Metro Transit Improvements - Network Now & Better Bus Routes

[BikesOnFilm]

If a right wing think tank can put up billboards next to the freeway saying "Stuck in Traffic? Blame the Met Council!", the only thing stopping Metro Transit from putting up billboards next to the freeway saying "Ditch Traffic, Try Metro Transit" is they haven't spent $1 million on a consultant who said to do that yet.

I bet there is someone in their comms/marketing department who has suggested doing this but their advice won't be taken until it comes from someone they paid to come up with the idea.

[wingedmolotov]

Maybe we could crowdfund it


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[twincitizen]

Better Bus Route Study: Route 14
https://www.metrotransit.org/route-14

[BBMplsMN]

I’m excited for the changes to route 14 and the creation of route 48. The original plan was to eliminate the 14D that goes down Golden Valley Road and cover that route by extending the 30, which doesn’t go into downtown and would require a transfer. The new route 48 will take a different path into downtown, however they haven’t said exactly what that path will be.

[MSPtoMKE]

From what I’ve heard, the 48 will be what is shown as route 8 in the Network Now plan. It will head down Penn to Glenwood, then over to Van White Blvd (and the future Light Rail station) and Dunwoody, then Hennepin into downtown. So good news is that it will include some new connectivity. The bad news is that Network Now shows it as only running every hour (which is the current frequency of the branch of the 14 it is replacing)

[twincitizen]

The shifting of the south end of the line from Bloomington Ave to Richfield Parkway is surprising only because Metro Transit has resisted it for so long. Richfield expected that shift to happen over a decade ago when Richfield Parkway was completed. I thought MT's primary objection was that coming down Bloomington allows the bus to head east on 66th and loop back westward at the roundabout. Now that they'll be coming down Richfield Pkwy and ending the route just west of the Richfield Pkwy roundabout, it's not clear what the plan is for the bus to turn around between southbound and northbound trips.

I also think they should consider putting fewer stops on Richfield Pkwy. They propose 1/4-mile stop spacing for most of the route, but have new stops planned at 62nd, 63rd, 64th, 65th, and 66th (terminus). Richfield Parkway does not have bus cutouts or shoulders wide enough for the bus to pull out of traffic. Even though the proposed stops at 65th would be closest to the Target entrance and encourage transit use, I have some concerns about buses blocking sightlines for vehicles turning left onto SB Richfield Parkway. This area already feels more chaotic than it should be due to some bad road design choices. Richfield Parkway does not carry that much total traffic (especially north of the Target driveway at ~65th 1/3), but it is frustrating turning left out of the shopping center during busy times. I think the stops proposed just south of 65th street should be eliminated. The walk to Target's northern entrance from the stops at 64th is not that much further, and it will keep pedestrians safer having them cross Richfield Parkway at a less busy spot with fewer turning vehicles.

[mattaudio]

it's not clear what the plan is for the bus to turn around between southbound and northbound trips.

They are planning to layover buses in front of Rissa's house.