Search found 27 matches

by blo442
May 27th, 2023, 1:11 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: HERC - Hennepin Energy Recovery Center
Replies: 33
Views: 72132

Re: North Loop Neighborhood

HERC presents challenges to redevelopment for sure, one of them being the use of waste heat for the turf at Target Field, sidewalk snowmelt around the LRT station, and maybe heating indoor spaces at Target Field. (been a while since I took a HERC tour, memory fuzzy) Not sure if all this could be fed...
by blo442
May 21st, 2022, 5:05 pm
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Public Transit News / Current Events (MN only)
Replies: 2909
Views: 701140

Re: Public Transit News / Current Events (MN only)

A presentation with the actual Q1 data is linked in the article. Metro Transit is also providing a lot of data to the public at metrotransit.org/performance . Some highlights (or lowlights): Total system ridership looks to be about 45% of the equivalent months in 2019. Reading off the graph because ...
by blo442
February 18th, 2022, 10:39 am
Forum: Minneapolis - North, Northeast, and Southeast / University of Minnesota
Topic: The Standard at Dinkytown - 515 15th Ave SE - 17 stories / 195'
Replies: 25
Views: 20190

Re: The Standard at Dinkytown - 515 15th Ave SE - 17 stories / 195'

I want to like this project but it just seems so poorly thought out from any angle other than maximizing $$$. The parking & loading entrance which is going to leave half a block of the 15th St bike lane unprotected, no retail in an area with very high demand, sticking stairwell, elevator core, a...
by blo442
December 8th, 2021, 10:27 am
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Hennepin Avenue Reconstruction (Douglas to Lake St)
Replies: 433
Views: 200549

Re: Hennepin Avenue Reconstruction (Douglas to Lake St)

City staff recommend street design including two-way bikeway for layout approval. I'm not sure exactly what the process is to gain approval under the new strong mayor system and if Lisa Goodman has any means left to stop the project. https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/hennepin-ave-s/h...
by blo442
November 4th, 2021, 10:08 am
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Blue Line Extension - Bottineau LRT
Replies: 1749
Views: 976154

Re: Blue Line Extension - Bottineau LRT

Wow. I believe these are the first graphics to speculate at what property takings might be necessary. Proposing teardowns of dozens of Northside homes and businesses in order to keep the line cheap and at-grade (while elevating the suburban sections no less) is not a good look in 2021. That said, fr...
by blo442
February 25th, 2021, 11:33 am
Forum: Transportation
Topic: B Line Lake St Rapid Bus, Midtown Rail Transit
Replies: 720
Views: 216893

Re: B Line Lake St Rapid Bus, Midtown Rail Transit

My guess based on what I was told during D Line engagement: Metro Transit is not pushing for/will not pay for floating bus stops as they add cost & complexity that does not directly serve their goal of improving transit service. So it would be the City's responsibility to advocate for and agree ...
by blo442
February 16th, 2021, 12:37 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - North, Northeast, and Southeast / University of Minnesota
Topic: University of Minnesota - News & General Topics
Replies: 615
Views: 1135020

Re: University of Minnesota - News & General Topics

The U is developing a new Campus Master Plan this year-I was emailed a survey today asking about priorities for campus spaces and mobility. The draft plan will supposedly be released this summer, which may be of interest to some people on this forum.

more info: https://z.umn.edu/campusmasterplan
by blo442
February 8th, 2021, 12:21 pm
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Better Bus Routes - Metro Transit
Replies: 34
Views: 64933

Re: Better Bus Routes - Metro Transit

I wonder if this is Metro Transit tipping their hand a bit on the ABRT route selection process. It's hard for me to imagine them doing this if they're planning to replace Route 3 with Como-Maryland BRT in a few years. Having asked this very question to someone on the inside recently, the answer is ...
by blo442
January 22nd, 2021, 7:03 pm
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Orange Line / 35W@94: Downtown to Crosstown Project
Replies: 1121
Views: 242116

Re: Orange Line / 35W@94: Downtown to Crosstown Project

Small but interesting point in this plan is how the "underpass to nowhere" on 77th St under Cedar will allow for routes 515 and 540 to be simplified and straightened quite nicely. (might shorten some deadhead trips out of South Garage too?) With the D Line increasing service on the east pa...
by blo442
December 14th, 2020, 5:27 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - North, Northeast, and Southeast / University of Minnesota
Topic: Dinky "tower" - McDonalds redevelopment
Replies: 49
Views: 44210

Re: Dinky "tower" - McDonalds redevelopment

Word on the street is the Dinkytown Mcdonald's closed its doors permanently today. RIP DrunkDonalds, gone but not forgotten.
by blo442
August 28th, 2020, 8:42 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - North, Northeast, and Southeast / University of Minnesota
Topic: Dinkytown
Replies: 439
Views: 262340

Re: Dinkytown

A few dispatches from Dinkytown as the fall semester approaches: "Uncommon" Apartments at 1202 4th St is open. It is an "uncommon"-ly ugly building, IMHO. Lack of retail is disappointing on such a lively street. I was shocked by the complete lack of privacy and screening for the ...
by blo442
August 21st, 2020, 10:27 am
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Public Transit News / Current Events (MN only)
Replies: 2909
Views: 701140

Re: Public Transit News / Current Events (MN only)

Not really mentioned in that article but Route 63 stop consolidation is happening with the September service change as well.
by blo442
August 6th, 2020, 3:52 pm
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Northstar Commuter Rail
Replies: 952
Views: 221641

Re: Northstar Commuter Rail

The report assumes maintaining the corridor at 2 tracks (except potentially around Northtown Yard). BNSF lets Northstar have one track to itself in the morning/evening and runs freights on the other, creating congestion when freight trains are coming from both directions. BNSF hates the idea of midd...
by blo442
August 4th, 2020, 3:19 pm
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Blue Line Extension - Bottineau LRT
Replies: 1749
Views: 976154

Re: RE: Re: Bottineau LRT (Blue Line Extension)

Look at 5th St downtown as an analogue to what Broadway LRT might look like. But it doesn't have to look like that at all, right? There are lots of adjacent mostly empty parking lots to extend ROW and at pinch points we can do things like share lanes with general traffic. Sure, this could be a poss...
by blo442
August 4th, 2020, 12:00 pm
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Blue Line Extension - Bottineau LRT
Replies: 1749
Views: 976154

Re: Bottineau LRT (Blue Line Extension)

I know some armchair traffic engineers might take issue with this assertion, but based on conversations I've had with a rail staff person at MT, there is no E-W "over" street in North Minneapolis wide enough to accommodate at grade two-way LRT and auto traffic safely. (Except Olson Hwy but...
by blo442
May 19th, 2020, 3:12 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Downtown Minneapolis Retail News
Replies: 1432
Views: 478978

Re: Downtown Minneapolis Retail News

I find it interesting the asseveration that Chicago's vibrancy comes from in part traffic congestion being so horrific that office workers are stuck after work buying overpriced food an beverages rather than being able to get home to their family in the suburbs. Also, on my article on the changing ...
by blo442
August 23rd, 2019, 8:38 pm
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Public Transit News / Current Events (MN only)
Replies: 2909
Views: 701140

Re: Public Transit News / Current Events (MN only)

Also, there is a new bus counterflow lane on 28th St between 4th Ave and either Stevens Ave or 1st Ave, I forget which. Anyone know what it is for? Starting Monday until spring/summer 2020, the westbound 21/53 will detour from Lake to 28th to avoid construction at Lake and 35W. Lake will be slimmed...
by blo442
August 2nd, 2019, 3:09 pm
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Public Transit News / Current Events (MN only)
Replies: 2909
Views: 701140

Re: Public Transit News / Current Events (MN only)

Network Next = new SIP + new aBRT Corridor Study (essentially). As for how close it gets to reality, it all depends on funding.
by blo442
July 17th, 2019, 2:27 pm
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Public Transit News / Current Events (MN only)
Replies: 2909
Views: 701140

Re: Public Transit News / Current Events (MN only)

Regarding street width, operators specifically requested wider bus lanes after the first pilot. The city is interpreting this to mean 12' minimum width. With this restriction and four 10' travel lanes, the curb-to-curb width comes up 4' short, meaning only one bus lane possible. So as the reconstruc...
by blo442
July 15th, 2019, 12:36 pm
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Orange Line / 35W@94: Downtown to Crosstown Project
Replies: 1121
Views: 242116

Re: Orange Line / 35W@94: Downtown to Crosstown Project

In case anyone plans to go: there will be orange foods and beverages provided. But bring your own Cheetos, those were not allowed because "the politicians might get Cheeto dust on their suits". :lol: