There’s been much concern about the fate of small businesses along University Avenue during the construction phase of the Central Corridor light rail line. And some of the business owners worry that they’ll have problems when street parking is diminished when the trains start running in 2014.

Very aware of these concerns, the Metropolitan Council is tracking businesses along the route, and today said:

Twenty-two businesses opened on the corridor from February through May, according to the Central Corridor LRT Project’s latest survey of corridor businesses on Washington and University avenues and Cedar and Fourth streets.

The same survey found 14 businesses closed and nine moved during this time. Of the nine, six relocated on the corridor, two moved elsewhere in St. Paul and one relocated to Roseville.

The report also looked at “construction-related complaints (137) in May, responses to them (majority were responded to within 24 hours), public outreach and communication activities, funds spent to assist businesses during construction and requests for business assistance and responses.”