Star Tribune from Minneapolis, Minnesota • Page N1

STARTRIBUNE.COM SECTION DAKOTA COUNTY EXTRA JOSH KINNEY Dakota County The River to River Greenway is under construction in northern Dakota County. An 18-foot- wide underpass on Charlton Street creates a path for people to reach Dodge Nature Center. Construction in West St. Paul closes the final gap in the River to River Greenway. By TODD NELSON Special to the Star Tribune The River to River Greenway, an 8-mile recreational corridor running through northern Dakota County, is expected to open in September after this completion of a critical 1.4-mile gap in West St.

Paul. The segment nearing completion, budgeted at $2.29 million, goes from Hwy. 110 to Garlough Elementary School, passing by Henry Sibley High School and crossing Dodge Nature Center along the way. It includes a pedestrian underpass at Charlton Street that will offer Garlough stu- dents a safe route as they make trips to the nearby nature center. Charlton Street, closed during construction, was scheduled to reopen on Saturday although the underpass will not open until September.

At 18 feet wide, the underpass is roomier than usual to accommodate school groups and other pedestrians. Josh Kinney a Dakota County senior project manager overseeing construction of the segment, praised contractor S.M. Hentges Sons for the quick work on the underpass. was Kinney Greenway expected to open this fall Stretching from Burnsville to Minneapolis, Orange Line is expected to be up and running by late 2019. By PAT PHEIFER pat.pheifer@startribune.com Bus-commuting Burnsville residents already have options to get from their homes to their jobs in downtown Minneapolis in the morning and back in the evening.

But for reverse commuters, people who work irregular hours or those who need to leave work to pick up a sick child or go to a dentist appointment, it so easy. And right now, people who want to attend a performance at the Ames Center or visit festivals or farmers market on summer weekends have much choice except to drive. A solution is still several years away, but planning and development of Metro Orange Line bus rapid transit, connecting Burnsville to downtown Minneapolis, is moving forward, transit officials said last week. The line will offer frequent, all-day service in both directions between downtown Minneapolis, Richfield, Bloomington and Burnsville via Interstate 35W seven days a week. Last month Metro Transit asked commuters to fill out a survey about where the Burnsville Orange Line station should be located.

There are two choices: the northeast quadrant of Nicollet Avenue and Hwy. 13 or the southwest quadrant of that intersection, called the Travelers Trail station Each location has its advantages. A transit station with parking already exists at the northeast site. But the southwest site offers more opportunities and is closer to more multifamily housing and businesses. The survey asked people what hours they travel, where they travel and how they get to the location from which they take the bus.

Results of the survey are not yet available. Burnsville City Manager Heather Johnston said the city is supportive of the project and wants to make sure the station is located in the right spot. The Orange Line would not replace the current express bus service but supplement it, said Christina Morrison senior planner at Metro Transit. The line would include four stations in downtown Minneapolis, then stations at Lake Street, 46th Street, 66th Street and 76th Street, American Boulevard and 98th Street before reaching Burnsville Forecast ridership for the Bus rapid transit to downtown on track KYNDELL HARKNESS kyndell.harkness@startribune.com Jordie Pederson left, watched as Josh Gendron, of Menoken, N.D., tried to screw a bolt in a tight space during a mechanics class. LIZ ROLFSMEIER Special to the Star Tribune Vickie Coonrod planted tiny flowering plants on a hollow tree stump to turn it into a fairy garden.

Her garden is one of 15 stops on the tour in Hastings and Prescott, Wis. Self-guided tour includes stops around Hastings and Prescott, Wis. By LIZ ROLFSMEIER Special to the Star Tribune. Historic home tours have been a draw for years in Hastings, the river city with a collection of carefully preserved dwellings dating back to the late 1800s. The town garden club has likewise long been offering glimpses of the local greenery with garden tours.

This year, the events will merge on July 11 during Homes, Churches and when visitors can tour 19th-century homes and churches as well as gardens in Hastings and Prescott, Wis. what are we about, except for our churches, our homes and our Pam Thorsen, a volunteer, said. The tour, put on by the Hastings Prescott Area Arts Council and the Friends of the LeDuc, has 15 stops, and many of the homes and churches on the tour are at least 150 years old. Tickets are $25 each or five for $100. Tour participants receive a brochure and map and tour the route at their own pace.

At many of the stops, there will be artists working and musicians performing. Tour organizers also encourage visitors to walk through Jaycee Park in Hastings to see local artist David Cook vine art hanging in the trees. Take a self-guided stroll through 15 historic sites and gardens See TOUR on N3 See BUS on N2 See TRAIL on N2 Money covers the second round of improvements at the college. By JESSIE VAN BERKEL jessie.vanberkel@startribune.com Dakota County Technical College needed an update. In aging portions of the Rosemount school, fumes from welders left a sticky residue on computers and classrooms were cramped and inefficient.

were making said Erin Edlund director of institutional advancement. But they have to for much longer. The college is halfway through a renovation of 118,000 square feet of classrooms, labs and workshops. The school wrapped up the first half the overhaul in 2013 and last month the Legislature approved $7.7 million for phase two of the project. The funding will help the school update its transportation and emerging technology program areas, which are in high demand, officials said.

Construction is expected to begin in spring 2016. Welding is one of the areas where the school could not keep up with job demand, Edlund said. Welding space was renovated with the first round of funding $7.2 million and DCTC is able to graduate nearly three times as many students per year. The next upgrade will allow the school to double the number of graduates from its heavy duty truck technology program. There is a two- year waiting list for that program, said Mike Opp, academic and student affairs vice president.

The demand for the graduates DCTC is producing was a selling point when school officials brought legislators through the hallways and classrooms, making their pitch for two rounds of bonding funds. going to argue with high-wage, high-skill Edlund said. They told legislators how outdated technology and limited space constrained the school. For example, there was only one stall where students could practice painting cars, Opp said. are all fighting to get in he said.

DCTC plans $7.7 million renovation See DCTC on N4 SUNDAY, JULY 5, 2015.