OAKDALE — The Metropolitan Council is moving ahead with the public engagement phase for the Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit project.
Last week, the council hosted the first of a series open houses intended to gather community comment on the nine-mile, round-trip route that will run from St. Paul to Woodbury.
About 60 people attended a July 18 open house at Guardian Angels Catholic Church in Oakdale.
The Gold Line will run from Union Depot through the East Side of St. Paul, Maplewood, Landfall, Oakdale and Woodbury.
The impact on communities along the route is significant, since the busses will run primarily along new bus-only lanes. Ten new stations are planned, including a proposed Tamarack Road Station and Woodbury Theatre Station near Bielenberg Road.
Feedback from the cities, businesses, neighbors and future riders will help determine where exactly the stations will be located, Met Council spokesman John Schadl said. Other issues could include "whether or not we leave space for a city to build a bike path."