urbanMSP

https://metrocouncil.org/Council-Meetin ... -TAAC.aspx
– Move ticket purchasing and validation to street-level
stair and elevator entrances only, creating a paid fare
zone at the platform

Sounds like a great opportunity to add fare gates. Is that the idea here?

According to the project manager, that is not part of the project.

Is seating part of the project?

Is seating part of the project?

Yes, just not in the rendering.

https://metrocouncil.org/Council-Meetin ... -TAAC.aspx
– Move ticket purchasing and validation to street-level
stair and elevator entrances only, creating a paid fare
zone at the platform

Sounds like a great opportunity to add fare gates. Is that the idea here?

According to the project manager, that is not part of the project.

I'm not as gung-ho about fare gates as some people, but that seems like a mistake. I know it's hard-to-impossible to retrofit fare gating at ground-level stations, so it can probably never be done effectively for the whole system, but this is such an obvious slam-dunk opportunity to do so at one of the line's most troubled platforms.

Even as the wind is blowing long-term toward making transit free (something I lean toward supporting), I think there's an opening here to do something innovative that reinforces the legitimate reasons people think it's important to charge fares. Make the Blue Line "free" per ride, but require people to pay a one-time fee to buy a pass (I'm thinking like $20-$50 a year or something) that would open fare gates at grade separated stations (a la DC Metro) and act as your "ticket." Then you have "fares," require some social buy-in, and give law enforcement something to ask for, but aren't charging fees per trip. Think of it as a "transit license" like a driver's license.

I like the new design!

I like the new design!

I do too, but the roof should be open to above and not glass - they've replaced the glass ceilings before due to rocks and bullets. The same logic should apply to the hand rails shown, glass is a big mistake. Metal only. Glass will be shattered instantly at this station. It's just a fact.

I like the new design!

I do too, but the roof should be open to above and not glass - they've replaced the glass ceilings before due to rocks and bullets. The same logic should apply to the hand rails shown, glass is a big mistake. Metal only. Glass will be shattered instantly at this station. It's just a fact.

I know the PowerPoint calls out using materials that are durable, so maybe it won't be glass.

Blue Line set another post-COVID ridership high in March, after unexpectedly setting the previous high the month before in February.

According to Metro Transit's monthly report for March 2023, the Blue Line logged 18,913 weekday riders. That's nearly 60% of the last pre-COVID month comparison (March 2019).

https://metrocouncil.org/Council-Meetin ... -TAAC.aspx

Renovation of Blue Line Lake St/Midtown Station going in front of TAAC on 5/3/23.

Improve customer experience: cleanliness, comfort,
visibility, wayfinding, lighting, safety
– Turn stairs around to face the street, improve sightlines
– Remove escalators, widen stairs to improve circulation
– Remove lobby enclosures in favor of an open-air design
– Move ticket purchasing and validation to street-level
stair and elevator entrances only, creating a paid fare
zone at the platform
– Add new lighting, modern camera systems throughout
– Remove shelters on the platform opening sightlines
– Add more protection from weather

This is several magnitudes more intense of a renovation than I was expecting. This is almost a station replacement. As long as the transparent roof material is unbreakable and easily cleaned, I like it.

I wonder if Metro Transit will be doing anything for the Blue Line/Hiawatha Line's 20th birthday this June. I would hope they'll at least do more than just post something on social media. Maybe have a combined celebration with the Green Line's 10th birthday since the dates are pretty close (6/26/04 for the Blue Line/Hiawatha Line and 6/14/14 for the Green Line).