urbanMSP

In keeping with the much improved audio on the Siemens trains, the irritating and loud beep before platform announcements has been replaced with a much more subtle tone. I checked my phone for a text the first time I heard it this evening. The Siemens trains also have a slightly less irritating warn...

They've been out in recent days but weren't for roughly ten days. I biked into the office this morning rather than take the train and spotted one pulling into 50th at 625. Like Mulad I've sought them out but since I can see the trains from my kitchen I wait for southbound train to by and catch it on...

Three items:The Siemens set (203 & ?) I rode yesterday evening was twelve minutes behind schedule.

206 is sitting in the Franklin yard

Two trains wrapped in blue are awaiting final delivery between Franklin and Lake.

I know Redisciple has made this point before but it's worth repeating. Minneapolis politicians who best articulate and pander to standard liberal causes that have no impact on the business of running Minneapolis get elected. Abortion, gay rights, taxing the wealthy and helping the poor are important...

I agree, though, that most cities (especially large ones) with good transit systems eventually build a rail network to meet the demand for transit that a good bus system creates. But they don't build streetcars. All the French and Spanish cities that have upgraded to rail have done so with light ra...

Buses aren't the same as street cars they're better. The Portland street car is slow and prone to disruption (check their Twitter account). For the privilege of having a slow, every eighteen minute tinker toy, taxpayers had to fork over millions and millions for construction and vehicles. This idea ...

Real time departures was not in use this evening. must be on the beta stage

I think the idea is to encourage turn over. Letting a car sit for days on end leaves less parking for residents who commute to the suburbs and visitors to the neighborhood. How exactly policy makers accomplish such a goal I do not know. Perhaps establish two hour parking limits Monday to Friday from...

The longest new stretches with minimal grade crossings I can think of are between the west bank and east bank and along the U of M transit way. Perhaps slow dynamic testing could take place in those two locations.

Woo. Count down timers and new Siemens vehicles in the same week. I'm in geek heaven!

At a certain point we (and I am as guilty as anyone) should stop with the improved bus versus street car arguments. I don't see new arguments being presented and no one is likely to change their mind (though I once backed streetcars). I will point out that street cars will cost more and not just a l...

On 201 right now. It's very German in appearance and chime sound which makes sense. There's a decent gap under each door which makes the airport tunnel experience a little noisy.

I'm guessing your source also declared Wisconsin their model for private sector job growth. Thanks for proving how plutocrat fluffing always fails, Mr. Walker.

Phil, a ramp in this area will be built for the stadium. If the city and Wells Fargo can get use out of that ramp more than 15 days a year, it will be a huge victory. I know trashing parking, no matter the context, is what all the kool kids do. I don't like or use parking downtown either (last Sunda...

I'm no expert in property tax but low income housing owned by chartiable groups do pay property taxes. For example, the Common Bond Communities Linden Place Co-Op at 2730 Portland Avenue pays over $21,000 in property tax. Similarly, Volunteers of America's Nicollet Towers at 1350 Nicollet Avenue pai...

Well the stadium authority which is funded by the state, city and football team must build a parking facility.

Keep in mind parking facilities connected to the Vikings stadium must be built and are infact required by law. If Wells Fargo, their developer and the city can make maximum use of parking that will be built, I think it's a huge win.

There are zero park and rides on the first phase (central) of the green line.

Ngon on Avon and University has pho and local brews. It is a but of a trek by bus from Minneapolis though.

Local option sales taxes don't apply to the mvst, pal. The business community is the biggest force behind transit expansion in Minneapolis. I don't believe Chamber of Commerce has taken a position on the proposed sales tax increase, however. Cities like Dallas and Miami have higher transit sales tax...