons what lots are sold out/full for major events. St. Thomas will also encourage the use of transit, rideshare or carpool, and will use off-site parking and shuttle services as needed when large events occur at the multipurpose arena. In addition, St. Thomas will open some daytime employee parking for use at evening events.

The projections for attendance stated in the EAW were based on at-capacity attendance and we anticipate four to six at-capacity hockey and basketball events each year (zero to two basketball events four hockey events). We estimate that there are approximately 35 events within a five-month period that would be considered large events, which we define as approximately 3,000 attendees or more.

Where are the access points for the south campus and for the multipurpose arena? How will team buses, vendor food trucks, trash haulers, etc. navigate through the south campus?

The initial access point for larger vehicles entering and exiting the South Campus was from Summit Avenue. Due to concerns from neighbors and others who live on Summit Avenue, the updated site plan includes a new access point from Cretin Avenue that can accommodate large vehicles.

There is a concern that the multitude of trucks and cars leaving the arena after games will shine their headlights directly into residential homes. How can St. Thomas prevent this from happening on a regular basis?

As stated in the EAW, buses and trucks may need to enter or exit the site via the existing Summit Avenue connection, but this would be limited in frequency due to the new Cretin Avenue access point.

St. Thomas is committed to working with the City as a part of the Event Traffic Management Plan to discourage traffic movement on residential/local streets.

It was noted in EAW and subsequent plans that Cretin Hall would be demolished to allow for the construction of the arena. Where does St. Thomas plan to house those students that will be returning to campus next year?

Each year, current and returning students self-select on-campus housing for the following year. Some current residents of Cretin will graduate this May, some will select another Hall on campus to live for Fall 2024, some will study abroad for Fall 2024, and some will move off campus.

• Our capacity from Fall 2023 to Fall 2024 reduces by 111 beds with the removal of Cretin Hall. However, we have a small deficit of approximately 40 beds from Fall 2022, as we increased capacity for Fall 2023 by converting some single rooms into double rooms.
• We are currently managing our upper-division student on-campus housing for Fall 2024, to ensure we have beds for all of our incoming first-time first-year students (FTFY), and for our current and rising second-year students who are required to live on campus.

What do the EAW findings from the City require St. Thomas to do?

St. Thomas will be required to undertake the following mitigation strategies recommended by City of Saint Paul staff to address the potential impacts of the multipurpose arena development:

• Monitoring Operations: St. Thomas has agreed to monitor event attendance, traffic, and parking for no less than two operational years after the Multipurpose Arena is occupied.
• Event Traffic Management: St. Thomas has agreed to develop an Event Traffic Management Plan, including strategies for traffic control in consultation with Saint Paul PD and Public Works.
• Parking Management: St. Thomas has agreed to establish incentives for the use of public transportation and/or rideshare when attending events at the Multipurpose Arena. St. Thomas will also implement reasonable parking system applications to inform patrons what lots are sold out/full for major events and will provide off-site parking and shuttle service to provide alternatives to on-campus parking when large events occur at the Multipurpose Arena.
• Non-sporting Events: St. Thomas has agreed to maintain a list of potential non-collegiate sporting events to be held at the arena.
• Community Engagement: St. Thomas will work to keep the community informed of upcoming events through the neighborhood relations website and provide regular email communications.

How does St. Thomas plan to address the potential impact to the wildlife habitats that are along the Mississippi River?

St. Thomas acknowledges our location in the city near the river and does not take that for granted. We are committed to preserving our local ecosystem and taking a responsible approach to our development of the arena.

St. Thomas met with the leadership team of the National Audubon Society to learn about various strategies to mitigate and preserve migratory bird paths within the Mississippi River Corridor. The university will comply with all local and state ordinances as it pertains to natural habitats within the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (MRCCA).

According to the Metropolitan Council’s Extreme Heat Map Tool, based on the land surface temperature at the project site during a heatwave in 2016, the site is susceptible to extreme heat. What will St. Thomas do to mitigate issues regarding urban heat island effect and greenhouse gas emissions?

As a requirement of the EAW, the Metropolitan Council reviewed the EAW and did not find the proposed project had any negative impacts of regional significance.

St. Thomas will seek LEED Silver Certification for the Arena. We are committed to building LEED certified facilities throughout campus that are designed to use less energy and water to support the City’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan.

The following measures provide increased reliability and energy efficiency in the arena to reduce emissions:

• Redundant chiller design and incorporation of glycol into supply loop for all cooling coils will protect from freezing conditions and ensure systems remain operational.
• Chillers will use next-generation refrigerants with low global warming potential.
• The boiler system will include n+1 redundancy and freeze protection. These efficiencies reduce heat emitted from the buildings and their HVAC systems and reduces indoor and outdoor exposure to heat, which is one of the impacts of the heat island effect.

The EAW indicated that 76 mature trees would be removed to accommodate the arena. Does St. Thomas plan to replace the trees that will be removed?

Currently there are no tree preservation requirements in the City of Saint Paul at the project location. However, St. Thomas values its green space on campus and has committed to a 1:1 tree replacement for the proposed project. Since the EAW, the proposed number of trees to be removed has been reduced from 76 to 68.

How does this project align with the City’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan Urban Design goals, especially around promoting ‘high quality urban design that supports … a healthy environment and enhances the public realm’ and ‘visible green infrastructure landscape features, such as rain gardens.

University of St. Thomas has committed to building LEED certified facilities that can be designed to use less energy and water to support the City’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan.

The majority of the footprint for the new arena includes taking down three very energy-inefficient buildings and eliminating surface parking lots.

Furthermore, the 2040 Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use map designates the project site as Civic and Institutional, which includes building and open space for major institutional campuses.

Two land use policies apply to the Civic and Institutional category:

Policy LU-53 encourages partnerships with colleges and universities to strengthen connections with the community and adjacent neighborhoods, and support workforce development, business creation and innovation, and retention of youth and young professionals.

St. Thomas aligns with this policy by building community partnerships with local District Councils and the West Summit Neighborhood Advisory Committee (WSNAC) and contributes over $10,000 annually to help sustain each organization. The neighborhood is welcomed into our campus to enjoy our grounds, attend events and build community.

As an institution, St. Thomas is building a greater workforce for our state by offering a rigorous academic curriculum that prepares our students to serve their communities in the future.

Policy LU-54 aims to ensure that campuses are compatible with surrounding neighborhoods by managing parking demand and supply, maintaining institution-owned housing stock, minimizing traffic congestion, and providing safe pedestrian and bicycle access.

St. Thomas has developed our land and facilities with a balanced approach that is compatible with the surrounding area. We work with the City on issues related to parking, traffic, and bicycle and pedestrian safety. We prioritize sustainable building practices that consistently meet LEED certification standards. We are committed to sustainability and to reaching our carbon neutrality goals.

Did the EAW address the cumulative impact of previous structures on the south campus as it relates to the parking demand?

St. Thomas did consider the combined impact of all facilities on overall parking needs. A parking analysis was completed in the Spring of 2023 documenting the parking usage on campus for all parking lots/ramps, which included the removal of existing parking spaces from the Schoenecker Center project. Parking needs for the Schoenecker Center are primarily daytime needs, while the arena needs will primarily be evening needs. We will continue to monitor parking needs for patrons to events across campus. Our goal is to ensure that guests to campus have a positive experience and we share our neighbors’ goals of minimizing parking and traffic problems.

As always, if there are any additional questions, please feel free to email us at neighbors@stthomas.edu.