Rush Line Corridor: Connecting Manufactured Home Parks to Opportunity All Parks Alliance for Change (APAC)

All Parks Alliance for Change All Parks Alliance for Change is the statewide organization for Minnesota’s 180,000 manufactured home park residents. APAC provides a vehicle for manufactured home owners to express their needs and concerns in their parks and in the larger community. APAC supports using the region’s emerging transit way system to promote sustainable, vibrant, and healthy communities in the Twin Cities region, including manufactured home park communities. APAC is a member of the Rush Line Public Engagement Advisory Panel and has attended meetings of the policy advisory and technical advisory panels.

Manufactured Housing A Manufactured Home is a single or multi-section home constructed entirely in a controlled factory environment following the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) code adopted by Congress in 1976. They are home to one out of every 20 households in the state. Statewide, the households are 87% owner occupied and 42% of residents have lived in the same home for 10 or more years. In the Twin Cities metro area, all manufactured housing is restrictively zoned so that it can only be located in manufactured home park communities.

Households in the Rush Line Corridor Within the Rush Line Corridor, there are 10 cities with 27 manufactured park communities and 2,779 households. Along the proposed transit line there are 5 cities with 8 parks and 1,133 households.

Park Locations Along the Corridor

Rush Line Corridor Research Overview Purpose Methodology Census Data Survey Data Findings Recommendations

Purpose To gain insight into public transportation use by park residents in the Ramsey and Washington County park communities along the Rush Line Corridor. To identify residents anticipated future use of public transportation. To gather and share residents thoughts and opinions on the design of the Rush Line Transit Corridor.

Census Data: Methodology 2013 5-year American Community Survey from the U.S. Census website Data included commute types, commute times, demographic, and household data by block group While the block groups do not exactly conform to the parks themselves, they do represent the immediate vicinity of the park.

Census Data: Findings There is a higher percentage of non-car commuters in the block groups containing manufactured home parks than overall in the census tract. Parks located closer to the central city show higher percentages of resident non-car transportation use. As examples:

Census Data: Findings Analysis of commute times in Ramsey County show commute times along the corridor to be mostly under 60 minutes. Stop locations and frequency may be important considerations in attracting current car commuters.

Survey Data: Methodology Stratified random sample Sample size: 149 Survey method Mailed survey, with mail and online options Door-to-door follow up Survey tool: 16 questions, divided into 5 subject areas Resident background information Access to personal vehicle Current use of public transportation Future use of public transit Public transportation preference

Survey Data: Demographic Eight Parks along highway 61 from Forest Lake to Downtown Saint Paul. 73% of the race/ethnicity is White, while 27% are people of color. The majority group of the 27% is Hispanic. The income ranges of Less than $10,000 and $10,000t o $19,999 show to currently use public transit is 54%.

Survey Data: Findings Current Transit Use Parks located closer to the city utilize public transportation more often. Also show more interest to use it more in the future.

Changes to Encourage Future Use Survey Data: Findings Changes to Encourage Future Use Half responded to provide more stops and cheaper fares. 26% responded to improve service and have buses run more frequency.

Destination Travel Using Public Transit Survey Data: Findings Destination Travel Using Public Transit 50% reported to use it from closer to their home and Maplewood mall.

Public Transportation Preference Survey Data: Findings Public Transportation Preference 35% responded to use a light rail. 23% responded to use a rapid bus. 37% did not respond.

Reason for Public Transit Use Survey Data: Findings Reason for Public Transit Use 42% reported to use it as an option. 40% reported that it is a good alternative.

Survey Data: Findings Recommendations Manufactured Home Parks income range $10,000 - $19,000 Vehicle Reliability Provide more Bus Stops and Cheaper Fares Destinations of using public transit

Contact Information All Parks Alliance for Change 2380 Wycliff Street, Saint Paul, MN 55114 Phone: 651-644-5525 Fax: 651-523-0173 Toll Free: 855-361-2722 www.allparksallianceforchange.org Dave Anderson Executive Director Email: Dave@allparksallianceforchange.org Lao Yang Community Organizer Email: Lao@allparksallianceforchange.org