Merry Christmas

Bus Driver Nightmare

7-year-old struck, killed by Milwaukee County bus



UPDATE:

Police and transit officials are investigating the cause of a crash that killed a child and injured two others. Police say they've seen no evidence of negligence by the bus driver.

WISN report HERE.

Metro Transit Shuts Down Service in Storm

Snowstorm Stops Metro Transit Buses

Metro Transit suspended its bus operations at 1:41 p.m. Saturday, due to poor street conditions. Spokesman Bob Gibbons said bus operators were completing their current trips and heading to the garage until conditions improve.

Hiawatha light-rail and Northstar commuter rail service continues.


Buses will leave garages beginning at 10 a.m. on Sunday morning. Light rail and Northstar service are expected to operate as scheduled. per Metro Transit website

I-35W at 46th Street StationGrand Opening

I-35W at 46th Street Station

A new transit station on I-35W at 46th Street in Minneapolis is the first of its kind for the Twin Cities region.


The new station is between the northbound and southbound lanes, which will allow buses to pick up and drop off customers without leaving the freeway. Customers can board express buses on the freeway level or transfer to local buses on the 46th Street bridge. Watch a simulation of buses serving the station.
Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting

I-35W & 46th Street Station
11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11

46th Street bridge will be closed during the event.
Bus service is available on routes 11 and 46.
Ride free to the event. Download a pass.

Size Two levels (53-foot x 300-foot) provide movement between express buses on the freeway level and 46th Street buses on the bridge.

Access There are two stairway and elevator towers, one on each side of 46th Street, that provide movement between the upper-level bridge and lower-level freeway platform.

Traffic controls Gates and traffic signals control traffic access to the I-35W level of the station.

Customer areas Heating and cooling is provided by a geothermal system to make waiting more comfortable. Lighting is provided by high efficiency LED fixtures.

Real-time updates NexTrip signs display real-time information so you always know when your bus will depart.

Structure Cast-in-place concrete structure supported on a concrete platform placed on a foundation of drilled helical piers. The roof is formed by curved steel beams and purlins supported by round steel columns. The enclosure is an aluminum frame window wall system.

UPDATE: CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER

Met Council awards last major construction contract for project

The Metropolitan Council today awarded PCL Construction Services Inc. of Burnsville, Minn., a $43.1 million contract to convert a vacant former factory in St. Paul into the operations and maintenance facility for the Central Corridor LRT Project.

The contract includes $1.2 million for PCL to install a vehicle hoist at the Hiawatha LRT's Franklin facility, a betterment requested and funded by Metro Transit. It also includes work necessary for systems testing by the summer of 2013 in order to maintain the start of revenue service in 2014 and avoid a construction delay and cost escalation impacts. PCL's bid includes $41.9 million of Central Corridor project expense (including up to $1.2 million in sales tax), compared with the operations and maintenance facility project budget of $45.8 million.

This is the last major construction contract award for the project. Of the $590 million worth of construction and LRV contract awards including the operations facility, the project has experienced a cumulative underrun of $34 million.

The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise goal for this contract was 15 percent. PCL, the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, reported a DBE participation of about 6 percent but passed the DBE evaluation based on participation and documentation of good-faith efforts. None of the other bidders met the 15 percent goal either.

The Met Council also authorized the regional administrator to issue a Limited Notice to Proceed in an amount of $1.6 million. Award of the contract and issuance of the notice will proceed immediately due to receipt of the Federal Transit Administration Letter of No Prejudice (LONP) last week.

Sufficient funding commitment from local sources is available to award the construction contract under the LONP. The LONP ensures the eligibility of these expenditures for federal funding reimbursement upon execution of the Full Funding Grant Agreement expected in the first quarter of 2011. The FTA and local funding partners support the operation and maintenance facility package, the contract award under the Letter of No Prejudice and issuance of the Limited Notice to Proceed.

In other Central Corridor LRT construction news, Carl Bolander & Sons substantially completed utility relocation and road construction in November on Fourth Street in downtown St. Paul. Temporary two-way traffic was restored. Work to lay the tracks, build stations and install the electrical and communication systems will occur in 2011-2012.

Walsh Construction began work after Labor Day east of the state Capitol on Robert and 12th streets north of Interstate 94. Most of the heavy construction by Walsh on University Avenue will occur in 2011 between Emerald Street and Hamline Avenue and in 2012 between Hamline and Robert.

Ames-McCrossan, a joint venture, began prep work last week to retrofit the Washington Avenue Bridge to accommodate LRT trains by strengthening the bridge piers. This work will not affect vehicular or pedestrian/bicycle traffic on the bridge during the fall 2010 semester. The bulk of the construction on the Minneapolis segment will start in spring 2011.

New Fare Option

Starting in December 1, Metro Transit will be offering new fare option. Passengers will be able to purchase a 7-Day pass on the Go-To-Card. The cost for the pass will be $22.00. This pass will be good on Local and Non-Peak Express Buses. This is an effort to expand the use of Go-To-Card with passenger who have a fixed income and is not able to purchase the 31-Day Pass.


UPDATE: Here is information on Metro Transit website for the New 7-Day Pass.

Northstar Commuter Rail Model Train

Looking for a Christmas present you can get Northstar Commuter Rail # 505 and Bombardier 3-Car Set model train. Northstar Commuter Rail model train are manufactured by Athearn Trains (HO Scale) are available at the Metro Transit On-line Store.

Minneapolis aims to upgrade transit service

Minneapolis aims to upgrade transit service
Minneapolis proposal would add waiting space, shelters and signs, but a business representative said she has concerns about the effect on property owners.

ACCESS MINNEAPOLIS:
DOWNTOWN EAST-WEST TRANSIT SPINE PLAN

55th Anniversary: Rosa Park Refuses to Move

Biography: Rosa Parks:

This is actual bus that Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger in 1955. The bus in now in the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI.

Transit News

Community Columnist: Operators of opt-out bus systems face tough choices

Changing transportation priorities

Transit union challenges new policy on cell phones

Coon Rapids Public Works Salting Street

Coon Rapids Public Works salting my steet on this icy morning.

Something Smells on the New Buses

How to Ride Transit Link

Ride to Rewards

On Nov 1, Metro Transit launched a new program to encourage people to ride. This is the first of its kind program in the transit industry. Riders can accumulate points by riding the bus and trains and by shopping at participating merchants.

The program, Ride to Rewards, is free and open to anyone with a Go-to-card, Metropass, U-Pass' College Pass, or Student Pass. Point can be converted to value on their passes or redeem for gift cards. Passengers can enroll in the program at RideToRewards.com

Downtown St. Paul on Central Corridor

Animation of the Central Corridor LRT line from 5th and Cedar to the Maintenance facility

Milwaukee County Transit System

Milwaukee County Transit System 2010 New Flyer D40LFR on route 10 and 55.

Milwaukee County Transit System New Flyer D40LF

Coon Rapids Fire Department Open House

Coon Rapids Fire Department

Open House
at
Station #1 is located on Egret Boulevard, one block North of Coon Rapids Boulevard. Station #2 is located at 1199 121st Ave NW. Station #3 is located at Crooked Lake Boulevard and 113th Avenue

on

Oct. 9,2010

Fire Sprinkler Demonstration at Station 2

Maple Grove Route 784 and 785 Update

•Effective, Monday October 11, Maple Grove Transit will add a new trip leaving Wal-Mart at 8:00 a.m.
•The new Route 785 will begin on December 6 from the new Parkway Transit Station.
•The Route 784 and the Wal-Mart park-and-ride are eliminated on December 3.
Click here for details:

Metro Transit Temporarily Closes 2 Mpls. Bus Stops

At the request of the Minneapolis Police Department, Metro Transit temporarily closed two bus stops on the north side of the city.

The two stops, located at the intersection of Penn Avenue North and Golden Valley Road, were closed on Sept. 13 and will stay closed through Oct. 13.

The department asked for the closures in response to loitering and drug dealing at the intersection and an increase in violent crime, according to Inspector Mike Martin, the commander of the fourth precinct.

The shuttered stops service the 19 line, one of the city's busiest. About 185 riders board buses at the two stops on an average weekday, according to Bob Gibbons, a Metro Transit spokesman.

There are no plans to permanently close the stops, Gibbons said.

Community members will rally to protest the closures at the intersection on Saturday at 3 p.m.

Travel Behavior Inventory

Metropolitan Council wants to know your travel habits.

Maple Grove New MCI Coach

Maple Grove's new MCI coach buses has arrived. This is one of 3 that will be delivered to MJ Ruter Garage. These buses will be used on the new Maple Grove Route 785 serving the new Parkway Transit Station

MJ Ruter Garage Champ

I found out today that I came in the top 20 and also topped all the drivers at Ruter Garage in the Metro Transit Roadeo

Different Interior

The new New Flyer D60LFR have different interior seats compared to the earlier buses. They are on bus # 3338, 3339,3340

2010 Metro Transit Bus Roadeo

2010 Metro Transit Bus Roadeo at Como Transit Station. This is the first year they used Gillig BRT. The course has been redesigned

Investigative Reports on Metro Transit

Metro Transit Drivers Capitalize on Overtime Pay

FOX 9 Cameras Catch Metro Transit Scammers

New Contract Offer

Metro Transit Workers to Vote

UPDATE:

Metro Transit Workers Reject Contract Offer

Northstar Commuter Rail with 10 Passenger Cars

Metro Transit Northstar Commuter Rail at Coon Rapids Station. 10 Bombardier Bi-level passenger cars and 2 Motive Power MP-36 locomotives
9-19-2010

Person Takes Bus for Joy Ride in Chicago

 


Police: Man stole uniform, posed as bus driver

Central Corridor Update

Briefing on Council-University LRT Agreement to the Metropolitan Council

Engine 1 Coon Rapids Fire Department

On display at Moor Park In Coon Rapids Ward 5 "Summer In the City" meeting.

Suspicious Package at Bus Stop Not Explosive

Police: Suspicious Package at Bus Stop Not Explosive

Authorities say a suspicious package removed from a University Avenue bus shelter Saturday evening was not an explosive.

Members of the St. Paul bomb squad removed the package shortly before 6 p.m. from a bus shelter near Berry Street.

Several blocks of University Avenue were closed after two University of Minnesota students reported the package late afternoon. The road has since re-opened.

Bomb squad personnel used a robot to remove the package from the shelter, loading it into a protective container and into a trailer. Police spokesperson Andy Skoogman said authorities are still trying to determine what the object is, but it does not contain an explosive.

Customers at a Dunn Brothers Coffee near the scene were stuck inside for about an hour and a half on the direction of police, who told them to keep away from windows.

2010 Burnsville Fire Muster

Burnsville Fire Muster Fire Truck Parade

Auto Extrication Demonstration by the Burnsville Fire Departmant and Lakeville Fire Department

Car Fire Demonstration by the Savage Fire Depatment

2010 Minnesota State Fair

Old Metro Transit Bus # 378 now a Lorenz Bus Service Bus # 1520

Worker Hit, Killed on Northstar Rail Line in Coon Rapids

Victim identified in Northstar Commuter Line accident

Straddling Bus

ATU Voting on Contract Offer

ATU Local 1005 is voting on a contract offer from Metro Transit today and tomorrow.

My prediction is that the membership rejects it overwhelmingly

Update:

Metro Transit drivers continue voting on contract proposal Monday

Transit workers reject contract; strike is possible

Bus Annunciator

Starting on Sept. 11, Metro Transit buses on Route 10 and 18 will offer automated annunciator. The system will broadcasts bus stops and major intersections by audio and visual display inside the bus. Outside the bus , an audio message announces the route number and destination as the buss arrives at the stop.

The system use GPS data to track the location of the bus and matches up the appropriate announcement.

This was tested on the Route 17 last winter.

Cities tackle traffic head-on with commuter options

Passanger Complain

Riders Complain Metro Transit Line Is A Tight Ride
Metro Transit Light Rail rides during Twins games at Target Field is so popular, it has riders complaining about the lack of room.

Metro transit spokesman Bob Gibbons says Light Rail ridership to the games is up more than 6% compared to last year at the Metrodome.

Gibbons says all of Hiwatha's 27 rail cars run every ten minutes after games and that conditions can get tight inside the cars.

Metro Transit Board approved adding more cars to the Hiawatha

Not as bad as it is in Japan

New Park and Ride

Maple Grove Transit announced the construction of the new Parkway Transit Station located along Maple Grove Parkway across the street from the Maple Grove Hospital. There will be 500 stall surface lot and indoor station.

Phase 1 is expected to open for use by late October 2010 and the indoor station will open in January 2010. When the park-and-ride lot open in October express bus operation for the Route 784 at the Wal-Mart Park-and-Ride lot will cease and expanded as the new Route 785 at the Parkway Station. The Route 785 will offer seven trips to Minneapolis in the morning and seven return trips in the evening. The new MCI coaches will be used on this route.

Future expansion plans include a one level parking ramp with additional 475 parking spaces.

Pickup Flips onto LRT tracks

Pickup Flips onto LRT tracks, Twins Fans Delayed
Light rail is up and running again Friday night

2010 Gillig BRT

2010 Gillig BRT Metro Transit Bus #1211 parked at MJ Ruter Garage parking lot.

Without Ads

With Ads. They did not waste time putting ads on this bus. I took the above pictures the day before.
I noticed that the 2010 Gilligs BRT have 3 side turn signals. One on each side of the front wheel well. Also, looks like they recycled the bike rakes from the old buses.

Man Attacked on Bus

Good Samaritan attacked trying to stop assault



Charges come in Good Samaritan beating

Boy's Near-Miss Playing Chicken With Train

Shocking footage of school boy playing chicken with high speed passenger train

Union Depot Project

Updated animation and 3D modeling of Ramsey County's Union Depot renovation project in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota, by the project team. Construction is scheduled to begin in fall 2010. Operations are scheduled to begin in fall 2012. The Depot will serve as a transit hub for the East Metro region, accommodating Amtrak, Greyhound, Jefferson Lines, Metro Transit buses and light rail, as well as future commuter and high speed rail lines.

Minneapolis Transit History Tour

Phil Epstein, a former Twin Cities Rapid Transit (TCRT) bus driver, will lead a tour of historic sites related to transit on Saturday, August 7 2:00pm - 4:00pm. Epstein’s detailed knowledge of over a century of mass transit in the Twin Cities, ranging from streetcars to buses to light rail is p...henomenal. During the 1950’s Epstein drove the first generation of TCRT General Motor’s buses, purchased by the company following the demise of the Twin Cities’ streetcar system. A longtime labor activist, Phil later served as president of AFSCME Local 99 at the Minneapolis Central Library, retiring in 2002.

Participants will ride on board TCRT Bus No. 1303, one of several now owned and operated by the Minnesota Transportation Museum, where Epstein is a volunteer. An active MTC driver will operate No. 1303, with Epstein as the color commentator. The tour is sponsored by the Minnesota Transportation Museum and will visit sites in downtown South Minneapolis, including the MTC’s Nicollet Garage and the Como-Harriet streetcar line.TO JOIN THE TOUR:

Parking will be available on 5th Street North on the east side of the street from 6th Ave North to 10th Ave North. Tour Bus 1303 will load on the west side of 5th St N. near 10th Ave, in the Warehouse District.

DIRECTIONS:

To reach the site, go west on Washington Avenue N from Hennepin Ave. Turn left at 10th Ave N and proceed 3 blocks to 5th Ave N. (Twins play at Cleveland that day.)

COST:

The cost is $10 per person, whatever age, cash at the bus.

NO RESERVATION REQUIRED..

The tour will last about two hours.

For more information call the Museum’s Classic Bus Division at 651 228 0263, or Phil Epstein at 612 360 7575.

Working on New Artics

Los Angeles Metro Blue Line 20 Year Anniversary

This You Tube Video Documents the grand opening of the Los Angeles Metro Blue Line on July 14, 1990

Speeding up Routes with Technology

St. Paul buses to add tech to speed up late routes
by Dan Olson, Minnesota Public Radio
July 8, 2010


St. Paul, Minn. — Some St. Paul bus routes will have new technology next year to help buses stay on schedule.

Bus drivers running late on their route will be able to make a red light change faster or hold a green light longer. Metro Transit spokesman Bob Gibbons says the signal technology is successful on a route in Minneapolis.

"We have found that our experiment of this technology on Central avenue in Minneapolis north of downtown has been quite favorable in terms of improving the reliability of the bus service, about a 15 percent time savings in this market based on the use of transit signal priority."

Gibbons says installation of the technology begins next year for some buses on Snelling Avenue and on West Seventh Street in St. Paul. The technology is paid for by a $1.2 million federal grant.

There will also be less guesswork for some riders as to when their Metro Transit bus arrives. Beginning next year, Metro Transit will put up more signs that tell riders when the next bus is arriving at the bus stop.

"Variable message signs that count down the arrival time of the bus for the customer who is standing there waiting, gives them assurance that the bus is en route," Gibbons said. "In addition to having the information by sign it's also available today on cell phones and mobile devices and computers."

Gibbons says the electronic signs are similar to the ones on two busways in downtown Minneapolis.

Retired Driver Dies in Fire

Retired Metro Transit Driver Dies in Minneapolis House Fire
Cluttered conditions make rescue difficult

Teen Steals Bus

Metro Bus Stolen By D.C. Teen



AP Report:

Fire Trucks in Coon Rapids Lions'/Firemen's 4th of July Celebration Parade

Fire trucks from Andover and Coon Rapids Fire Department in Coon Rapids Lions'/Firemen's 4th of July Celebration Parade on July 1, 2010

Mirror

Metro Transit is in the process of lowering the driver side mirror on all of Gillig BRT. This is being done in response of driver complaints. Also, Metro Transit are testing LED turn signals on the mirrors on some of the Gillig BRT.

(Sorry not the greatest of video. This was taken with my cell phone)

More 2010 New Flyer D60LFR

C.R.A.S.H.

Metro Transit Police C.R.A.S.H. (Crash Reconstruction and Crime Scene Handling) Unit. Parked at Brooklyn Center Transit Center

Shooters Caught

The suspects in Bus Shooting were caught by Metro Police.

10 Years

July will mark 10 year of driving transit bus. I started in July of 2000 driving for Waukesha Metro Transit. In March of 2008, I started driving for Metro Transit in Twin Cities.

Brooklyn Center Fire Department Open House

Brooklyn Center Fire Department Open House on June 26, 2010 at the West Fire Station

Kitchen Fire Demonstration

2010 New Flyer D60LFR

The 2010 New Flyer D60LFR has has arrived. Here are a 9 parked outside of MJ Ruter Garage. They will be going to Heywood and East Metro Garages.

Central Corridor Contract Awarded

Met Council Awards $205.1 Million Contract To Walsh Construction

The Metropolitan Council awarded its first heavy construction contract for the Central Corridor light rail transit project to Walsh Construction Wednesday.

The $205.1 million award will build the seven-mile St. Paul segment of the line.

Construction is expected to begin in August east of the state Capitol on Robert and 12th streets north of Interstate 94. Utility relocation work, however, is expected to start soon after July 4.

Officials say most of the heavy construction on University Avenue will occur in 2011 between Emerald Street and Hamline Avenue and in 2012 between Hamline and Robert. The work in downtown St. Paul will occur in 2011-2012.

Bids for the heavy construction work on the line’s western three miles will be opened July 27. The Met Council is scheduled to award that contract Aug. 25.

How to be safe around LRT

Bus Shooting

Transit Police Look For 3 In Bus Shooting

Police are looking for the three suspects involved in a shooting on a metro transit bus Monday night.

Metro Transit officers responded to the intersection of 27th Avenue North and Penn Avenue North in Minneapolis after shots were fired around midnight.

A witness says three people got onto the bus and started an argument with him. He says they got off the bus and fired several shots at him.

No one was injured.

How to Ride the Lightrail

Metro Transit is on You Tube

Metro Transit now has a You Tube Channel

mymetrotransit's Channel

Waukesha Metro Transit

Waukesha Metro Transit at the Shoppes on Fox shopping center and Downtown Transit Center

First Transit Loses Contract

County Traveler service gets new operator

Anoka County regular route and dial-a-ride bus services will have a new operator Aug. 1.

The Anoka County Board, on the recommendation of its Public Works Committee, has awarded a five-year contract to MV Transportation Inc. to provide Anoka County Traveler regular route transit, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) dial-a-ride service and Anoka County and NW Ramsey County Transit Link service.

First Transit has operated these services for the past 18 years for Anoka County, but their existing five-year contract ends June 30.

MVTA Cedar Grove Transit Station

Northstar Buying the UTA Locomotive

Sixth locomotive to be purchased for Northstar

Northstar is going to buy the Utah Transit Authority FrontRunner Locomotive #12

Theft By Bus

I found this on You Tube. As a bus driver, I see this happen everyday. I wonder if it is time to do away with paper transfers like Chicago and Washington D.C. has.

I Love This Bus

Found this on YouTube. I found it kinda funny and thought I would share.

Metro Transit Light Rail Operations & Maintenance Facility

Found this on YouTube:

Southwest Corridor gets green light

The 14-mile corridor between Minneapolis and Eden Prairie is on track to become the region’s third light rail line. The Council approved LRT on the alignment recommended by Hennepin County.

•Southwest Corridor information
•Video: Southwest LRT moving forward (Peter Bell)

Xcelsior Bus Demonstration

New Flyer Xcelsior Bus to Operate on MVTA Routes

Xcelsior Bus Demonstration
NOTE: Fares will be collected; there will be no bike rack on this bus.

Thursday-Friday, June 3-4:
Morning: 446 SB 7:06am
446 NB 8:03am 446 SB 9:08am
446 NB 10:03am 446 SB 11:08am
446 NB 12:03pm
Afternoon: 436 NB 3:40pm
478 SB 4:59pm

Saturday, June 5
445 WB 7:56am
441 SB 9:04am 441 NB 10:03am
445 EB 11:02am 445 WB 11:56am
441 SB 1:04pm 441 NB 2:03pm

Sunday, June 6
444 NB 7:40am 444 SB 8:45am
444 NB 9:40am 444 SB 10:45am
444 NB 11:40am 444 SB 12:45pm
444 NB 1:40pm 444 SB 2:45pm
444 NB 3:40pm

Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday, June 7-9
Morning: 477 NB 6:36am
Afternoon: 470 SB 3:00pm
472 SB 4:24pm

Thursday-Friday, June 10-11
Morning: 476 NB 6:17am
436 SB 7:45am
Afternoon: 442 SB 1:48pm 442 NB 2:48pm
489 NB 4:10pm
484 SB 5:04pm

Ceder Grove Transit Station Grand Opening

MVTA, City of Eagan, Dakota County Celebrate Cedar Grove Grand Opening

FTA chief to transit officials: Get real and get honest | San Francisco Examiner

FTA chief to transit officials: Get real and get honest | San Francisco Examiner

Best Biking City in the Country

From Streetfilms
That explains why I have seen lots of bikes lately. Bike Walk Week launches June 5

Bad Boy of Metro Transit

City Pages did a hack job on Metro Transit
Metro Transit's Bad Boy List
Twin Cities bus drivers seem to have an endless last chance

Kansas City the Next City to use Shoulder Bus Lanes

New Kansas law OKs allow rush-hour buses to drive on shoulder
By BRAD COOPER
The Kansas City Star

Under a new law approved by the Kansas Legislature, Johnson County has won approval to run express buses on the shoulder of Interstate 35 during rush hour.

Gov. Mark Parkinson has signed the bill, which allows the county to move ahead with its bus-on-shoulder plan that was developed as an alternative to operating rail service in the I-35 corridor between Olathe and Kansas City.

The law will allow buses to only run on the shoulder when traffic on I-35 dips to less than 35 mph. The buses would not be allowed to exceed the speed of interstate traffic by more than 10 mph. The plans would still have to be approved by the state transportation secretary.

Patterned after a bus-on-shoulder system in Minneapolis, the plan is intended to improve the reliability and speed of bus service on I-35 between the suburbs and downtown. Eight other metro areas, including Washington, D.C., and its Virginia suburbs, also allow buses on shoulders.

Studies have shown that running buses on highway shoulders is relatively safe.

A study done by the Minnesota Department of Transportation found there were 20 accidents on the shoulder involving a bus between 1991 and 2001. Most crashes were described as "minor scrapes."

Since 2001, one injury crash involved a bus and that was a fatality. In that case, the bus driver was found not to be at fault, a study reported.

Experts reported similar results for a bus-on-shoulder operation in Miami. Authorities there said there were no “known incidents” related to the bus-on-shoulder service after it started three years ago, according to an engineering review done in 2009.

The county’s plan calls for adding five new routes that would add 36 more trips at rush hour between southern Olathe and Overland Park and downtown. The buses generally would run every half hour, according to a June 2009 report detailing the plan.

Startup costs from Johnson County’s plan are estimated at about $20 million, most of which is needed for new buses, transit stations and preparing the shoulders for the vehicles.

The county hopes to get the federal government to fund 80 percent of the capital costs and rely on local and state sources for the balance.

The county recently created a panel to study ways to fund increases bus service. Its report is due by late this year or early next year.

The new law required the county to make an annual report to the Legislature about the implementation and operation of the new service.

Maple Grove Transit

Maple Grove Transit is expected to receive 3 MCI coach buses in July. They will be used on MG Route 784.

Metro Transit Bus # 3121

Repainted Metro Transit Bus # 3121 2003New Flyer D60HF parked outside of MJ Ruter Garage.

New Buses

The 2010 Gillig BRT and Hybrid are starting to be delivered to Metro Transit.

Bus Show 2010

On Mass Transit Magazine's Facebook page has pictures of Bus Show 2010. Included is a picture of Metro Transit Bus #1200 2010 Gillig BRT. There are also pictures of other buses.

New Website

Metro Transit has redesigned their website. Check it out HERE

Very Close

This Hiawatha LRT came very close to hitting the stopper (not sure what it is called) at Mall of America

Utah Transit Authority FrontRunner Locomotive #12

Utah Transit Authority FrontRunner MotivePower MPXpress (MP36PH) Locomotive #12 parked downtown Minneapolis

Northstar Commuter Rail using a Utah Transit Authority FrontRunner MotivePower MPXpress (MP36PH) Locomotive #12 at Anoka Station

Twins fans pack Northstar to get to game

KSTP TV - Minneapolis and St. Paul - Twins fans pack Northstar to get to game

Twins Warp

Metro Transit 2001 Gillig Phantom Bus # 801 Wrapped in Take the Bus to the Game