7th Street Transit "Advantage" Bus Stops

[twincitizen]

Dreaming of a 7th Street Mall over at Streets.MN:

https://streets.mn/2012/11/05/dreaming- ... reet-mall/

[twincitizen]

I'm reviving this dormant topic because

A. $2MM for "Landscaping, pedestrian lighting, pedestrian safety improvements on 7th and 8th Street S from 1st Avenue N to Chicago Avenue and on 6th and 9th Streets S from 1st Avenue N to 2nd Avenue S in Minneapolis" is planned and funded for 2016. That's pretty exciting. Hopefully it is planned simultaneously with Rapid Bus in mind, because $2MM won't amount to much on its own.

B. How are things going at the bus stop? I don't get downtown much lately and haven't had a chance to observe. Are the little green squares all dirty/worn off completely? Does Metro Transit even bother enforcing anything or did that pretty much stop cold turkey after they tazed that guy?

[Viktor Vaughn]

The green squares are still there, but they are routinely ignored. People still wait for the bus against the wall like they always have. Seems like they gave up enforcement. At least some of the boards have come off the windows in the City Center. They put TV monitors in the windows to show bus arrival times.

The police still post up everyday like they're patrolling Southern Afghanistan.

[woofner]

Twincitizen, where is the planning and money you reference coming from?

[twincitizen]

It was buried in the recent amendment to the 2013-16 TIP. Same TAB memo where I found the aBRT funding tidbits.

Page 7 of this thing

Recommendation from the TAC to amend the 2013-2016 TIP to include the projects selected in the 2011 regional solicitation to receive Surface Transportation Program, Congestion Mitigation Air Quality Program, the Transportation Enhancements Program and the Bridge Improvement /Replacement Program funds and to include the recommended Railroad Highway Crossing Safety projects.

[UptownSport]

How are things going at the bus stop? I don't get downtown much lately and haven't had a chance to observe. Are the little green squares all dirty/worn off completely? Does Metro Transit even bother enforcing anything or did that pretty much stop cold turkey after they tazed that guy?

The signs look Great!!!
You can see from the photo everyone attempting to obey them.

[twincitizen]

Seems to be facing the wrong way. -1 DID points

[MSPtoMKE]

Considering the obvious lack if amenities at what is probably the busiest bus stop in the upper midwest, can you really blame people for wanting to lean up against the side of the building while they wait? Or should they all just share the 2 unsheltered benches?

[UptownSport]

Seems to be facing the wrong way. -1 DID points

Bah Ha Ha Ha Bah Ha Ha Ha Bah Ha Ha Ha Bah Ha Ha Ha Bah Ha Ha Ha Bah Ha Ha Ha Bah Ha Ha Ha Bah Ha Ha Ha

I knew you guys would love that pic.

MSP2MKE,

I actually took the 19- and totally OMFG!
The sidewalk was so packed there wasn't any room.
People were pretty kuhl, only saw one drug deal.
The 19 was packed to the gills, as were the 5 and other bus-

I simply can't believe what these people are forced to do to get to jobs.
Why isn't bottineua going up Penn again?

[seanrichardryan]

Why the #5 isn't going to be our first streetcar line still baffles me. It needs the capacity and the neighborhoods need the development opportunities.

[VAStationDude]

Why the #5 isn't going to be our first streetcar line still baffles me. It needs the capacity and the neighborhoods need the development opportunities.

The streetcar system envisioned for Minneapolis can't operate at a frequency adequate for the capacity needs of the Chicago Emerson/Freemont corridor. I expect the articulated buses currently in use for the 16 and 50 to shift to the 5 once the Green Line is operational.

[mattaudio]

At least the green line extension is redeemable as part of other corridors (sans the 21st St station). Unfortunately the blue line extension alignment really does nothing for North Mpls and there will be little opportunity in the future to make use of the alignment between Olson Hwy and Robbinsdale if we decide we need something that actually serves people. See previous observations for context.

[woofner]

The MPD and Metro Transit are going to jointly build out and operate a space in City Center:

http://www.minneapolismn.gov/meetings/p ... S1P-102602

There are next to no details there, but here's hoping it is a transit center space on 7th St, rather than just a replacement for Metro Transit's retail store on Marquette.

[twincitizen]

$70,000 build out. Probably not a transit center of any kind, sadly.

[lordmoke]

They're probably just going to build a space so that the police can be more comfortable while making the people standing outside at this bus stop feel worse than they already do without a shelter.

Also, I just want to say that seeing "Feral Cats" pop up as an agenda item on city documents never gets old.

[woofner]

How much does it really cost for a few uncomfortable benches, a couple NexTrip screens, and a schedule rack? I really got to get into the Overpriced Crap for Government Use business.

[twincitizen]

Tactical Urbanism opportunity!

Let's steal a bus shelter from somewhere else and put it here!

[Seve]

As of this morning, the bus stop is closing for the next 4-6 weeks. Signs say that it is due to sidewalk repairs. I was hoping it was something more (transit center? cameras? police station?)

[UptownSport]

There is still construction occurring, but the sign said the 19:

WILL NO LONGER STOP at 7th and Nicollet Mall, after opening. It will continue to serve the other lines.

One way to solve a problem.

[Nick]

Barriers are down. Bench is gone. Basic shelter in the middle of the block. Topical.