Allow extra time for conference parking this year

Parking changes and light rail and road construction could mean a longer trip to the Education Minnesota Professional Conference this year. Be sure to allow extra time to get to Saint Paul RiverCentre.

Education Minnesota’s free parking and shuttle bus service on Thursday, Oct. 20, will be offered at only one location: the Minnesota State Fairgrounds on the south side of Como Avenue, west of Snelling Avenue. The parking lot at Saint Paul College is not available and no buses will run from that lot.

The State Fair lot is located across Como Avenue from the Coliseum (the large building where horse shows are held). Look for Education Minnesota sandwich board signs and school buses.

If you are using GPS, the address is 1684 S. Como Ave., Falcon Heights 55108. View a Google map
If possible, approach the fairgrounds from the north to avoid road and light rail construction on Snelling.
From the south, a route that avoids University Avenue light rail construction is Lexington Parkway. Follow Lexington north to Horton Avenue, turn left, and follow Horton/Como to the fairgrounds.

The fairgrounds lot accommodates about 3,000 vehicles. Buses will run between the lot and Saint Paul RiverCentre between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, only. A handicap van is available.

If you plan to park at the RiverCentre parking ramp, be prepared for traffic backups. Carpooling is recommended.

Also, be aware that light rail construction has closed some downtown St. Paul streets and resulted in detours, especially on the east end. Check the latest construction report and plan your route ahead of time.

Visit the Minnesota Department of Transportation website for traffic and road construction updates.

The Thursday, Oct. 20, workshop schedule will begin at 9 a.m. this year to help accommodate the new transportation arrangements.

October 12, 2011