City of Rochester hires consultant to help businesses affected by downtown construction

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – The city of Rochester has hired a consulting firm to help businesses affected by the Link Bus Rapid Transit Project construction, which is expected to start on Second Street in downtown Rochester this summer.

The Link Bus Rapid Transit (Link BRT) transportation project works to connect areas of downtown Rochester, including the Mayo Clinic Campus, Downtown Waterfront, Rochester Public Library, recreational amenities, educational institutions and businesses along a 2.8-mile route on 2nd Street SW. By connecting to the Mayo Clinic, the city of Rochester said the line will make it easier for patients and their families to travel to its campuses and services without having to drive.

“We are currently in the process of bidding out the civil package and we are hoping that construction will start this summer,” City of Rochester Communications & Engagement Manager Rachel Fautsch said. “Some of the tree removal has started along the second street corridor to accommodate the construction this upcoming summer.”

Fautsch said the details of traffic and business impacts are still being determined.

“We’ll know more about the construction process as those contractors come online, and what their process for that will be,” she said. “As contractors are awarded that bid, we will be able to answer those questions more effectively.”

Fautsch said the city hired the consulting firm called Storefront Mastery. It held a workshop on Tuesday with several business owners in attendance.

“We’re using a business-forward approach that was created by Destination Medical Center,” she said. “Part of this Storefront Mastery is a focus on placemaking and experience building to really drive their customer base during construction.”

Tinn’s Grilled Philly Steak Subs owner Leroy Slininger opened his restaurant across from St. Marys Hospital last February. He attended the workshop on Tuesday, and he said he and other business owners were left feeling frustrated. He said he was also surprised to find out the entire street will be shut down during construction, adding that is not what the city originally told him.

“We just found out Tuesday [from] a bunch of business owners that they are going to be shutting down second street completely, to build this tunnel to Mayo, and sidewalk construction [and] plumbing and piping,” he said. “We’re all for city growth, but you still have to hear our voices as business owners.”

He said there were around 15-16 people that attended the workshop and many people found out about it through the mail. He said other people found out about it because city employees knocked on their doors. He said the city needs to get better at communicating with them.

Slininger said he is concerned about the Link BRT project as a whole, as it will take away parking spots, especially since his business relies on DoorDash. He said the consultant told him Tuesday that food delivery bicyclists may be the way of the future for him. However, he doesn’t believe that to be feasible.

“50% of my business is DoorDash and we have three parking stalls here,” he said. “With this new bus station coming in here, it’s taken away my DoorDash. Nobody has answers.”

Slininger said he is also worried about a new Thai restaurant that is set to open next to his business in a couple months.

Fautsch said there will be other accelerated sessions for business owners available.

“We don’t want anyone to feel as if they are being left out,” Fautsch said.

Fautsch said business owners with questions or that need help can reach out to [email protected]

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