Jackson Street has long been a key north-south corridor in Saint Paul, and the recent reconstruction created an opportunity to do more than replace aging pavement and infrastructure. It allowed the City to reimagine how the street could better serve the surrounding neighborhoods.
Stretching from Pennsylvania Avenue to University Avenue, the reconstructed street creates safer, more comfortable connections for pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers, and transit users. At the same time, improvements below the surface and throughout the streetscape help prepare Jackson Street to serve the community for generations to come.
A Roadway Designed for Everyday Life
The reconstructed Jackson Street was intentionally designed to slow traffic and create a more comfortable environment for people of all ages and abilities. A narrowed roadway and a new dedicated multi-use trail along the west side make traveling along the corridor safer, while improved pedestrian crossings, upgraded lighting, and new traffic control features help people navigate with confidence. By prioritizing accessibility and multimodal travel, the project helps residents, employees, and visitors reach jobs, schools, businesses, and transit connections more easily.
Environmental and quality-of-life benefits played a key role in reshaping Jackson Street’s character. New trees, expanded boulevard green space, and improved snow storage areas improve the look and feel while providing shade, urban canopy growth, and year-round functionality. Together, these elements make Jackson Street not just a roadway, but also a place that adds value to the neighborhood.
Building Resilience Above and Below the Street
Equally important to the visible enhancements were strategic infrastructure upgrades, ensuring the corridor is safe and dependable.
Major utility upgrades, including new water and sanitary sewer lines, equip the corridor to support the community in the long term. A key feature is the Winter Street infiltration system, which captures and temporarily stores stormwater runoff during strong storms, then allows the water to gradually infiltrate. This helps reduce pressure on the downstream drainage system.
By rebuilding critical infrastructure now, the City is helping Jackson Street remain reliable and resilient by reducing long-term maintenance needs and positioning the street to withstand future usage demands.
Built with Community at the Forefront
Jackson Street is an important link in Saint Paul’s transportation network. It connects people to neighborhoods, businesses, transit, and employment, making community input and coordination an important part of shaping the improvements.
Throughout the project, coordination with residents, businesses, transit users, public agencies, and community partners helped inform a street designed around broader goals for safety, accessibility, mobility, and sustainability. Rather than replacing what was already there, the reconstruction provided an opportunity to consider how Jackson Street could work better for the people who use it every day.
The result is a street that does more for Saint Paul. Safer connections make walking and biking more comfortable. Green space improves the experience of traveling through the neighborhood. Updated utilities and stormwater infrastructure strengthen what people depend on behind the scenes.
By transforming Jackson Street into a safer, greener, and more accessible connection, the City of Saint Paul has invested not only in the street itself, but in the people and neighborhoods it serves.
Cassie Pinta
Roadway & Utility Group Manager
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