The Metropolitan Council is the regional planning agency for the seven county Twin Cities metropolitan area. One area where the Metropolitan Council plays an important role is in the region's transportation system. A second agency with a regional focus is the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT). Like highways, transit needs to have a plan to guide infrastructure investments so the funds available can be used in a cost effective manner. Two documents that guide the decision making process are the Metropolitan Council 2030 Transportation Policy Plan and Mn/DOT Freight and Passenger Rail Plan.
The Counties Transit Improvement Board (CTIB) is taking regional transit to the next level in teh metropolitan area. Since April 2008, five counties - Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington - have utilized a quarter-cent sales tax and $20 a motor vehicle sales tax, permitted by the Legislature, to invest in and advance transit projects by awarding annual capital and operating grants. The Board works in collaboration with the Metropolitan Council and Carver and Scott counties.
CTIB helps fund current and future transitway projects in Washington County including those for the Gateway, Red Rock, Highway 36 and Rush Line Corridors.
To date, CTIB has helped fund:
- Gateway Corridor Alternatives Analysis
- Red Rock Corridor Station Area Planning
- Property acquisition, preliminary engineering and design for the Newport Transit Station along the Red Rock Corridor
- Demonstration express bus service routes from Forest Lake to Minneapolis and St. Paul
The CTIB website at http://www.mnrides.org/ and is the primary source for background information and the latest news about transitways in the Twin Cities.
Regional Transitways
Commuter Rail
Trains run on existing freight rail tracks and are powered by either a diesel or electric locomotive. Commuter rail service is designed for longer distance commuter trips with station stops every three to five miles. Due to the long distances and high speeds of travel, commuter rail focuses on providing every passenger with a seat and trains are equipped with amenities like tables, power outlets, and restrooms. Commuter rail scheduling is focused on the morning and evening rush hours with trains typically scheduled every thirty minutes.
Northstar Corridor Commuter Rail
Light Rail Transit (LRT)
Light rail transit can operate on dedicated right-of-way, or within the existing street network and its exceptional flexibility provides it with the ability to transport high numbers of commuters comfortably, efficiently, and quietly. The power supply for LRT trains comes from overhead electrical lines, which make them clean and quiet. LRT provides more frequent stops, on average one per mile, than commuter rail and because of this, LRT and commuter rail serve different markets even if they share a corridor. LRT station designs incorporate access by pedestrians, passenger drop-off, and reconfigured bus connections. Many suburban stations offer patrons the option to park-and-ride.
Bottineau Corridor
Hiawatha LRT Corridor
Central Corridor
Southwest Corridor
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
Whereas LRT and commuter rail require their own right-of-way, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is more flexible since buses can run on the existing streets. At a minimum, BRT systems offer bus priority on mixed traffic streets and at a maximum offer a completely separate right-of-way for buses. Most systems fall in the middle which allows for faster service, the ability to carry more passengers, and improved fare collection compared to conventional bus service. It also allows for service to be provided to a broader service area.
Cedar Avenue Bus Rapid Transit
I-35W Bus Rapid Transit
High Speed Rail
High speed rail refers to a series of technologies involving trains traveling at top speeds of 90 (steel-wheel) to 300 (magnetic levitation) mph. High speed rail is time-competitive with air and/or auto for travel markets in the approximate range of 100 to 500 miles. As opposed to commuter rail, high speed rail corridors are typically used for interstate and city transportation.
Midwest Regional Rail initiative
Multi-modal Transportation Hubs
Multi-modal transportation hubs are typically located in urban centers and act as a nucleus for multiple types of transportation including; commuter rail, LRT, BRT, bicycles, pedestrians, taxi cabs, tour busses, and high speed rail. The Twin Cities is currently planning two hubs, one in St. Paul and one in Minneapolis.
Union Depot
Minneapolis Transportation Interchange
