"The BRT project formerly known as the Purple Line" metrocouncil.org/getdoc/9fc75...

The Blue Line's outage is a stark reminder of the efficiency of rail transit. Just to provide a basic replacement service, Metro Transit has had 25-30 replacement buses out at a time, more than double the usual number of trains on the line, and the end-to-end trip time is also double!

The JFK AirTrain is a great example of modern, automated, elevated transit. How disruptive or unsightly is this? Basically not at all. Build more!

Public comments in support of transit: "Thank you for this proposal, it will really help me and our community. We strongly support it." Public comments in opposition: "BOONDOGGLE!!! Waste of money empty CRIME TRAINS! How dare you!?!?" See for yourself: metrocouncil.org/Council-Meet...

The Green Line fell below the Blue Line in total ridership for the month of July. But! This data obscures something. The Green Line was closed for maintenance for 10 days, and if you divide the line's total monthly ridership out by 21 service days, rather than 31, you get about 23k daily riders.

We take for granted our freedoms in Minnesota. Here in New York you are not free to have THC drinks, and more importantly, you are not free to Idaho stop, and they actually enforce that!

Hardly any mention of positive benefits. No discussion of why this is completely different from the Green Line Extension. Didn't talk to any supporters. But sure, several quotes from a backbench Republican legislator who doesn't represent anywhere this line goes. www.startribune.com/light-rail-e...

Some fascinating MTA ingenuity at Harlem-148 St. They're installing a ramp to make the station accessible, and during construction the main stairs will be unavailable. So they closed off one of the tracks and put a temporary stairwell there!

Programming update: I moved to New York City! On this account, Twin Cities transit news will continue to the best of my ability, and new observations and news from NYC are forthcoming. I'll miss the Twin Cities but I'm excited for this new chapter!

Metro Transit's August service changes are soon to go live, and it's a big one! Highlights: Route 6 extended to Westgate, 12 min LRT service earlier in the day, Route 61 on Sundays(!), 10-min Route 18 on weekends, 15-min Route 68, new midday commuter routes metrocouncil.org/Council-Meet...

TRIP agents at Chicago/Lake at 10:45pm, really love to see it! This is how we build a transit system that everyone feels comfortable on, at all times of day and night.

A revolutionary impact of the B Line, for me at least, is the access it provides from Saint Paul to the Blue Line. That was a 30+ minute trip on the 21 due to the University jog. Now it's less than 20. Airport and downtown travel made so much faster.

Like the 21 before it, the B Line loses a lot of time going up the hill out of downtown Saint Paul. If only there was a solution for this...

I haven't taken it at all today, but from all the trackers, it looks like the Green Line is kicking ass today in terms on on-time performance. That's the power of rail!

Downtown Saint Paul traffic is insane right now. Do take the Green Line to the protest rather than the B Line!

This is not how anyone would have wanted it, but welcome to the world, B Line.

Metro Transit is announcing that all B line festivities have been canceled, presumably due to a developing situation in Champlin and Brooklyn Park involving the shooting of two Minnesota state legislators.

METRO B Line opening day festivities have been canceled. Bus and train service will continue as scheduled. The decision to forego these public events was made after receiving reports of an evolving public safety situation. We urge you to rely on the Dept. of Public Safety for the latest updates. ~BG

An era of Twin Cities transit off into the night. What a ride it's been, Route 21.

Here we go! What a run for the 21. Great to be with @hpan3.bsky.social @usestransit.bsky.social and more!

Even at the airport Minnesotans need to be instructed how to zipper merge

Gold Line's still looking nice, and seems to be getting some commuter use.

Minnesota has opened four rail lines in the last two decades. Three of them quickly blew past their ridership expectations and have been nationally recognized as huge successes. I think 3/4 is a good success rate! www.startribune.com/amtraks-bore...

Transit signal priority in action on the Green Line

Turnover at The Fillmore last night. Great time! I saw this band a few years ago in Chicago and it was the most unengaged crowd I've ever experienced. Minneapolis does it better.

Did you know it's possible to see cows and Metro Transit buses in the same spot?

Streetcar!

Why's it so busy? Not that I'm complaining of course!

In Tower Hill Park

Full rundown of June Metro Transit service changes: Big changes include 10-minute weekend service on the A Line, 2, and 10, 15-minute weekday service on the 515, weekend and night Route 94 service, and of course, the B Line opening and elimination of Route 21.

I'm so obsessed with this new development at Snelling and Marshall in Saint Paul. Added housing on a vacant parking lot without touching the nice old building behind it. Fantastic example of infill!

Some of Metro Transit's June schedules are now up on their website, and there's a nice new addition: weekend and late-night Route 94 service! www.metrotransit.org/Data/Sites/1...

Route 63 is on detour right now due to Grand Avenue reconstruction, and I have to say, flying down Summit Ave in a speeding bus after dark is exactly the kind of cathartic fun I needed.

Contingent on Met Council and FTA approval, some Northstar equipment could be leased to Dallas and to Amtrak metrocouncil.org/Council-Meet...

The Kenilworth light rail tunnel is nearly finished. Unpopular opinion: it's time to change the narrative. The money's been spent, so now we should celebrate what this is: a feat of engineering and a regional asset that'll serve us for decades!

I say this every time I ride the 6 bus, but the E Line is going to hit so hard. It's such a a slam-dunk route that's been screaming for more frequency. Running 24/7 would be icing on the cake.

This popup has appeared on Metro Transit's website, stating that Northstar Commuter Rail "will transition" to buses at some point in the near future. www.metrotransit.org/northstar

Hey look everyone, they rethought I-94, and I like it!

Got back out on the Gold Line today - it was a lovely ride. Signals are mostly working how they should, with a few exceptions. Good to see people riding, looked like protest-goers were using it to reach downtown.

I've loved hearing that transit is packed to go to the protest! Now take it for other trips folks!

Save the country, save the world, ride transit and go protest!

The new development at 27th and University SE is almost done, I really like how it turned out!

This site at Westgate station will be a new operator break facility. It's being built as part of the METRO E Line project, which terminates here.

Alright, this is what I was waiting for. SouthWest Transit is rolling out a new east-west suburban route along the I-494 corridor.

SouthWest Station in Eden Prairie is the closest thing we have to a suburban transit village. An indoor station with shopping, dining, and housing surrounding. It's a shame more stations aren't like this. The new Woodlane station on the Gold Line comes to mind as a missed opportunity.

Taking SouthWest Transit Route 698, which runs U of M > downtown Minneapolis > Eden Prairie > Chaska, and I'm shocked how busy it is at this time of day!

If they do this then Northstar should add surfboard storage like LA Metrolink has! www.startribune.com/anoka-rum-ri...

Metro Transit