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The Midwest's Transportation HUB

The Saint Paul/East Metro area enjoys the benefits of being a major transportation hub for the Midwest. Home to many major corporations and more than 1.1 million people, the area takes advantage of all major modes of travel to help people get where they need to go.

Approximately 400 miles west of Chicago, the Saint Paul/East Metro area is easily accessible via major Interstate Highway 35 from the north and south and 94 from the east and west. It is just hours away from other major Midwest cities including: Des Moines, Omaha, Milwaukee and Sioux Falls. A well-designed system of freeways connects neighborhoods to the downtown areas efficiently. Traffic management is proactive in the area, with construction underway to remove remaining traffic bottlenecks over the coming years.

It is also home to the Minneapolis/Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), which offers access to the world with service provided by major carriers (including Air Tran Airways, America West, American, American Trans Air, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Northwest, Sun Country, United and US Airways). MSP is one of the busiest airports in the world, with more than a half million takeoffs and landings each year. It ranks third in the world in an airport customer satisfaction survey released by J.D. Power and Associates. The airport recently underwent a $3 billion expansion program aimed at making travel safer, more efficient and enjoyable. Among the improvements were added runway capacity, new gates and a major expansion of retail and dining options.

One of the Saint Paul/East Metro area’s key competitive advantages is Holman Field, a corporate and regional airport adjacent to downtown Saint Paul. Companies in the East Metro area rely on Holman Field to get them quickly and easily to and from customers and suppliers. Saint Paul is one of few major cities that can boast a business airport within walking distance of the central business district.

Amtrak serves the Midwest using Saint Paul as a daily hub between Seattle and Chicago. Visitors also can take advantage of Greyhound Bus Lines, which link the area to over 1,400 communities across the United States.

Metro Transit is the country’s 11th largest bus system and operates 127 routes to provide over 67 million bus trips annually via fast, frequent service to both downtown Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Mall of America, the University of Minnesota and hundreds of other popular attractions. There are 66 local service routes, 49 express routes and 12 contract service routes covered by 939 buses.

The Twin Cities completed its first light rail transit (LRT) line in 2004 and it has been an unprecedented success, far surpassing ridership projections. The proposed Central Corridor light rail line would connect downtown Saint Paul to downtown Minneapolis and Hiawatha light rail line. It would serve the University of Minnesota, the rapidly developing Midway area and the State Capitol complex. The Central Corridor transit line will begin at Union Depot, the proposed multi-modal transit hub in downtown Saint Paul, link to the state capitol, travel down University Avenue, extend over the Washington Avenue bridge passing through the University of Minnesota and connect to the Hiawatha light rail transit line at the Downtown East/Metrodome Station. New commuter rail lines are also being planned to provide even more transportation options for the region.

The Mississippi River, the historical transportation artery in the area, remains a viable commercial channel for the barge traffic that carries cargo to industries in other states. This mode of transportation remains a vital link for business and an efficient mode of bulk transport.