A better way to get to downtown St Paul (on weekdays) from Saint Louis Park (St. Paul: how much)

[ashabrown]

Hi there

I have started a new position with a theater company that has space in downtown St Paul. I live in the Saint Louis Park/Edina region and have to be at the theater most weeknights by 6pm. So far it has been AWFUL taking the obvious route of 100N to 94E. sometimes as long as 90 minutes with traffic. Is there any other way??!? Any suggestions would be most appreciated

[chilaili]

East on Lake Street?
Hwy 62 East and then north on Hwy 5/W 7th St?
Failing that, zig-zagging thro Edina, Nokomis and Highland might be an option but it's all residential with traffic lights and cross streets OR you go all the way down to 494 altho that might be just as bad as I-94

[StanleyVegas]

Originally Posted by chilaili

East on Lake Street?
Hwy 62 East and then north on Hwy 5/W 7th St?
Failing that, zig-zagging thro Edina, Nokomis and Highland might be an option but it's all residential with traffic lights and cross streets OR you go all the way down to 494 altho that might be just as bad as I-94

I was going to suggest 100S to 62E to Hwy 5/W. 7th as well. Longer route but may end up being quicker, depending on how much traffic is on 62.

Halfway up W. 7th you can get on 35E into DTSP, but if 35E is slow at that time of day (probably), you can stay on 7th all the way into downtown.

[northsub]

It's been awhile since I would have driven there during rush hour. But, I would look at:

100 south
62 east
5/7th st northeast (or maybe 110 east?)
35E north

[ashabrown]

Thanks everyone. Im going to give 110s, 62E etc a try today!

[Mason3000]

Crosstown 62E at that hour is horrible.

If you're really in SLP (not Edina), then get to Uptown (no easy task from SLP) & turn S. on Lyndale until you get to 42nd St. Turn left on 42nd St heading Eastbound, it'll take you all the way to 30th Ave with only 2-3 stop signs (it's an amazing shortcut. It'll get you all the way across the city in record time). Then go up 28th Ave until you reach Crosstown 62 (this avoids Crosstown 62 & the stoplights on Hiawatha). Take Crosstown 62 (this far East it's fine) to Fort Snelling exit, wind through there & get onto Hwy 55 for about 1/3 mile, then cloverleaf onto Hwy 5 which will cross over into St Paul where you'll take Sheppard Rd all the way into Downtown St Paul.

42nd St is faster than Crosstown 62 at that hour. Sheppard Road is 50-55mph the while way with little traffic. I KNOW this sounds complex but trust me, you will shave your 90 minute drive in HALF guaranteed!

[Squeamish]

Yes - what the above poster said. Specifically, Shepard Rd. is fluid at all hours of the day (VERY little traffic!) and pretty much moves as fast as a freeway. Do not take W 7th. Follow the above poster's instructions across the bridge, into St. Paul, and then take the exit ramp for Shepard, turn left at Shepard and you will be in downtown St. Paul within minutes. It always amazes me how little traffic Shepard has, being in the middle of the metro area.

[StanleyVegas]

Originally Posted by Squeamish

Yes - what the above poster said. Specifically, Shepard Rd. is fluid at all hours of the day (VERY little traffic!) and pretty much moves as fast as a freeway. Do not take W 7th. Follow the above poster's instructions across the bridge, into St. Paul, and then take the exit ramp for Shepard, turn left at Shepard and you will be in downtown St. Paul within minutes. It always amazes me how little traffic Shepard has, being in the middle of the metro area.

I forgot about Shepard Rd. Since it's along the river I'm usually on my bike down there. I did see a speed trap at the intersection with Randolph. I suppose that since traffic is so light, speeding is pretty common.