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Thank You, Rondo—Your Voice Is Driving Change🫶🏾

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who took the time to share comments during

To everyone who took the time to submit comments during the Rethinking I-94 public comment period—thank you for showing up for Rondo.

This was community in action.


Neighbors, residents, partners, and advocates came together to share stories, perspectives, and hopes for the future. That collective voice is powerful—and it’s being heard.


Because of you, the call to reconnect Rondo through a land bridge is being shaped by the people who know this community best. Your input reflects what matters most: restoring connection, honoring history, and creating a future that is rooted in and led by the community.


This is more than a process—it’s a reminder of what’s possible when a community speaks with clarity, purpose, and care for one another.

We are deeply grateful for the time, thought, and intention you brought to this moment. Your voices are helping guide what comes next and ensuring that this work continues to reflect the people it is meant to serve.


Rondo has always been strong—and this is that strength in motion.

     
   

Celebrating Community & Learning Together

This month, ReConnect Rondo was proud to be in the heart of the community. We joined the YWCA to celebrate their new after-school youth program at their ribbon-cutting ceremony—cheering on opportunities for local kids!

We also partnered with the University of Minnesota’s Urban Studies Student Association (MUSSA), where Executive Director, Keith Baker and Associate Director, Lynn Pingol led an interactive session on Rondo’s history, the impact of I-94, and community-centered urban planning. The students’ thoughtful questions and curiosity show the next generation is already thinking about equity, infrastructure, and lasting community impact.


From celebrating youth programs to shaping future urban leaders, we’re proud to foster dialogue, learning, and meaningful connections that strengthen our community.

     

Get in the Know! – Traffic in Rondo🚦 

April 21, 2026 | 1pm | Zoom

Mark your calendars for April 21st! Our next Get in the Know! webinar will focus on the Rondo traffic study and what it means for our neighborhood.


The ReConnect Rondo Traffic Analysis Study is a community‑focused effort led by ReConnect Rondo, in partnership with the City of Saint Paul and the Minnesota Department of Transportation, to help reconnect the historic Rondo Neighborhood across I‑94 and support long‑term community revitalization. The study looks at how traffic moves through the neighborhood today and how it could change in the future with a proposed land bridge and street improvements.


In addition to traffic analysis, the project includes air quality monitoring using Purple Air sensors, which collect localized, real‑time data to help illustrate how transportation and roadway conditions affect the air people breathe. Together, the traffic and air quality information will help tell a clear, community‑relevant story about existing conditions and potential future improvements, while informing environmental review, neighborhood planning, and future funding opportunities. 


Join us to learn more about the traffic study, see the data in action, and understand how it supports smarter, community-centered planning for Rondo’s future.

     

Six Sensors. One Clearer Picture for Rondo.

Sensors Installation Begins This Spring

As promised, we’re moving from planning into action. This spring, our technical team will begin installing six new sensors across the Rondo community—an important step in understanding air quality along the I-94 corridor.

These sensors measure tiny particles in the air—helping us understand what residents are breathing day to day. The sensors are small, quiet devices that will be installed on buildings or structures throughout the community.

Sensors will be placed at trusted community locations such as churches, schools, and shared spaces. This approach ensures reliable data collection while avoiding any burden on individual residents. These sensors only measure air quality—they do not record sound, video, or personal information.

What's Happening:

This effort is part of a broader air quality study—a long-term effort to understand what’s in the air today and what it could look like in the future—taking place from November 2025 through February 2027. The study combines existing air quality data with new, neighborhood-level data collected through these sensors to better understand current conditions.

What this work does:

In addition to tracking what’s happening today, the project team will use computer models used across the country to estimate how air quality may change in the future. This includes looking at different possibilities—such as no changes, roadway updates, and the potential land bridge—to understand how each could impact air quality in and around Rondo.

Why it matters:

Air quality directly affects the health and well-being of residents, families, and everyone who travels through the corridor. This study will help compare potential outcomes to national air quality standards and ensure that future decisions are grounded in both data and community impact.


This work is one way we’re continuing to ensure that restorative development is informed by both lived experience and real environmental data—so the choices made today support healthier outcomes for generations to come.

As installation begins, we’ll continue to share updates, including general locations, timing, and key insights along the way. Our goal remains simple: to keep the community informed, engaged, and equipped.

     

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