The Excelsior Streetcar Line

The Excelsior Streetcar Line is located in west-suburban Excelsior, about fifteen miles west of downtown Minneapolis. It runs between Water Street and Old Excelsior Road.

Featured in this video is Twin City Rapid Transit streetcar #1239, built in 1907.

Also features is Duluth Street Railway No. 78. It was one of twenty streetcars delivered by the LaClede Car Company of St. Louis, Missouri in October of 1893. It served Duluth until it was retired and its carbody was given to Mrs. Florence Lee of Duluth on September 11, 1911.

The streetcars are made possible by all-volunteer service of the Minnesota Streetcar Museum

Northstar Update

It's A Big Job

I found this on YOU TUBE. It is a 1947 Los Angeles Transit Lines training film.

New! Online schedules

New! Online schedules – Easier access to up-to-date route maps and timetables
Metro Transit has a new online system that makes it easy to view and print the latest route maps and schedule information.
Access Online Schedules from the home page at metrotransit.org. Simply select your route number from the pulldown menu. You’ll see an overview of how often service operates along with a list of major destinations served by that route.

Bus rapid transit

Bus rapid transit: Coming 'soon,' confusing now
Bus rapid transit could be the next big thing in Twin Cities' transit.
But it's not clear that what commuters will get -- for years to come -- is what they're being promised. And that's creating a danger of a public relations fiasco.

Northwest metro route changes start May 30

Northwest metro route changes start May 30
Metro Transit is updating routes in the northwest metro to meet growing residential and employment needs, changing travel patterns and new demographics.

Highlights of changes:
-New Route 705, a crosstown route traveling primarily on Winnetka Avenue
-Improved service in the Winnetka Avenue corridor, with more non-rush hour and reverse- commute trips
-New service to Wal-Mart Supercenter in Brooklyn Park
-Simplified Saturday routing to help you get to your destinations faster
-New connections between Winnetka Avenue and Ridgedale Mall and between 42nd Avenue and -City of Plymouth Dial-A-Ride
-Facility improvements at Starlite Transit Center

Route 675
Route 715Eliminated. (Click here for alternate service)
Route 717
Route 756
Route 705
Route 716
Route 755
Route 767

Note: Other routes in the area will have minor schedule changes.

For other Metro Transit route changes click HERE

Advertising Revenue is Down

Transit Authority Feeling the Pain From a Crippled Advertising Market
The worst advertising market in decades has had a devastating, and well-documented, effect on newspapers, magazines and television networks. But now another recipient of ad dollars is being hurt by the market slump at a time it can little afford it: mass transit.
In recent months, a company that sells many of the ads that appear on buses and trains and in stations in New York, Boston, Minneapolis and other cities has come up short in its payments to transit agencies, citing a sharp drop in ad rates and sales.

In Minneapolis and St. Paul, Titan paid Metro Transit, which provides bus and light rail service, about $100,000 less than the required $1 million payment for the first three months of this year, according to Bruce Howard, the transit agency’s director of marketing. He said that ad sales during the period were about 20 percent below what they were the previous year.

Bus Operator Honored by St. Paul Fire Department

The St Paul Fire Department honored a East Metro operator on May 22, for performing CPR on a heart attack victim near a bus stop.
The operator was driving a westbound Route 3 bus on Friday, March 6, and came across the victim who had collapsed near Van Slyke and Churchhill Street in St Paul. After calling for medical help, he and a passerby gave the individual CPR until medics arrived.

Metro Transit Police

A couple pictures of Metro Transit Police car on 5th Street at Minnesota Street

in

downtown St Paul, MN

Portion of Hiawatha Line closed May 29-June 1

Portion of Hiawatha Line closed May 29-June 1

Route 55 buses will replace trains between Humphrey Terminal Station and Mall of America Station from 11 p.m. on Friday, May 29, through 3:30 a.m. on Monday, June 1, due to construction.
Buses will operate more frequently than trains, but bus trips will take longer than train rides. Metro Transit staff will be at key rail stations to direct customers to bus service. Posters on the platform will also give instructions on where to catch Route 55 buses.
Trains will operate normally elsewhere along the Hiawatha Line.
Construction crews are lengthening rail platforms at stations to accommodate three-car trains and are upgrading signal equipment to improve the reverse operation of trains through crossings.
To learn of any last-minute changes, call the rail maintenance hotline at 612-373-3333, option 6.
Get more details here about the rail platform extension project.
Thank you for your patience.

Northstar Update

Metro Transit Gillig Hybrid

Metro Transit Gillig Hybrid, Bus #7127
on
Route 16
on
Minnesota Street at 7th Street Downtown St Paul, MN

Como-Harriet Streetcar Line

Como-Harriet Streetcar Line in Minneapolis,MN. It operates between Lake Harriet and Lake Calhoun. The Como-Harriet Streetcar Line is an all-volunteer service of the Minnesota Streetcar Museum.

Interior of Gillig Low Floor

Metro Transit Bus # 1113

Driver's Seat and Farebox

Interior Seating of Gillig Low Floor

Driver's Compartment

Driver Controls for Luminator (Destination Sign), HVAC, PA

Steering Wheel, Front Driver Controls, Gauges

Marquette Avenue and Second Avenue South Transit Project

Marquette Avenue and Second Avenue South Transit Project

Marquette Avenue and Second Avenue South are being reconstructed between 1st Street South and 12th Street South. Work started in August 2008 and will continue through December 2009. Both streets are being rebuilt from building front to building front. When the project is completed, the street will have two bus lanes and two traffic lanes (both operating in the same direction as they do today), wider sidewalks, new transit shelters, public art, more trees and more attractive landscaping and streetscaping. Several of the transit facilities will have real-time electronic departure information signs.
The number of buses operating in downtown is expected to increase significantly in the future, particularly as commuters continue to turn to mass transit to access the downtown business core. The dual transit lanes on 2nd and Marquette will:

• Dramatically improve the speed and reliability of bus service through downtown
• Add significant bus capacity in the downtown core
• Provide a more “legible” system for downtown commuters by consolidating express transit service into one north-south corridor
• Provide improved passenger waiting facilities, passenger security, passenger information systems, and passenger amenities
• Set the stage for the implementation of other downtown transit improvements

Proposed Layout (aerial view)
Proposed Section
Project Brochure

3D Animation of a typical block

Lift v. Ramp

Comparing lift on a New Flyer D60HF v. ramp on a New Flyer D60LFR

CTA bus in St Paul, MN

CTA bus in St Paul, MN Bus #4112

Metro Transit Hiawatha Line

Metro Transit Hiawatha LRT

Lawmakers plug transit shortfall

Transportation funding bill is “good news,” says Bell
A transportation funding bill passed by the Minnesota Legislature and signed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty will keep the region’s trains and buses running on time.
The measure plugs a $62.4 million hole in the operating budget for the coming two years to fund current and committed transit service. This includes the startup this fall of the new 40-mile Northstar commuter rail line, as well as new bus rapid transit (BRT) service on I-35W and Cedar Avenue.
“This bill is good news for transit customers and motorists alike,” said Peter Bell, chair of the Metropolitan Council. “It will enable us to continue improving our transit system, growing ridership and easing traffic congestion.”

Northstar Commuter Rail Update

Memorial Day transit service

Memorial Day transit service
Metro Transit buses and trains will follow Sunday/Holiday schedules on Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day.
Metro Transit stores, Customer Relations and Lost & Found will be closed. The Metropolitan Transit Information Center will take calls from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

MVTA service before and on Memorial Day
Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA) will operate a reduced schedule on Friday, May 22. MVTA will follow a Sunday schedule on Memorial Day (May 25).
For more details, click HERE.

A Better Picture of Bus 948

Bus 948

Metropolitan Council Meeting

METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Highlights:

• 2009-127 Authorization to Exercise Contract Options to Purchase Eight Thirty-Foot Transit Buses for Anoka County
• 2009-147 Authorization to Exercise Contract Options to Purchase 29 Articulated Transit Buses
• 2009-152 Procurement of Metro Mobility Buses
• 2009-156 Authorization to Terminate Transit Route 255
• 2009-161 Hiawatha Light Rail Transit American Boulevard Station,
• “Distracted Drivers: At What Cost?” (APTA Announces 2009 Bus Safety Awards)

Update on Central Corridor LRT Stations

Update on Central Corridor LRT Stations

At a May 2009 committee meeting, Alicia Vap of the Central Corridor LRT Project Office provided an update on the design and public art for the line’s 15 stations. Vap is manager of streetscape, station design and public art for the $915 million line that will run on University and Washington Avenues between downtown St. Paul and downtown Minneapolis

Meeting of the Transportation Committee

Meeting of the Transportation Committee on Monday May 11, 2009

Highlights:

• Authorization to Terminate Transit Route 255
• Authorization to submit Metro Mobility Grant
• Authorization to Purchase Fareboxes
• Hiawatha Light Rail Transit American Boulevard
• Authorization to Procure Railroad Liability Insurance for Northstar Commuter Rail
• 1st Quarter 2009 Regional Ridership Report
• Update on the Regional Dial-a-Ride Restructuring Project
• Northwest Metro Transit Restructuring Study

New Paint Job

Bus 948 has a new paint job. I took this picture one at Sunray Transit Center

(This is not a very good picture)

New Wrap

This is a new wrapped bus. This is Gillig Phantom bus# 947 out of East Metro Garage

(Note: This is a new painted bus under wrap)

Artsy bus stops around the Twin Cities

I found these artsy bus stops in the Twin Cities area.

University Ave W. and Fairview Ave N. on the Route 16

Nicollet Ave and W 59th Street by the Cub Foods Store on the Route 18

Northstar Commuter Rail Update

Northstar Commuter Rail Update

APTA Announces 2009 Bus Safety Awards

APTA Announces 2009 Bus Safety Awards -- Recognizes top safety records and commitment to improving bus safety in North America

Bus systems operating 1 million and fewer than 4 million passenger trips
GOLD award – Southwest Metro Transit (Eden Prairie, MN)

Bus systems operating 30 million or more passenger trips
GOLD award – Metro Transit (Minneapolis, MN)

Drivers Compartment of Gillig Phantom

These are pictures of the drivers compartment on a Gillig Phantom. They are from Metro Transit Bus # 823

Southwest Transit Service Modifications

Southwest Transit Service Modifications

Metro Transit Bus Driver

Metro Transit Bus Driver Driving the Route 70 in St Paul, Mn. He is driving a Gillig Phantom

Northstar Commuter Rail Update

Northstar Commuter Rail Update

Artsy bus stops around the world

I found this on Roadguy.

Artsy bus stops around the world

Check them out here. My favorites are the soccer goal, the swing, and the one made of school bus parts.

New Look

Please give me your input on the new design layout

Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Concept

Central Corridor Light Rail Concept Video Developed by Ramsey County Regional Rail

Retired Metro Transit Buses

These are old retired Metro Transit buses at old Snelling garage at Snelling Ave and I-94 in St Paul, MN

Inside the Northstar locomotive

Northstar Locomotive

Northstar Commuter Rail Locomotive 504 is featured in this episode of Dirty Jobs - Locomotive Builder

New Flyer Articlated Buses

These are some of my first videos. They are of New Flyer articulated buses leaving Metro Transit's Heywood Garage