Search found 7752 matches

by mattaudio
June 19th, 2023, 9:10 pm
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Northern Lights Express
Replies: 510
Views: 497673

Re: Northern Lights Express

The Sandstone O&M idea was an attempt to placate opposition on the route.
IMO, assuming this and TCMC both use Amtrak Midwest trainsets, it makes the most sense to find an area near Minneapolis for O&M with expansion potential. Something along Northtown Yard for example.
by mattaudio
June 9th, 2023, 9:54 am
Forum: Transportation
Topic: MSP Airport / Metropolitan Airports Commission
Replies: 1359
Views: 346437

Re: MSP Airport

I found my source map from a decade ago and did some quick ideation based on their current plans. https://i.imgur.com/tHnYv7G.png Facilities: - New T1b/International curbside (black) and headhouse (green) midfield atop the parking pay area, with direct connections to the proposed rebuilt A concourse...
by mattaudio
June 8th, 2023, 8:29 pm
Forum: Transportation
Topic: MSP Airport / Metropolitan Airports Commission
Replies: 1359
Views: 346437

Re: MSP Airport

I also understand that both of the existing trams are approaching the end of their lifecycle, so there may be more ambitious plans for those when they get replaced. With the extension of the G concourse, that side will likely also need a tram, and if the new F gets aligned with G (and same with E a...
by mattaudio
June 8th, 2023, 8:57 am
Forum: Transportation
Topic: MSP Airport / Metropolitan Airports Commission
Replies: 1359
Views: 346437

Re: MSP Airport

Anyone found details on how T1 FIS could be expanded? As seen above, this is the second highest priority project on their draft list and it says "ex. site" for the location. Expanding at the existing site seems difficult for two reasons. First, the actual FIS space is constrained by being ...
by mattaudio
June 5th, 2023, 11:50 am
Forum: Transportation
Topic: MSP to Rochester High Speed Rail
Replies: 516
Views: 173200

Re: MSP to Rochester High Speed Rail

It was a few years ago now, but I added up the daily flights on all airlines in the MSP-RST-LSE-MSN-MKE-CHI corridor and it was pushing 60 flights per day.
by mattaudio
June 2nd, 2023, 10:27 am
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Amtrak: Empire Builder and Borealis (TCMC)
Replies: 625
Views: 391399

Re: Amtrak: Empire Builder and Great River (TCMC)

Would there ever be a market for a night train to Chicago, possibly even a private operator? Current Empire Builder block time is 7:55. Imagine a 10:30 p.m. departure and 6:30 a.m. arrival in both directions. Not an efficient use of rolling stock, but maybe the type of thing a private operator could...
by mattaudio
June 1st, 2023, 9:55 am
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Red Line (Cedar Avenue BRT)
Replies: 538
Views: 223477

Re: Red Line (Cedar Avenue BRT)

20 years ago there were studies of extending the freeway from 140th St south to 160th St or beyond. Alas, the stroad remained.
by mattaudio
June 1st, 2023, 9:53 am
Forum: Transportation
Topic: MSP Airport / Metropolitan Airports Commission
Replies: 1359
Views: 346437

Re: MSP Airport

This just feels like more of a hack - at what point has this thing been hacked up too much? - Rebuilding E and F is needed, but this will still have a dead end alley between the two. Curious why not rebuild as an island pier parallel to the headhouse and Rwy 4/22 instead of keeping the two finger pi...
by mattaudio
June 1st, 2023, 8:25 am
Forum: Transportation
Topic: MSP Airport / Metropolitan Airports Commission
Replies: 1359
Views: 346437

Re: MSP Airport

Image
by mattaudio
May 31st, 2023, 1:19 pm
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Red Line (Cedar Avenue BRT)
Replies: 538
Views: 223477

Re: Red Line (Cedar Avenue BRT)

However, hypothetically speaking.. There has been a major transit station at 155th St since the mid-1990s, consistently one of the highest ridership stations in the metro. It was expanded and moved across the street with platforms and a skyway on Cedar in 2009. Red Line "BRT" started serv...
by mattaudio
May 31st, 2023, 12:57 pm
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Dan Patch Intercity Regional Passenger Rail
Replies: 180
Views: 158655

Re: Dan Patch Intercity Regional Passenger Rail

I don't see Dan Patch ever making sense for commuter rail competing with buses on 35W and 77 (nor do I see commuter rail and increasingly commuter bus as viable in general) but I do think Dan Patch could have a place in a larger regional corridor. It could be a nice intercity trunk for Spine Line ra...
by mattaudio
May 24th, 2023, 11:13 am
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Northern Lights Express
Replies: 510
Views: 497673

Re: Northern Lights Express

At one point, NLX was going to be a unique trainset to operate at higher speeds. Now, if speeds are only 90 MPH max, is it assumed these will run with Venture/Charger trainsets in the Midwest pool? IMO all regional rail should stop in Minneapolis *and* St. Paul even if that means a back-up between M...
by mattaudio
May 16th, 2023, 7:47 pm
Forum: Greater Minnesota
Topic: Rochester
Replies: 590
Views: 432691

Re: Rochester

June and RetiredBanker were unavailable for comment.
by mattaudio
April 19th, 2023, 9:34 am
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Public Transit News / Current Events (MN only)
Replies: 2909
Views: 701994

Re: Public Transit News / Current Events (MN only)

The Red Line was not about transit, it was about adding through lanes and turn lanes to Cedar Ave in Apple Valley, consolidating access, replacing millions of dollars worth of aging stoplights, etc. If 350 people get to ride a bus each day that's just a bonus.
by mattaudio
April 6th, 2023, 11:31 am
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Riverview Corridor Streetcar
Replies: 1194
Views: 553975

Re: Riverview Corridor Streetcar

I'm curious what's better... - "Streetcar" LRVs in mixed traffic, lack of signal priority, and other hobbling factors BUT with dual-track ROW - Traditional LRT-spec with minimized grade crossings, TSP or railroad signals, 3+ LRV trains, and strategic grade separation BUT with significant s...
by mattaudio
March 14th, 2023, 10:18 am
Forum: Greater Minnesota
Topic: Duluth - General Topics
Replies: 65
Views: 76837

Re: Duluth - General Topics

The central roof of Miller Hill Mall collapsed...
by mattaudio
March 10th, 2023, 2:29 pm
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Green Line Extension - Southwest LRT
Replies: 5265
Views: 1247359

Re: Green Line Extension - Southwest LRT

Oh yeah I wrote this 9 years ago https://streets.mn/2014/02/11/southwest-lrt-plan/
by mattaudio
March 7th, 2023, 5:59 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Harmonia - 255 2nd Ave S - 25ish / 20ish / 10ish stories
Replies: 31
Views: 28621

Re: Harmonia - 255 2nd Ave S - 25ish / 20ish / 10ish stories

"Current 12 foot ceilings" underground... sounds perfect for that bus layover facility to replace Gateway Ramp and allow for the next block to redevelop...
by mattaudio
March 7th, 2023, 12:26 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - General Topics and Citywide Issues
Topic: Minneapolis Street Design
Replies: 45
Views: 49235

Re: Minneapolis Street Design

I say this as a former candidate endorsed by Mpls firefighters union a decade ago, and without prejudice to the merit of their staffing or operations desires... but they've been bringing up those same points about NFPA standards since at least 2013. What categories are those 55,000 calls in? How man...
by mattaudio
March 4th, 2023, 10:20 am
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Heritage lines, excursion trains, and other railroad attractions in MN
Replies: 16
Views: 7933

Re: Heritage lines, excursion trains, and other railroad attractions in MN

I saw on Wikipedia that a heritage train used to be run from Mpls to the Renaissance Fest in the 80s along a now-abandoned ROW. Would it be possible to run a seasonal train like this today from Union Depot instead? Yes that HCRRA line was the Chicago & Northwestern line to Minneapolis via Hopki...