Target Field Station: A Sustainable Development Strategy

About the Program

Category: Community and Economic Development (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

Governments at all levels are facing challenges related to the upkeep and construction of a wide range of public infrastructure. Target Field Station leveraged a combination of funding sources, augmenting public funding by incorporating private investment into the mix to create the new premier multi-modal transportation hub and community gathering space in downtown Minneapolis. With the development of Target Field Station the county sought to leverage housing, employment, and other activity center development along the newly expanding multi-modal transportation corridors that are well served by transit and also easily accessible to pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists. This targeted development approach increases corridor attractiveness for business and housing and enhances equity by improving access to destinations via non-auto means. Walkable, bikeable communities with good transit access encourage physical activity, promote better health, and help lower a household’s overall housing and transportation costs. Associated reductions in automobile use support environmental sustainability and a reduced carbon footprint. Hennepin County’s Target Field Station connects housing and employment centers, educational opportunities, and other needs – making it easier for people, particularly those without vehicles, to access these opportunities. Moreover, the development encourages commercial and economic vitality by leveraging private investments along all of the regional corridors – with Target Field Station at the nexus.