urbanMSP

Specific to Burnsville is that the line is currently abandoned and more or less only runs through the lowest-density residential section of the city. Burnsville already has the transit station at 13 & Nicollet and the Orange Line which are underutilized due to WFH, so public transit connections ...

Looks like Google Earth has imagery of Minneapolis, Richfield, Bloomington, Burnsville, and Lakeville from 4/24/2023 now. It is a box roughly outlined by (W) Xenwood Ave, (N) 62nd Ave N/54th Ave NE, (E) Cleveland Ave, (S) 320th St.

MnDot is also pushing forward with the W 7th St access changes and repaving, and said that Riverview would have to rebuild everything if they go through with the streetcar. I would also imagine that the complexity of reconfiguring the 5/62 interchange is a huge obstacle. The better bus alternative w...

The CAC & PAC meetings that were scheduled for this month have been pushed back to "late summer".

Some fairly major renovations planned!

Surprised they're taking out the escalators. I know the elevators have been having a problem recently, I wonder if the escalators are too.

Farmers Market not returning to Nicollet Mall this year:
https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/ ... is-summer/

Some of the routes that would stop at Huron WB would have a variant that went on Washington EB in the afternoon. I recall the 355 and 452 doing that, and I'm sure there were probably some others like the 365.

A U of M-Gold Line direct express bus at peak hours would probably be a good idea as well.

The current Huron station is pretty awful, but if the interchange can be redesigned there should be consideration for a connection to one of the University Campus bus routes.

Plymouth Metrolink is replacing the Dunkirk P&R with new park and rides at the Plymouth Ice Center and the Northwest Greenway Pavilion. They will also restructure the 774, 776, 777, and 790 express routes. These changes are anticipated to begin on May 30th. https://www.plymouthmn.gov/Home/Compon...

The CMC held a meeting yesterday (materials here: https://www.metrotransit.org/purple-line-project-committees) Of note: The route modification study puts forward two alternatives, both ending at Maplewood. One via Beam, and another that detours to St. John's Hospital. The Arcade St station has been ...

Looks like they're recommending bus improvements but letting the Network Now plans drive the final decision.

MVTA does a decent job, I think, but the other three don't run any fixed-route local service at all, do they?

They all have app-based dial-a-rides that have much better service hours (including weekend service) than Transit Link. It's not perfect, but it's way better than no service.

I feel like the opt-outs do a reasonable job in the south/west suburbs - much better than Metro Transit does in the east/north suburbs.

I would imagine the 54 and 64 would be restructured, but the 64 and White Bear alternative of the Purple Line have only a short overlap.

Gold Line runs along I-94 and non residential areas of Woodbury. I think the White Bear Ave alignment will be better because it will directly serve Hillcrest and the public housing on Maryland. The Bruce Vento trail doesn't really go anywhere important and was better for fast trips to White Bear Lak...

There was another Maplewood Purple Line meeting yesterday. Ramsey County is pulling their support from proceeding with the federal grant application process, and proposing a reevaluation of White Bear Ave with bus only lanes. https://maplewoodmn.gov/purpleline https://maplewoodmn.gov/DocumentCenter/...

There's so many parcels that are vacant (or have vacant buildings) in the area and very little good development besides the new apartment building on Bass Lake & Brooklyn Blvd. I don't think there's much hope for the few office buildings around there either.

Maplewood is having another meeting on March 22nd for the Purple Line which will include answers from the Met Council and recommendations from the city council. https://maplewoodmn.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=7265 Purple Line CMC meeting rescheduled to April 6th. https://www.metrotransit.org/purple-line-p...

From what I understand the idea is that it's a lower cost way to show presence. There's a likely also an element of temporariness - when MT no longer needs them they can end the contract.

I watched part of this meeting, but joined late and was surprised to hear about "best bus". I wouldn't be surprised if they go with bus because it seems like the streetcar is going to be an interlining nightmare in addition to Fort Snelling tangle and being slower. I recall in the initial ...