Minn. Metro Transit resumes full light rail service following 11-day shutdown
Meanwhile, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that engineers have all but dropped a possible light rail line from plans to connect St. Paul's Union Depot to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and the Mall of America in Bloomington
MINNEAPOLIS — The longest shutdown in the history of the Minneapolis Metro Transit light rail system ended on Monday when service resumed on the Blue and Green Lines, News8000 reports.
The two lines had been shut down since June 22 for maintenance, affecting stations between Target Field and U.S. Bank Stadium. The shutdown left many riders frustrated and confused, especially since the rail construction coincided with other down road repairs and the shutdown of Lowry Tunnel on Interstate 94. For the full story, click here.
Meanwhile, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that engineers have all but dropped a possible light rail line from plans to connect St. Paul's Union Depot to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and the Mall of America in Bloomington, however, a modernized version of the classic streetcar remains a strong possibility.
A technical advisory committee composed of engineers and planners from Ramsey County, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Bloomington, the airport, Metro Transit, and other parties wrapped up a report in mid-June that narrows 18 options down to six, eliminating light rail and traditional, or dedicated-lane, bus rapid transit, reportedly because of cost and low ridership. For the full story, click here.
Amtrak will open grant applications March 23 for community projects near the Frederick Douglass Tunnel alignment in Baltimore as part of a $50 million investment tied to the B&P Tunnel Replacement Program.
The Denmark Station $2.3 million construction investment project includes a new 280-foot concrete boarding platform, built eight inches above the top of rail, for improved accessibility for passengers with disabilities and families with small children and much more.
Caltrain and its partners have implemented safety improvements at specific locations in response to known risk conditions, operational needs, and available funding since the agency’s founding.
On a recent episode of METROspectives, METRO Magazine’s Executive Editor Alex Roman sat down with Ana-Maria Tomlinson, Director of Strategic & Cross-Sector Programs at the CSA Group, to explore a bold initiative aimed at addressing those challenges: the development of a National Code for Transit and Passenger Rail Systems in Canada.
Competitive FTA grants will support accessibility upgrades, family-friendly improvements, and cost-efficient capital projects at some of the nation’s oldest and busiest transit hubs.
The 3.92-mile addition will soon take riders west beyond its current Wilshire and Western station in Koreatown, continuing under Wilshire Boulevard through neighborhoods and communities including Hancock Park, Windsor Square, the Fairfax District, and Carthay Circle into Beverly Hills.
Under the plan, all long-distance routes will transition to a universal single-level fleet, replacing today’s mix of bi-level and single-level equipment.
