Transportation

Surging ridership on Metro Transit's Northstar Line during the third quarter of 2013 mirrored a trend that saw a many of the nation's commuter rail lines post strong gains and fuel an increase in U.S. public transportation usage for the ninth time in the past 11 quarters, according to a report out last week by American Public Transportation Association (APTA). Ridership on the Northstar Line, which runs from Big Lake to downtown Minneapolis, was up 15.1 percent for the first nine months of 2013 when compared with same time period in 2012. In total, Metro Transit provided 610,595 rides on Northstar trains, an increase of 80,143, said agency spokesman John Siqveland. Twenty-two of the nation's 28 commuter rail lines saw ridership increases as overall commuter rail commuting rose by 1.9 percent, APTA said. Minneapolis was one of eight cities that saw a double-digit increases. The others were Austin, Texas, Anchorage, Stockton, Calif., Lewisville, Texas, Portland, Ore., Oceanside, Calif., … [Read more...] about Public transportation use rises in third quarter of 2013

The push is on to get more money to fund Minnesota's transportation system, a need described as "urgent" by a new coalition of more than 130 businesses, associations and organizations that plan to lobby hard at the State Capitol this winter. Last week, Move MN kicked off its efforts to make transportation funding a priority during the 2014 legislative session. The group's members say that current funding can not cover the costs to fix roads and bridges or meet the growing demands on state's transportation system. The group is asking those who attend precinct caucuses on Feb. 4 to bring that message to candidates and legislators, said Hillary Reeves, spokeswoman for Transit for Livable Communities. Move MN is also planning a rally at the State Capitol in March. "We need the legislature to know that this is a key thing," she said. "We keep kicking the can down the road and the cost goes up. We need to act on it." A recent MnDOT report found that the agency will get $18 billion in funding … [Read more...] about New coalition says transportation funding needs to be priority

A report from the American Public Transportation Association out this week said that public transportation usage hit a 57-year high last year as Americans took more than 10.7 billion rides on city buses, light-rail trains, subways and commuter rail lines. Here in the Twin Cities, Ridership on Metro Transit buses and trains increased for the fourth consecutive year in 2013, to nearly 81.4 million rides while the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority said it provided  2.7 million rides on its buses, the most ever. With public transportation use on the upswing, the transportation advocacy group Transit for Livable Communities wants to keep that momentum going. It's asking public transit supporters to turn out Thursday for Move MN Transportation Day at the State Capitol. The main event is a rally in the Rotunda at 4 p.m. to urge to legislators to pass transportation funding bills that include new funding for transit, bicycling, and walking options across Minnesota. Festivities begin at 1 … [Read more...] about Advocates to rally Thursday at State Capitol to urge lawmakers to address transportation funding

Only one of 20 transportation improvements needed to relieve congestion, improve safety and support future growth in the metro area has adequate funding and more than half don't have funding allocated at all, according to a new report out Wednesday from TRIP, a national transportation research and advocacy group in Washington D.C. In its report “Project Green Light: Moving Minnesota’s Top Transportation Improvements Forward,” TRIP looked at the state of 20 projects it identified as vital for improving the roads and bridges, mass transit, rail lines and facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians and rated them with a green, yellow or red light based on whether money is currently available or is anticipated to be within the next five years. A $33 million project to re-deck and repair the Central Avenue bridge over the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis got the lone green light for metro area projects while five were rated a yellow light because either a … [Read more...] about Lack of funding gives majority of vital transportation projects the red light

Transit supporters in Minneapolis will join their brethren in Washington D.C. in a rally Tuesday to urge Congress to pass a transportation bill to fund the nation's highways and mass transit systems. Locally members of the Amalgamated Transit Union and other supporters will gather at 11:30 a.m. outside the Hennepin County Government Center as part of Transit Tuesday activities here and in Washington. “We want our riders to know we stand with them in the fight for more, better and safer public transit,” says Dorothy Maki, Vice President of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1005. “Together we can ensure that our voices are heard and elected officials understand that we want them to stand up for transit.” In Washington D.C., more than a thousand public transportation workers from across the country will descend on the Capitol’s Upper Senate Park to deliver the message that the pending highway bill is about more than highways – it’s about mass … [Read more...] about Transportation advocates to rally in support of mass transit