urbanMSP

Excellent questions, all around. I tried to account for all your concerns ahead of time, but didn't explain any of the grade details in my original post. Is this new station at the elevation of the existing viaducts? That would mean moving trains from a trench moving up to elevated platforms and th...

The primary advantage of this is eliminating the need to back out of a station and allowing for through-running west/north <--> east/south. While I didn't show it explicitly, I'd like to think plenty of development could be done above any sort of station which replaces the viaducts. But you're abso...

People waiting for commuter rail departures? Is there any reason that they couldn't build a connection to the northeast end of the Northstar platform from the area under the viaducts? It's proof of payment like the LRT, so I don't think they necessarily have to funnel everyone through the headhouse...

It will definitely be a big change to views of the skyline from a distance as it is the first big leap past Hennepin. When US Bank Stadium was announced in 13/14, I thought at the time we would see the skyline start to shift south and east. That's happened to an extent, but the pull of the North Lo...

It’s like the highway network every summer. Maybe that’s what happens when the network reaches a big enough state? Except that the highways close so that the highways can be re-built or expanded. Bike trails close so that nearby roads or rail lines or apartment buildings or something other than bik...

I work north of Washington. Getting the buses to cross Washington is regularly so terrible that bus routes are abandoning service at Marquette and 2nd. The 477 for instance cancelled service north of Washington because getting buses across Washington is so bad. Box blocking by car drivers is normal...

Should Minnehaha parkway divert thru-drivers off the route? http://www.startribune.com/plan-to-boost-bike-pedestrian-safety-would-end-through-traffic-on-minnehaha-parkway/510929632/ This will meet serious pushback by people used to driving it to cross the city fast. Summary: East of Portland, the p...

There is a plan for light rail queuing. Temporary fencing and transit police will be directing people to the platforms- you won't be able to just walk up normally or cross any street. Pedestrian access across University will be restricted/ directed from Pierce to Albert Street. Eastbound riders wil...

Adding housing is great, as are the windows on Cedar Ave. Then moving an entrance to the corner and adding seating is nice. But other than that, what is it doing to engage the street? It’s still a long block to walk past on Cedar. It would be nice if they had a couple micro retail shops with doors ...

I can't imagine moving into an apartment like this myself, but I am a part of the minority on the extreme opposite end of behavior. I refused to look at homes or apartments that did not have room for a full dining room table. This might seem strange, but it gets used more often than most would belie...

When what little train transit we do have includes a direct line from the airport to downtown a couple of blocks away, and leading cities worldwide are slowly choking cars out of their densest downtown areas, a porte cochère sounds as anachronistic as a typewriter or 8-track stereo. I appreciate yo...

I could be mistaken, but I'm pretty certain that the Calhoun Towers plans explicitly show tracks and platforms for both SWLRT and the Midtown line. The smaller platform (mislabeled) is almost certainly intended to be the dedicated Midtown platform, with one track connecting to the SWLRT line and th...

ALDI is non union. Big knock against it in my book. A bit off topic, but unions are great when they bring increased wages, better benefits, a stable and well trained workforce and improved accountability on both sides. Unions are unnecessary when employers offer the wages and benefits on their own....

You would think there's a modern trolleybus with a small battery that can be utilized for short distances if there's a detour or the bus needs to get around a vehicle (stalled car, some idiot parked in a no-parking zone, etc.). It should be possible to design the connection so that there is enough ...

Thats understandable. I figure we could do both though. Would having an earlier bowl eliminate the chance to host the CFP national championship game? Levi's Stadium is hosting the Redbox bowl on Dec 31st and then the CFP Championship Game on Jan 7th. So yes, it can be done. Just need a Corporate Sp...

The stretch of Hennepin south of Lake is open again. I happened to be there yesterday picking up a book at Magers & Quin. There were half a dozen cars parked in the new bike lanes between Lake and 31st. There was also a traffic cop giving them tickets. This is the first time I have seen a traffi...

Speaking of jersey barriers, NE corner of Rice and Como has them surrounding the old Stahl lanes footprint. Anyone have info on what's going up? Combination coffee shop and dialysis clinic. I realize that you likely mean two separate businesses in one shared building, but the thought of a literal &...

Phase II is back after a 5-year timeout: http://minneapolismn.gov/www/groups/public/@cped/documents/webcontent/wcmsp-214930.pdf If you're interested in why it went away for 5 years, read the last couple paragraphs of this SW Journal article from March 2014 I guess I'm glad that it wasn't blocked in...

So the bulldozers have come to create triplexes already?

That was fast.

I assume you already knew this and you are just trolling, but it was an empty lot.

Interesting look at whether a home or stocks were a better investment. Stocks come out a slight winner, but timing matters more, and different housing markets change how much stocks were better. Does anyone who is good with charts, and access to historical housing prices in the various housing mark...