Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Crime, Law and Justice
Jacob Aloi

Building linking downtown St. Paul light rail station to skyway will close temporarily

A light rail station in the middle of a city
The tower connecting the Green Line's Central Station to the skyway in downtown St. Paul is seen on Wednesday. It will be temporarily closed starting next Tuesday.
Andrew Krueger | MPR News

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

A building connecting a downtown St. Paul light rail station to the skyway will be closed beginning next week amid growing safety concerns in the area.

The elevator and stair tower at Central Station, on the corner of Fifth and Cedar, was the scene of a double homicide earlier this month. That shooting prompted a virtual town hall hosted by City Council Member Rebecca Noecker on Monday night, where community members voiced their concerns.

City and Metro Transit officials announced the temporary closure of the building at that meeting.

While the closure of the elevator and stairs could last until April, Metro Transit Police Chief Rick Grates said in an interview with MPR News that they are hoping to make safety improvements and reopen the building sooner.

“Our goal is to fix it now and get it reopened as soon as possible,” Grates said.

Grates said Metro Transit, in collaboration with the St. Paul Police Department and the city's Office of Neighborhood Safety, has been implementing a safety and security plan throughout 2022. The plan includes increasing security at Metro Transit’s busiest stations, something they are considering for Central Station.

St. Paul Police Senior Commander Jason Mollner said that while the building and light rail station are under Metro Transit’s jurisdiction, the surrounding areas are also a part of the conversation and planning.

“We look at these problems always holistically,” he said. “Not just how can the police department fix this problem, it's how we can best partner with all of our entities downtown.”

Brooke Blakey, director of the Office of Neighborhood Safety, said that while downtown has changed in the past few years amid the pandemic, the city is aware of community concerns and is working with stakeholders in revitalization efforts of the downtown area.

“We're not delusional, to believe that everything is going to be utopian,” Blakey said. “There's a lot of key players in revitalization and reimagination. And with everything, it takes time.”

The closure announced earlier this week will take effect on Tuesday, Dec. 27. Inclement weather and accessibility concerns played a role in the delay.