urbanMSP

Early June 2003, so just over a year before opening.

http://www.lightrailnow.org/news/n_min002.htm

But that was the first line in the region, the testing of LRVs was mashed together with testing of tracks/power/signaling, and there was that bus driver strike in spring 2004.

So since the bus drivers have a contract this time, and LRVs can get tested on Hiawatha, and there is experience with LRT in general, perhaps we can say that once the first LRV moves along the Green Line, we're at most 11 months out from the start of service? 6-9 months?

One day about a week ago, while I was workin'on the railroad on the eastbound Empire Builder...as we were coming into msp on the Minnesota Commercial yard, I happened to look to my right and I saw some rather large packages on board some freight cars that looked suspiciously like light rail vehicles....and they were enveloped in pretty blue plastic wrappers with the word "Siemons"stamped on them. Then as we were departing, I heard one of the Commercial guys ask the yard master for "permission to go get those light rail cars."

Awe!!!

Here's some shot's I mentioned earlier:
First is an example of whats repeated from Snelling to Lex, electrical contractor vans and HD trucks installing some type of electrics
Sorry about reflection.


Next is the crossing posts I'd mentioned; I don't recall these on Hiawatha.

Next is the crossing posts I'd mentioned; I don't recall these on Hiawatha.

Are these in the mid block crosswalks only? I would guess that is the difference between the lines.

I believe you're correct- Again, I only saw Snelling to Lexington.

Also experienced twice left turning cars coming straight at me while both of us were making lefts off Hamline (me North, them South). I wonder if distance between turn lanes is shorter, or something is causing left turning drivers to be distracted- I just don't recall this occurring in my decades of driving

Here's some shot's I mentioned earlier:
First is an example of whats repeated from Snelling to Lex, electrical contractor vans and HD trucks installing some type of electrics
Sorry about reflection.

That building in the background is SO ripe for redevelopment. What do people know about that gem?

i think the building the back ground is the old Brown and Biegalow HQ.

Also experienced twice left turning cars coming straight at me while both of us were making lefts off Hamline (me North, them South). I wonder if distance between turn lanes is shorter, or something is causing left turning drivers to be distracted- I just don't recall this occurring in my decades of driving

This makes sense -- I bet the geometries of these intersections are quite a bit different than what people are used to. The "median" with the LRT tracks becomes very wide, but the cross streets aren't any wider like you'd see in a more suburban divided highway condition.

Awe!!!

you'll have to repost that in two years when it is relevant.

Here is a video of METRO Green Line Construction made in Dec.

Does anyone have an inkling for when Washington Avenue will reopen to bus traffic? It's been a few months since I've been able to check out the area, so I don't know if much work has been happening over the winter.

I was just curious since Metro Transit put up their March 9th route changes. Presumably it'll have to wait until the next route change cycle (June? July?)

The Station on Washington construction has taken up the sidewalk, so right now the sidewalk in that area is in the bus lane. It wouldn't be that big a deal to just shut down that sidewalk section and force you to the other side of Washington, but the fact that they've done what they've done makes me think it won't be open to buses for quite a while.

I got the feeling that Metro Transit doesn't want to return to Washington until the work is really, really done. They don't want to mess around going back on detour, off detour, etc. The current detour has been in effect for so long now, it's probably the norm for most students. I think they will wait until they can operate on Washington permanently.

Yeah, seems logical that they will want to wait until catenary is installed, since they won't be able to shut down a lane. Is it reasonable to expect it to be open by the start of classes in the fall?

I was looking for news updates on the Green Line, since the snow will soon be melting, but instead got a surprise.

The Central Corridor website has been redesigned to match the Met Council's: http://metrocouncil.org/Transportation/ ... urce=child

wow the huge gray navigation bar at the top is epically broken. Otherwise the site looks okay, hopefully they resolve that issue quickly.

Well, got the first construction update of 2013. Looks like a few overnight closures around campus coming up.

http://content.govdelivery.com/bulletin ... ETC-6ff3ce

On Tuesday, I saw some workers installing switch motors in the double-crossover by the TPT building (the block just west of Union Depot station):


Image link

I took a ride down the line after work on route #50 (thanks DST), but didn't really notice any activity elsewhere. That'll change soon.

I was looking for news updates on the Green Line, since the snow will soon be melting, but instead got a surprise.

The Central Corridor website has been redesigned to match the Met Council's: http://metrocouncil.org/Transportation/ ... urce=child

This is misleading:
"The Green Line has been built on 11 miles of exclusive right of way"
That implies grade separation or no crossings.

Site now says 90% complete but i don't think that includes testing...