let there be light rail: Welding magic

From Blog let there be light rail: Welding magic: Ok, fellow rail nerds, this is pretty cool. I wonder how long this would take without this awesome piece of machinery! From the Union Depot ...

Southwest Corridor Not in Bonding Bill

Southwest Corridor not on bonding bill passed by Minnesota House today. This is a blow to the Southwest Corridor.

 Minnesota House passes bonding bill
"As before, the bill tilts heavily toward bricks-and-mortar projects like flood mitigation and bridge repairs, and leaves out most local projects like convention centers, the Southwest rail corridor, a face-lift for Nicollet Mall or a new ballpark for the St. Paul Saints.
“Let’s not tell Minnesotans that we’re preparing for the future, because we are not,” said Rep. Jean Wagenius, DFL-Minneapolis, lamenting some of the items that were left out of the bonding bill – including funds to fight invasive Asian carp in the rivers and funds for the Southwest light rail corridor.
The bill does contain a $55 million pot of money that can be used for capital project grants – grants that communities might be able to apply for to build, say, a minor league ballpark or a civic center. Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, offered an amendment that would have locked up that $55 million for road construction projects instead, but was voted down."


UPDATE:
Supporters say Southwest Corridor LRT could lose federal funds

Saints Ballpark, Southwest LRT Not in MN Bonding Bill
"On Monday night, the Minnesota House and Senate passed slightly different versions of a $496 million bonding bill—but neither version includes money for a new Saints ballpark or the Southwest Corridor Light Rail line.
Still, that isn’t a sure sign that both projects are dead."

Light-rail safety is a shared responsibility

Light-rail safety is a shared responsibility. How many time I see people walking in front of moving train or horse playing on the platform. It is the great work of operators that more people are not injured on the Blue Line (Hiawatha Line). Just last month  a Man Injured at American Blvd Station. If the train was at a different station where the speed limit was not 15 MPH. This man would have had more serious injuries than a gash on his leg. BE SAFE AROUND TRANSIT

 Bloomington Today does a story on LRT safety

 Watch this video from Operation Lifesaver:

 Metro Transit Safety Video:

Buses to substitute for LRT in downtown May 4-7

Route 55 buses will substitute for light-rail trains between Target Field Station and Franklin Avenue Station from about 6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 4, through 3:30 a.m. on Monday, May 7.
The work is part of planned maintenance projects on the Hiawatha Line on select weekends this summer. Learn more.
Buses will operate more frequently than trains, but bus trips will take longer than train rides. Please plan accordingly.
These light-rail stations will close during the service interruption: Target Field, Warehouse District/Hennepin Avenue, Nicollet Mall, Government Plaza, Downtown East/Metrodome and Cedar-Riverside.
Rider Alerts will be posted at stations with details and maps to direct customers to Route 55 bus service (for maps). Metro Transit staff will be on hand at key train stations to direct customers to buses.
Customers can learn of any last-minute changes to the weekend plan by calling the Rail Maintenance Hotline at 612-373-3333, option 6.

Southwest LRT Alignment

Light Rail Type I Overhaul Update

Light Rail Type I Overhaul Update to Transportation Committee on Monday, April 23, 2012

Go-To System Overview

Go-To System Overview to Transportation Committee on Monday, April 23, 2012

Man Steals Copper from LRT Station On Green Line

Police Catch Light Rail Copper Thief at Bus Stop: MyFoxTWINCITIES.com

New LRV Siemens S70

With the new LRV,Siemens S70, to arrive in Augest of 2012. I thought you would like to get a sneak peak.
Link to Vehicle Technical and Performance Specification of the S70



The Tide made this video of the S70 being built.



On June 18, 2010, debut of the new Siemens S70 low-floor light rail vehicle, which will go into service in 2011 in Salt Lake City's TRAX light rail system


Here are links to data sheets for Houston, San Diego, Charlotte, Portland.




The Inaugural Ride On The Tide (Note: This is a long video - 50 Minutes long)



Houston Metro Rail




TriMet NEW MAX Type 4 Train

Man Injured at American Blvd Station

Southwest Corridor Delayed?

MN GOP Putting Brakes On Southwest Rail Line Project

Gateway Corridor Update

Gateway Corridor Update to Metropolitan Council Transportation Committee on Monday, April 9, 2012

Bottineau Transitway Update

Bottineau Transitway presentation to Metropolitan Council Transportation Committee on Monday, April 9, 2012

How Do They Wrap Ads On LRT Cars?

From WCCO:

I noticed today that American Family Insurance has lot of LRVs wrapped. I counted at least 3.

Minneapolis Transportation Interchange Concept Design

This what the new Interchange at Target Field may look like. The Interchange Project still need to find more funding. Construction suppose to start this Spring.

Minneapolis Transportation Interchange Concept Design from Luke Porter on Vimeo.