The ambitious Rondo Land Bridge project, aimed at reconnecting the historic Rondo neighborhood in St. Paul, Minnesota, has received a significant financial boost from the federal government.
In January 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded a $2 million grant to ReConnect Rondo, the nonprofit spearheading the initiative. This funding comes from the “Reconnecting Communities” program, a key component of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
The new grant will fund critical predevelopment activities, including environmental assessments, traffic studies, and community outreach efforts, moving the project closer to its goal of restoring the vitality of a neighborhood that was bisected by the construction of Interstate 94 in the 1950s and 1960s.
The freeway displaced more than 700 homes and 300 businesses, devastating a predominantly African American community that had thrived for decades.
This latest award follows a $2 million grant the project received in 2023 under the same federal program, signaling sustained national support for the effort.
In addition to federal funding, the Rondo Land Bridge has also garnered state-level backing, with the Minnesota Legislature allocating $6.2 million to the project in 2021.
“This funding represents a critical step toward restorative justice for the Rondo community,” said Keith Baker, executive director of ReConnect Rondo.
“The land bridge is more than a physical reconnection; it’s an opportunity to heal, rebuild, and create a vibrant future for generations to come.”
The envisioned land bridge will create new land over I-94, spanning several blocks between Chatsworth and Grotto Streets.
This reclaimed space is set to include parks, housing, commercial spaces, and cultural institutions, fostering a revitalized African American cultural enterprise district.
The initiative’s planners emphasize community input, ensuring that the development reflects the aspirations and needs of Rondo residents.
Advocates view the project as a model for addressing the historical injustices caused by urban freeway construction in marginalized communities across the United States.
“The Rondo Land Bridge exemplifies what can happen when communities are empowered to reclaim their narratives,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This is the kind of project the Reconnecting Communities program was designed to support.”
As the planning and development phases progress, the Rondo Land Bridge continues to garner widespread support, not only as a symbol of restorative justice but also as a catalyst for economic revitalization.
Stakeholders believe the project will enhance connectivity, promote cultural preservation, and create opportunities for growth in a historically significant area of St. Paul.
Construction timelines and further funding requirements remain under discussion, but the momentum behind the project suggests a bright future for the Rondo neighborhood and its residents.
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