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Re: Public Transit News and Current Happenings

Posted: November 14th, 2017, 6:53 pm
by SkyScraperKid
I've already set off my Facebook rant, but this is bullshit. Make the gladiator games attendees ride the bus, not the people that use and support transit every damn day of the year. Why should the wealthy be given exclusive access to our highest-amenity transit service?
Your solution is not possible, the Dept of Homeland Security requires the security zone around the Super Bowl due to it being classified as a first tier security risk event. The light rail runs directly through the security zone, and those that don't have tickets can not go into the zone. Metro Transit was forced into this decision, and had no other option.
Does that also mean that residents of the Edition Apartments won't be able to go home on game day? Or are they outside of the zone?

Re: Public Transit News and Current Happenings

Posted: November 14th, 2017, 6:55 pm
by SkyScraperKid
All non-light rail transit should be free that Sunday.
HAH! Fare should be 50 bucks! Get those people to pay MORE for making our city a mess for a week! :lol:

Re: Public Transit News and Current Happenings

Posted: November 14th, 2017, 8:26 pm
by phop
All non-light rail transit should be free that Sunday.
HAH! Fare should be 50 bucks! Get those people to pay MORE for making our city a mess for a week! :lol:
Give all locals free full-day vouchers.

Re: Public Transit News and Current Happenings

Posted: November 15th, 2017, 8:57 am
by Silophant
So if I'm understanding the plan correctly, the only security checkpoint on the Blue Line will be Mall of America station, and trains will run express from there to the stadium. So, not only are they inconveniencing regular riders that Sunday by shunting them onto buses, but they're also inconveniencing the ticket-holders by making them go to the worst station for their boarding.

Nice.

Re: Public Transit News and Current Happenings

Posted: November 15th, 2017, 9:23 am
by BBMplsMN
This is a pretty smart plan to get people to and from the game, especially since trains wouldn't be allowed to pass by U.S. Bank Stadium station that day anyway since it's in the secured zone.

I'm not sure how many people take the Blue Line on a Sunday in February, or the Green Line from Stadium Village to Downtown, but my guess is that it's less than other times of the week. And my experience with bus bridges have been really good.

I do wonder if they could have chosen a location on the Blue Line closer to downtown so the whole line didn't need to be shut down, but I'm not sure what other location has the capacity for parking and security screenings. Also, since the MOA is included in Super Bowl activities, it makes sense.

Re: Public Transit News and Current Happenings

Posted: November 15th, 2017, 9:31 am
by Bakken2016
I've already set off my Facebook rant, but this is bullshit. Make the gladiator games attendees ride the bus, not the people that use and support transit every damn day of the year. Why should the wealthy be given exclusive access to our highest-amenity transit service?
Your solution is not possible, the Dept of Homeland Security requires the security zone around the Super Bowl due to it being classified as a first tier security risk event. The light rail runs directly through the security zone, and those that don't have tickets can not go into the zone. Metro Transit was forced into this decision, and had no other option.
Does that also mean that residents of the Edition Apartments won't be able to go home on game day? Or are they outside of the zone?
They are in the security zone, and I am assuming that they will all have to be screened and have ID with their address.

Re: Public Transit News and Current Happenings

Posted: November 15th, 2017, 9:51 am
by amiller92
Except they're explicitly running LRT riders through security. MetroTransit even cites an "advantage" to the buses as avoiding security checks.
My understanding is that anyone getting on the train will have to go through the same level of security screenings as those entering the stadium, which will happen at the few stops that are actually open that day. Not putting regular users through that is the purported advantage.

I was thinking maybe they could run alternating trains, ones that stop in the security zones and ones that don't, so that trains could be available to regular users, but apparently DHS and the NFL won't allow non-screened passengers to ride through the security zone. The obvious risk would be a passenger on non-screened train with a bomb or somehow getting off in the security zone anyway.

Those risks seem small to me, but I can't see how someone who has to make the real call would feel it isn't worth it.

Anyway, I kind of doubt that MetroTransit hasn't thought about what it can do in light of the DHS requirements.

Re: Public Transit News and Current Happenings

Posted: November 15th, 2017, 9:53 am
by amiller92
I do wonder if they could have chosen a location on the Blue Line closer to downtown so the whole line didn't need to be shut down, but I'm not sure what other location has the capacity for parking and security screenings. Also, since the MOA is included in Super Bowl activities, it makes sense.
There are also a lot of hotels down there. If you're going to direct Super Bowl traffic to a Blue Line stop, it's either that or Target Field and frankly not having people drive downtown makes a lot of sense.

Re: Public Transit News and Current Happenings

Posted: November 15th, 2017, 11:53 am
by xandrex
Sundays already have lower ridership than most days. Combining that with it being the day of the Super Bowl, when many people were planning to actively avoid downtown anyway, makes this much less of an issue. The entire Blue Line effectively shutting down for regular service is, of course, unfortunate.

I kind of wonder if there’s an ROI for Metro Transit by charging such a high price for riding the train that day. Certainly much of it would be wiped out by replacement buses?

Re: Public Transit News and Current Happenings

Posted: November 15th, 2017, 12:07 pm
by tmart
I do wonder if they could have chosen a location on the Blue Line closer to downtown so the whole line didn't need to be shut down, but I'm not sure what other location has the capacity for parking and security screenings. Also, since the MOA is included in Super Bowl activities, it makes sense.
There are also a lot of hotels down there. If you're going to direct Super Bowl traffic to a Blue Line stop, it's either that or Target Field and frankly not having people drive downtown makes a lot of sense.
It's also (sort of) indoors. Considering the NFL requires indoor stadiums or warm-weather climates to host the Super Bowl, I'm guessing there's going to be a lot of logistics aimed at ferrying tourists around between the skyways, malls, trains, and other heated areas, and letting the cold just be a decoration for the rich people to enjoy in their little secured bubble.

Re: Public Transit News and Current Happenings

Posted: November 15th, 2017, 1:04 pm
by amiller92
I kind of wonder if there’s an ROI for Metro Transit by charging such a high price for riding the train that day. Certainly much of it would be wiped out by replacement buses?
I sure hope they priced it to be a wash or small gain, but I get they didn't.

Re: Public Transit News and Current Happenings

Posted: November 15th, 2017, 4:01 pm
by Bakken2016
Metro Transit is now offering free rides on replacement service on the day of the Superbowl.

Re: Public Transit News and Current Happenings

Posted: November 15th, 2017, 4:10 pm
by David Greene
Oh, so we're not screwed as badly as we might have been.

Thanks for nothing.

Re: Public Transit News and Current Happenings

Posted: November 15th, 2017, 4:11 pm
by David Greene
And now they're forcing the homeless out as well.

It's absolutely disgusting to see what is going on.

Re: Public Transit News and Current Happenings

Posted: November 15th, 2017, 4:34 pm
by amiller92
Honestly, you seem to really be blowing these things out of proportion. MetroTransit really botched the communications, but (1) its hands seem to be somewhat tied by DHS, (2) it's one Sunday (we've had much longer maintenance outages), (3) there's going to be service available for people to get where they need to go, and (4) it will be free (should have been the announcement from the jump).

I guess the other option would have been to run normal train service to from MOA to Cedar-Riverside or Franklin Ave and back, but (1) that cuts off all transfers to the Green Line and presumably the highest volume end points, and (2) that puts a bunch of cars trying to drive into downtown for the game. Keeping partying game goers off the streets is a valid interest too.

As for the shelter, I doubt many of its residents would want to put up with "airport style" security and surveillance to stay at First Covenant anyway. A temporary shelter 7ish blocks away and outside the perimeter makes a lot of sense.

Re: Public Transit News and Current Happenings

Posted: November 15th, 2017, 4:58 pm
by LRV Op Dude
Maybe we should have a separate tread about Super Bowl transit

Re: Public Transit News and Current Happenings

Posted: November 15th, 2017, 10:37 pm
by SkyScraperKid
I was mad about them shutting down the trains to the public until they said they would offer FREE bus rides on the bus alternative routes. It's not ideal, but it's a tough situation and they at least seem to be trying to make it better so I give them a PASS now... well, as soon as I get my free bus pass lol.

Re: Public Transit News and Current Happenings

Posted: November 16th, 2017, 3:29 pm
by BenFranske
It is a requirement by Homeland Security due to the nature of the event. Don't get me wrong, I hate it as much as the next person, but it isn't Metro Transit's fault. Blame the NFL and Dept of Homeland Security.
I'm not really taking a side in this battle but I do think that people are a little too quick to say "DHS requires it so it must be so..." It's probably the case that Metro Transit is a little easier to push around than bigger transit agencies (though from what we hear they did push back at least somewhat). There is no way that the MTA, for example, would let DHS shut down an entire line in NYC regardless of a SEAR 1 event near one stop. These "requirements" that people like DHS speak of are entirely negotiable, they just want you to think they are not. For example, trains could run through the stadium stop without stopping, trains could alternate between pre-screened trains which would stop at the stadium and non-screened trains which would not. Again, I'm not saying that is a better or worse solution than the bussing but simply that that there probably could have been more pressure on DHS for out of the box solutions if the will was there or if people make a big enough stink about it.

Re: Public Transit News and Current Happenings

Posted: November 16th, 2017, 4:25 pm
by David Greene
Exactly. People are far too quick to just let our PUBLIC transit system be taken from the public.

The replacement service, even free, is not equivalent. It's much slower and less comfortable. The super bowl attendees should use it. They can even have it for free!

If DHS is *so* worried about a terrorist setting off a bomb in an LRT train as it passes by the stadium, then I just don't know why, because there's like a thousand easier ways to execute an attack.

Re: Public Transit News and Current Happenings

Posted: November 16th, 2017, 5:06 pm
by amiller92
For example, trains could run through the stadium stop without stopping, trains could alternate between pre-screened trains which would stop at the stadium and non-screened trains which would not.
MetroTransit is saying that DHS would not allow trains of non-screened passengers through the perimeter. Maybe it could have pushed back harder and won, but it didn't, so the alternative was no trains through the perimeter. I don't think it's clear that would have been a better choice.