urbanMSP

Took the train down to Winona last Friday for a weekend trip. First off, extremely convenient departure and arrival times on both ends for the new Borealis. We were about ten minutes faster than Google Maps estimated as driving time on the way down, and about equal on the way back. It's a scenic rou...

Next Monday's meeting of the Met Council Transportation Committee includes [a presentation](https://metrocouncil.org/Council-Meetings/Committees/Transportation-Committee/2024/08-26-2024/2024-204-presentation.aspx) on the disposition of the Chicago-Lake Transit Center, which will no longer be served ...

When I lived in Philadelphia, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania built an enormous 500 bed facility. You can see it on Google Maps here.

Returning to report that I found it just fine at the North Loop Holiday. Thanks everyone for the intel.

I'm glad they're no longer pursuing the parking lot expansion on that 6th and Portland site. That site is too valuable and important to the downtown streetscape. Hopefully they will eventually consider selling the ramp on the other half of the property as well, but we're probably a ways away from th...

Shared this on social media but I'll post here as well: By my count at least four affordable housing projects have broken ground in Minneapolis recently. - Agate Shelter and Housing - Simpson Shelter and Housing - Opportunity Crossing - Wadaag Commons In total, these projects will add 236 BMR units ...

Okay, I read about Top the Tater in the Strib, and realized that I don't think I've ever had it. So I looked for it in the downtown Target and the midtown Target and Cub. Couldn't find it in any of these locations. So now I'm asking the forum; does anyone know where I can find this product?

Didn't Metro Transit try out little live-updating ink displays at some stops? Putting those at more busy stops would be a nice feature (though maybe a bit expensive?) They won't be moving forward with the e-ink signs after conducting a trial. See here . Signs will be replaced, but with LED matrix s...

I think Metro Transit is basically doing everything that people suggest. I'm pretty optimistic about the future. I think it's hard to appreciate in particular how much the upcoming transit expansions will change things, not just because of the service offered and the places where it will come but be...

Five theses about Warehouse District Live as prompted by some recent social media discussion: (1) Obviously WDL is not an especially well-attended event . Budgeted at $750k annually for 44 (scheduled) Fridays and Saturdays, this is presumably costing the city just over $17k per night. I think the va...

I still think my idea is the best solution for a new Wolves arena, but "team investors build an arena and accompanying development in the Root District / Royalston Station area" is probably my second preference.

Re: LRT frequency-- Great to hear they have their minds set on 10-min frequency already! I am a bit nervous that the extensions will tank the frequency once they open, even for a little while. If the entire METRO system ran every 10 minutes (or better) I think it could win a lot of choice riders. H...

2040 Plan is back in business via the MN Court of Appeals.

Might finally be possible to cross the street to get to Hai Hai without risking your life.

If I-94 were replaced with a boulevard and gentrification actually occurred, frankly that would be an unbelievable success for the City of St. Paul. That would mean that the redesign had succeeded in creating a truly desirable parklike transportation corridor, with real transit service, and as a res...

Per an email from Friday: F Line construction will begin in 2028 instead of 2025, to take advantage of MnDOT's broader work on the whole Central corridor. That will probably mean that the line will launch with the final pick of 2029 instead of the final pick of 2026, although Metro Transit notes tha...

I've definitely posted this before, but just out of college I lived along the Green Line when it opened and I had an internship in downtown St. Paul. I would frequently take the train to work in the morning when it was cold and I was bleary eyed. Then in the afternoon, I would bike back home. That k...

I thought this Tweet was interesting: @Nerd4Cities I’ve been checked by fare enforcement on (Twin Cities) Metro Transit more times in the last four days than I’ve been checked on basically all other light rail systems combined in the last five years. Not saying it’s good or bad, just saying it’s int...

But it seems as though the Eden Prairie Town Center Station will have no access to the north (Costco direction)? Really unfortunate if that remains the case, a situation that calls for some political pressure.

I last posted my MSP transit map two years ago , but I've been working on it again a bit recently and wanted to share some of the progress. The main design changes are that the METRO lines were doubled in thickness (while not sounding like much, I had to redraw almost all of the downtown areas to ma...