Public Transit News / Current Events (MN only)

[angrysuburbanite]

Not to be too much of a downer, but I would of thought that after 20 years we would of had more then 2 frequent train lines in the cities (although tbf I was 6 and probably didn't know anything beyond it was cool)
I wonder how we compare to other cities in terms of how long it takes to add more rail after the first/new line was added

I do agree that it is frustrating how little has been built since then, but the next decade or so will over double the size of our system through LRT, BRT, and aBRT (and most likely corresponding local bus expansion). Compared to many regions around the US, we have a pretty good outlook for transportation expansion in my opinion. Right now we have a handful of corridors that have good service, but it is slowly turning into a full network. Will it be enough to significantly change the travel patterns of Twin Citizens? No, but everything is a step in the right direction. By the 2030s, I would not be surprised if transit ridership surpassed the 2015 peak.

It is also important to note that Metro Transit does not have the fiscal cliff issues many agencies will have to deal with in the late 2020s, when many of our current projects begin to go into service, which may attract some new residents who are willing to continue expansion past that point.

I like to be optimistic when it comes to transit expansion.

[Lando Laker]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but when ever looked into the history behind the blue line, Jessie Ventura's name pops up both self claiming that he's the reason why it got built despite the GOP and DFL digging in their heels and that there would of been more lines built if he had gotten a second term. But given that it's Ventura, I'm going take what ever he says with a massive grain of salt at best.

It was Jesse all the way on this. He spoke of his time in other cities with subways and public transportation. Since there would be many stops like the VA, MOA, MSP, the stadiums etc it was an easier sell to the legislature paired with the right of way that was cleared for a highway tat was never built along Hwy 55, it was ready made for rail. Jesse said these projects are 100 year projects and we need to think of it that way like the NY subway. He was so spot on.

[J. Mc]

Transportation Committee Presentation - June 15, 2024 Service changes and Workforce Update:
https://metrocouncil.org/Council-Meetin ... nfo-3.aspx
- Adding service - Routes 2, 25, 32, 805, 852 Sat, 804 extend to Co Rd H
- Still on track for 12 min frequency on the light-rail lines with the August changes

Transportation Committee Presentation - 2024 First Quarter Ridership:
https://metrocouncil.org/Council-Meetin ... nfo-2.aspx
- Ridership growth, also some interesting ROI graphics.

[Wezle]

Excited to see how the frequency increases will affect monthly LRT ridership. I do wonder if 15 or 12 minute frequencies are included in the ridership modelling of the Blue and Green line extensions and if that'll change afterwards.

[Tom H.]

Nice to see that Northstar has now surpassed (checks notes) vanpool to be the second least used transit mode in the metro.

[DanPatchToget]

Transportation Committee Presentation - June 15, 2024 Service changes and Workforce Update:
https://metrocouncil.org/Council-Meetin ... nfo-3.aspx
- Adding service - Routes 2, 25, 32, 805, 852 Sat, 804 extend to Co Rd H
- Still on track for 12 min frequency on the light-rail lines with the August changes

Transportation Committee Presentation - 2024 First Quarter Ridership:
https://metrocouncil.org/Council-Meetin ... nfo-2.aspx
- Ridership growth, also some interesting ROI graphics.

As one of the 11 people in training to be a Train Operator, it seems Metro Transit is already setting their sights on bringing back 10-minute frequency in the near future, but in addition to the problem of hiring new operators there's also having enough trainers to train the new hires. On our out-of-service and revenue runs on the Blue Line there needs to be two new hires with each trainer since there isn't enough for everyone to have one-on-one training.

Another issue with getting back to 10-minute frequency is we'll need a lot more Train Operators very soon for the Green Line Extension, and every current Train Operator will also need to be trained on the Green Line Extension.

12-minute frequency on each route is definitely achievable in August, but I know the end goal is 10-minute frequency on each route, which as someone who tries to commute using the Blue Line to reach the Operations & Maintenance building on Franklin Avenue I absolutely support.

In case anyone is interested in becoming a Train Operator, keep in mind in the first few weeks of training you start off driving a bus. You won't be picking up passengers, but I had the false impression when I signed up that no bus driving is involved and you go straight to rail. Having driven the bus and the train now I firmly believe operating the train is easier than driving the bus, but it's not as easy as some may expect.

[angrysuburbanite]

Nice to see that Northstar has now surpassed (checks notes) vanpool to be the second least used transit mode in the metro.

I love how the productivity per in-service hour tanked right after they added new service. Ridership hasn't really come back at all other than the sport events they ran service to since the frequency of the buses which shadow the route outweighs the speed of the train.

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. How many operators are required for 10min frequency on the system as is vs the system with the expansion? About double? Staffing is probably the biggest hurdle to jump with future expansion.

Not to throw too many questions at you, but I am curious what LRT training is like? Are you trained for both Blue and Green? Are the different LRVs different to drive? It sounds like such a fun yet nerve-wracking job...

[alexschief]

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. How many operators are required for 10min frequency on the system as is vs the system with the expansion? About double? Staffing is probably the biggest hurdle to jump with future expansion.

Ironically, the delay in completion of the SWLRT is something of a blessing in disguise for Metro Transit, because had it opened on schedule there is no way they would've had enough train operators.

[DanPatchToget]

Not to throw too many questions at you, but I am curious what LRT training is like? Are you trained for both Blue and Green? Are the different LRVs different to drive? It sounds like such a fun yet nerve-wracking job...

For now we’ve only been trained on the Blue Line but in the next couple weeks we’ll be training on the Green Line, and eventually we along with every other operator will be trained on the Green Line Extension.

The Type 1 LRVs (made by Bombardier) are very different from the newer Type 2 and 3 LRVs (made by Siemens). All the types have their pros and cons but overall I prefer the Type 2 and 3s as they’re easier to operate.

It’s definitely a nerve wracking job, and requires a lot of focus all the time, plus sometimes multi-tasking like operating the train while talking or listening to the radio. Then there’s the problematic people like door holders that make it much more difficult to stay on schedule.

All that isn’t to say it’s a terrible job, but it is a difficult job. We also have fun though like waving to kids watching the trains, and there’s plenty of good people out there who respect the train operators.

[Nick]

Thank you for driving the train!

[UrsusUrbanicus]

Thank you for driving the train!

♫ A transit method that's much more sane
You get us there, you're a pal and a confidante ♫

[Korh]

Not to throw too many questions at you, but I am curious what LRT training is like? Are you trained for both Blue and Green? Are the different LRVs different to drive? It sounds like such a fun yet nerve-wracking job...

For now we’ve only been trained on the Blue Line but in the next couple weeks we’ll be training on the Green Line, and eventually we along with every other operator will be trained on the Green Line Extension.

Interesting, I would of thought training for the SWLRT wouldn't start anytime soon since what, we're still looking at 2025 for the Kenilworth tunnel?

[DanPatchToget]

Not to throw too many questions at you, but I am curious what LRT training is like? Are you trained for both Blue and Green? Are the different LRVs different to drive? It sounds like such a fun yet nerve-wracking job...

For now we’ve only been trained on the Blue Line but in the next couple weeks we’ll be training on the Green Line, and eventually we along with every other operator will be trained on the Green Line Extension.

Interesting, I would of thought training for the SWLRT wouldn't start anytime soon since what, we're still looking at 2025 for the Kenilworth tunnel?

The Green Line training in the next couple weeks is just on the part that's already in operation between the downtowns. The Green Line Extension/Southwest LRT training is at least a year away.

[angrysuburbanite]

Quarterly service changes effective June 3rd (MVTA) and June 15th (Metro Transit). Lots of construction rerouting, but there are a number of more substantial changes. Here are the highlights:

Metro Transit
- 2-car trains to be used 7 days a week on both Green and Blue lines
- Route 10 sees more trips extended to 53rd/Target, primarily on weekends
- Route 25 restored as an all day route with hourly service, increased peak service.
- Route 32 will improve to 20 minute frequencies every day
- Routes 351/355 detour routes will be permanent
- Routes 667 and 673 both use 1st street rather than Washington
- Route 805 will become hourly on Saturdays
- Route 852 will run every 90 minutes (!) and extend to Anoka Technical College

MVTA
- Route 465: 7 northbound trips and 7 southbound trips will be suspended until U of M resumes in the fall
- Route 475: 1 northbound and 1 southbound trip suspended for the same reason
- Route 489 reroute through Viking Lakes area to improve commute times to the Thomson Reuters facility, and terminates at Eagan Transit Station.

For the sake of completeness:
Plymouth Metrolink, Maple Grove Transit
no known changes, though I believe the Maple Grove My Ride is getting more vehicles.

SouthWest Transit
Nothing. I know their plan was to change the I-494 corridor PRIME service to fixed route, but this hasn't been mentioned outside of the budget plan last year. This is off topic, but they really need to get SW Station -> airport/MOA and the Normandale route up and running again...

[Tcmetro]

Glad to see service restoration on the 25, 805, and 852. The increased service on the 32 is nice and will help to create a N/NE crosstown akin to the 2 or 21.

[DanPatchToget]

There must be a pretty severe maintenance backlog on the LRVs since both the Green and Blue Lines only had 2-car trains today despite there being a Twins game.

[mulad]

Is there any chance Metro Transit will add some paint, signs, or maybe those flexi-post barriers used at a few stops to mark the 1- and 2-car distances on the platform? It's always really hard to eyeball 1/3rd of a platform and stand in the appropriate spot, and people will inevitably be too far back and create delays as they shuffle to the tail car

[J. Mc]

In one of the presentations about running shorter trains there was mention of new platform decals to show where cars 1-2-3 would 'land' or end. I think they said announcements as well, though I'm not sure if that will be specific to each train like some systems, 'The next Blue Line train is due in two minutes, this train is a two car set' or just a generic 'Metro Transit is currently operating two car trains' type.

[angrysuburbanite]

https://www.metrotransit.org/performance

May ridership is now on the Metro Transit performance page! Highlights:
- Overall ridership continues to be very stable at around 150k
- Regular bus ridership and A Line stable
- Modest increases on Blue, C, and D lines - all are pretty much back to November-December 2023 ridership levels.
- Northstar ridership approaching 500 daily rides (wooo....)
- Green Line stable but down from a couple months ago - I expect ridership to drop a bit in the June report with the university out of session.
- Orange Line appears to be at its highest ridership since opening - It will probably hit 2k daily riders by next year I think

Overall I think the relatively stable ridership so far this year shows that it is time to start increasing frequency across the system and look for ways to increase ridership further! Pretty much every route operating every 30 minutes should be increased to every 15 minutes in my opinion. It also might be worth reinstating more commuter express service, too. Looking at the year-by-year increases (especially in October), I think it might be possible that Metro Transit breaks 200k daily rides (or at least close to that) in the next year.

[COLSLAW5]

https://www.lrl.mn.gov/docs/2024/mandated/240348.pdf

unsure if this has been posted yet but a nice look at how Metro Transit is working to improve local bus services. Sounds like they will start doing 2 routes a year for the Better Bus Stops program starting in 2025 which is awesome.

Also reading the report it mentions that route 18 has been dropped because of the other Nicollet Ave projects. This really shows me how we should be putting the pedal to the metal with that corridor we shouldn't need to wait 5 more years for any improvements. the 18 seems to always be packed at all hours of the day. I have taken it home at 1 in the morning and the bus was pretty full.