{"id":541,"date":"2026-08-13T17:10:32","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T17:10:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/suddendeathartistcolony.org\/?page_id=541"},"modified":"2026-08-17T20:45:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T20:45:51","slug":"cost","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/suddendeathartistcolony.org\/?page_id=541","title":{"rendered":"Cost"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Cost<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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In addition to a whopping price tag of over 100 million (based on 3-years-old estimates), the Summit Avenue Rail Trail project and avenue rebuild will levy an $30,000 average assessment on each Summit Avenue household. Collateral environmental damage, due to loss of trees, will impact storm water filtration, natural heating and cooling, CO2 storage and oxygen emissions, and real estate values. These costs won’t show up in the project budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Federal and state funds are drying up. This places a greater demand for local tax dollars to repair streets and maintain parks. Taking 1% tax revenues to pay for this new bike trail leaves other needed projects unfunded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The maintenance backlog for Parks has grown to over $235M. The 1% sales tax was supposed to address this backlog. No 1% tax revenues should be spent on anything other than clearing this backlog and repairing streets. The City must demonstrate that they can maintain our existing facilities. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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“It\u2019s pure folly to dramatically change such a beautiful parkway\u2026.and at a prohibitive cost\u2026..”<\/p>– Howard Quinlan<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Key Documents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Things Have Changed – Time to Adapt, October 16, 2025<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

EAW not done. Population of Saint Paul decreased. E-bike and scooter usage has exploded. Details on budget and maintenance backlog. Letter to the Editor reprint. 2 pages. PDF<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more…<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Opposition to Summit Ave Regional Trail Funding, Aug. 7, 2025<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

1% sales tax revenue. Homeowner assessments. Voters did not know voting for 1% sales tax meant voting to destroy Summit Avenue. Letter to the Editor reprint. 1 page. PDF<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more…<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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June 4, 2023<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

There is no money to pay for rebuilding Summit end to end. That was already in the cards at a price of about $100 million. The bike trail is another $12 million or so that also doesn\u2019t exist. Op ed reprint. 3 pages. PDF<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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November 22, 2022<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The city admitting the price tag\u2014and then trying to craft a spin on it. 2 pages. PDF<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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October 2022<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Cost page from city-approved plan. It is misleading as the 12.5 cost is for one-way (one side) only. You have to notice the small print to realize the total length is 4.721 miles or 49,854 linear feet for a total cost of 25 million. 1 page. PDF<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more…<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Tech Memo August 8, 2022<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Technical memo provides unit costs for developing concept alternative costs by
segment and\/or implementation phase. This is where the 12.5 million price tag comes from. 3 pages. PDF<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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