urbanMSP

Even the HOV lanes on the freeway slow down significantly during snowstorms, especially when they happen in the peak periods. The only thing that really seems to affect operations of the light rail is icing of the overhead wires. This is relatively uncommon occurrence, and even then really only seem...

Metro Council will be doing a funding switch-around that will allow Metro Transit to purchase 15 new buses, and Southwest Transit to purchase 8 new buses. The 15 new buses will be used as follows: Route 30 : 2 buses to provide service from Fremont and West Broadway to the U of M West Bank via Broadw...

There is a very good report available from the Metropolitan Council about public transit and the disadvantaged (low-income, disabled, senior, without a vehicle) population. It shows large amount of these groups living in Eagan, Apple Valley, and especially Burnsville. http://metrocouncil.org/Transpo...

There are quite a few no-car, low-income households south of the river. Take the 444 bus to see, which is probably the busiest local bus line in the area.

I guess the main problem is the geometry of the line in the area. Hiawatha was already a pedestrian nightmare before light rail went in, and LRT made it even more of a tangle for walkers. There probably could be some improvements for everyone (cars, bikes, peds, LRT, etc), but I have to agree with M...

The idea is that during off-peak hours there are less riders to the core, and more disperse destinations, so that the local service provides a better match to customers (i.e. a 15-minute trunk line, with connections to other trunk lines, versus hourly point-to-point routes). Ridership is highest dur...

There are commuter coaches going from the lots to downtown; 475 from Apple Valley and Cedar Grove to Downtown and U of M, 476 from Palomino Hills, 477 from Apple Valley and Lakeville, etc.

The Red Line is an additional service that replaced the 442 local service from Mall of America to Apple Valley.

Here's a link to the 2013 Park and Ride study. Park and ride usage reached a new record, with 19,149 vehicles on average per day. 2013 saw 2 new facilities, 5 expanded facilities, and 7 closed facilities (leased lots) for a net gain of 1,756 spaces. http://www.metrocouncil.org/Council-Meetings/Commi...

Or simply run the Lake St Arterial BRT to I-94 into Downtown St. Paul. I feel that the 74 accomplishes the 46th St. Stn to Downtown St. Paul market well. It has a decent frequency (15 peak, 20 off-peak, 30 evening and Sunday), and is programmed for future frequency improvements. Additionally, passen...

Southwest Transit will be offering a new service, Route 687 Hwy 212-Target Northern Campus, beginning February 10th. Three trips will operate each way, serving East Creek P&R, Southwest Village P&R, and Southwest Station P&R. http://www.swtransit.org/target-north-campus-service This is i...

55/149 will be reconstructed soon, and MnDot recommended the stoplight option despite the fact that Eagan wanted a grade separated option. This is probably for the better, considering any grade separation will likely shift traffic patterns towards Hiawatha and 62 instead of 494. Additionally, MnDot ...

Looks like Metro Council is planning a new platform at Nicollet Mall Station, on the north side, adjacent to the Nic on 5th project:

http://www.metrocouncil.org/getdoc/391d ... umber.aspx

That's honestly what I think. The new neighborhood is just government buildings and couple auto-related businesses, isolated away from the downtown area. It wouldn't be too difficult for them to expand upon their current space.

Looks like St. Paul wants to move the Dorothy Day Center (shelter, soup kitchen, etc.) to the area NE of Downtown, on the other side of the interstate. Phase 2 would be a redevelopment of the current site into apartments. http://www.startribune.com/local/east/236662541.html http://dorothydayrevision...

From what I understand the new towers will house more of the back office staff that are currently located throughout the metro.

I would imagine they're cashing in on the Europe vacation market, competing with Delta, Airfrance, Icelandair, etc..

Here's a seat map: http://seatexpert.com/seatmap/762/Condo ... 757-300ER/

Perhaps we could see some more office-to-apartment conversions. I think the Rand Tower would be a really cool apartment building, next to Soo Line and all. Maybe even the Medical Arts, Young Quinlan, Lumber Exchange, Butler Square or even the Qwest building could be turned to apartments. The Qwest b...

I'm gonna go ahead and say the May bus route changes (right after the U gets out) is when the Green Line will open.

If were gonna go about rebuilding the bridge deck, perhaps we could just bite the bullet and put the bus station in the middle.

It would be really nice to see an actual attempt to not half-ass this project.

The plan for Phase 2 is to extend the line to the existing 167th St/Kenrick Ave station, via a new station at County Road 42. An MVTA plan a few years ago envisioned a BRT station and local bus loop on the SW quadrant of the interchange of 42 and 35W, but I would imagine those would be up for discus...