New at Minnesota's State Fair: A bumper crop of traffic jams

The traffic nightmares along Snelling and University Avenues could be about to hit a summer peak this week as thousands of State Fair patrons put new burdens on an area already heavily congested due to construction of the Central Corridor light-rail line.

"People who are driving are going to have to plan ahead more than previous years," said John Siqveland, Metro Transit spokesman. "It's a great year to get into one of those special State Fair park-and-ride lots."

There are 17 suburban park-and-ride lots, but the popular one near Interstate 94 and Snelling in St. Paul is closed this year.

Snelling Avenue -- the usual main artery off 94 to the fairgrounds in Falcon Heights -- has been down to one lane in each direction for construction this summer. Central Corridor project managers recently opened an extra lane in each direction to help move along fair traffic.

But there's still a big catch: Turning from Snelling onto University in either direction is restricted, causing traffic to stack up even under normal traffic loads.

Fairgoers also will need to be wary of traffic on 94, which has seen construction all summer, as well as unpredictable tie-ups.

The only bright spot for fair-goers coming from the west is that the eastbound ramp from 94 onto Hwy. 280 is scheduled to reopen Wednesday. The Como Avenue and Energy Park Drive exits on 280 both lead east to the fair or park-and-ride lots.

Some fairgoers aren't taking any chances, though.

St. Paul native John Lynden has a proven method for bypassing the crowds while avoiding public transportation and far-away lots: A homeowner a block from the fair holds open a $10 parking spot for the Lynden family.

"One of the key things to going to the fair multiple times is when you want to leave, you can get in your car and take off," he said.

Lynden, a Realtor, is so meticulous that he recently took his family on a dry run of their route for this year's passage to the fair. Hesitantly, he revealed his secret route: Lexington Parkway north to Horton Avenue and west to the fair.

Smooth sailing, says Lynden, who goes to the fair every day with his 9-year-old son, Jack. His wife, Tobi, and daughter, Charley, 7, are less frequent attendees -- they went "only" nine times last year, Lynden said.

Would Lynden consider taking Snelling Avenue to the fair?

"I avoid that Snelling-University area even without construction," he said.

Dan Cramer also attends the fair several times a year. Like Lynden, he travels from his St. Paul home, but has a different mode of travel. "It's three words: park and ride," Cramer said.

Cramer, co-founder of the Grassroots Solutions consulting firm, said he discovered the strategy for himself a few years ago. He parks at the University of Minnesota and hops on a bus that takes a transitway that is off-limits to regular drivers.

"You get there really fast," he said. "The benefit is twofold: You don't have to deal with traffic and you get a little exercise walking to the park-and-ride so you can eat more."

Fairgoers taking a bus from Minneapolis will be able to choose an added express route, 960, which picks up riders on Nicollet Mall and takes them to the fair via the transitway in about 15 minutes. Metro Transit also adds a significant number of buses to its route No. 3, along Como Avenue during the fair's run.

For more information, visit the fair's transportation page via www.startribune.com/a623.

Rochelle Olson • 651-735-9749 Twitter: @rochelleolson