Northstar Commuter Rail Grand Opening Celebrations

Grand opening celebrations are being planned at stations along the Northstar Line on Saturday, Nov. 14. There will be food, entertainment and speakers are planned at each stations. A limited number of free round trip train rides will be available. More than 1,700 free rides for Nov. 14 were awarded through a online lottery earlier this month.

No train ride will be provided at Target Field on Nov. 14, but tours will be available.

• Big Lake:
  9 am - 12:30 p.m.
  Speakers: 9:45 a.m.
  Free Rides (Train leaves at 11:35 a.m.)
• Elk River Station:
  10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
  Speakers: 11:30 a.m.
  Free Rides (Train leaves at 1:05 p.m.)
• Anoka Station
  11:30 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
  Speakers: 12:30 p.m.
  Free Rides (Train leaves at 2:15p.m.)
• Coon Rapids-Riverdale Station
  1-4 p.m.
  Speakers: 2 p.m.
  Frees Rides (Train leaves at 3:35 p.m.)
• Fridley Station
  8:30 - 11:30 a.m.
  Speakers: 9:30 a.m.
  Free Rides (Train leaves at 11 a.m.)
• Target Field Station
  10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
  Speakers 10:30 a.m.
  Northstar train tours 11: a.m. - 5 p.m.
  

Northstar Commuter Rail Pre-Revenue Service

Northstar Commuter Rail Pre-Revenue Operation. Coon Rapids-Riverdale Station, Anoka Station, Elk River Station.

Metro Transit 2006 New Flyer D60HF Bus # 3200 and 2008 Gillig BRT Low Floor Bus # 1179 doing the Route 851 at Riverdale Park and Ride, future home of Northstar Commuter Rail Coon Rapids-Riverdale Station. This route is slated to be eliminated when Northstar Commuter Rail start on Nov 16,2009

Safety Campaign

Metro Transit Kicks Off New Safety Campaign

Metro Transit kicked off a new safety campaign this weekend, after drivers hit two pedestrians in the past ten days. One of those accidents turned deadly.
Over the last 20 years eight pedestrians were hit and killed by Metro Transit buses, resulting in eight fatalities. Two of those deaths happened just this year.
The first happened in February when 55-year-old Mary Ann O'Dougherty of Minneapolis died after she was hit at 46th St. and Minnehaha Parkway. The bus driver did not even realize he'd hit someone.
The second death was earlier this month. A bus hit 43-year-old Becca Cruzen at 46th St. and Hiawatha Ave. as she was walking toward the light rail station.
Gregory Mudgett was seriously hurt Friday after he was hit while carrying his groceries across St. Claire Ave and West 7th St. in St. Paul.
Metro Transit says its new five week campaign includes text message safety reminders sent to drivers as they log in on their buses, safety memos being distributed. Starting monday, they will also have face-to-face meetings with managers to review procedures.

Northstar Commuter Rail Ride between Big Lake And Target Field

Northstar Commuter Rail ride between Big Lake And Target Field. Metro Transit held a open house for Metro Transit employees on Oct. 24,2009 for Northstar Commuter Rail.

Northstar Open House for Metro Transit Employees

Metro Transit held a sneak peek of Northstar Commuter Rail for Metro Transit employees and their families on Saturday Oct. 24,2009.

We rode the Hiawatha LRT to Target Field

Northstar Commuter Rail arriving at the Target Field Station downtown Minneapolis

We rode the Northstar train to Big Lake Station. We than toured the vehicle maintenance facility in Big Lake.

Cab Car Controls

Bike rack

Restroom

Little Miss Jocelyn - Bus driver

Transit in the News

• The light-rail "honors system" working to keep dishonest people away
• Another complaint filed on light-rail's impact
• Southwest light-rail route: The wise transit choice may not be the popular one -- yet
• Russian Bus Nearly Flattens Man

Family Grieves for Mpls. Woman Hit By Bus

Northstar Commuter Rail Pre-Revenue Service

Northstar Commuter Rail started running pre-revenue operation today on Oct. 19 between Big Lake and Downtown Minneapolis. Pre-revenue operation gives Metro Transit to test the service reliability and safely . Metro Transit will make adjustments if needed. Northstar trains will have track priority for the first time starting today. They will test their ability to run a 51-minute running time between Big Lake and Minneapolis.


Hiawatha LRT started running Pre-revenue operation on Sat., Oct. 17 to Target Field and out to the tail track. Pre-revenue operation gives Metro Transit to test the service reliability and safely . Metro Transit will make adjustments if needed. The LRT operator will no longer stay on the same train for their shift. They will now turn over their train to another operator at Target Field, take a break and then replace another operator. This allows Metro Transit to get more productivity from the equipment, while giving the operator a much need break.

Saturday night, a pedestrian was injured by an LRT train that was testing service to the new Twins stadium.

Transit in the News

Woman hit by Metro Transit bus dies

Man injured by LRT train in Minneapolis

Transit in the News

Metro Bus Hits Woman in Minneapolis

Baby OK after train hits stroller in Australia
A stroller with a baby rolls off a train platform in Australia, falling onto the tracks as a train approaches. But the baby survives. (Oct. 16)

Route 288 bus service from FL to Minneapolis gets extended life with new 5-year contract


Light Rail Project Frustrates St. Paul Businesses

Ice scraper threat puts bus driver in hot seat

Metropolitan Council - Transportation Committee

The Transportation Committee is back on streaming on the web.

Meeting of the Transportation Committee
Monday, October 12, 2009

BUSINESS:

• 2009-361 Authorization to Purchase Small Replacement Buses
• 2009-362 Transit Link Fare Recommendation
• 2009-363 Authorization to Exercise Contract Options with Motor Coach Industries
• 2009-358 Hiawatha Light Rail Transit Tail Track Ground Lease with Hennepin County
• 2009-355 Lease Agreement for Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Construction Field Office in Downtown St. Paul
• 2009-356 Approve Preliminary Design of Public Artwork for Each Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Station
• 2009-357 ABC Ramps Flexible Parking Pricing Demonstration Program
• 2009-360 Authorization to Award Contract for Bus Surveillance System Maintenance

INFORMATION:

• Northstar Commuter Rail Grand Opening and Marketing Update
• Update on Xcel Energy Projects for Metro Transit
  

H1N1 Precautions

H1N1 Precautions on Public Transportation

Metro Transit is Hiring

Metro Transit is hiring Part-Time Bus Operator.

The New and Improved Metro Transit

Metro Transit has new bus wraps advertising "The New Improved Metro Transit"

2008 Gillig Low Floor
Metro Transit Bus # 1179

at

42nd Ave and York on the Route 19

Front Left View

Rear Left View

Front Right View

Rear Right View

Bus Roadeo

Traffic cones took a beating today

Thank you to my wife for recording this while I drove.

UPDATE: I got my results today. I ranked 13 out of 102. With total of 546 out of 700 points

Poll Results

September Poll results:

Should transit agencies impose a 'Odor Ordinance' like Honolulu?

Yes - 10 (66%)

No - 5 (33%)