Driving Fail

Metro Transit employee celebrates 50 years

Minneapolis Fire Department Heavy Rescue 9

While I was waiting for the Holidazzle Parade to start I caught Minneapolis Fire Department Heavy Rescue 9 responding to a call.

Metro Transit's Twinkle Bus in the Holidazzle Parade

Metro Transit's Twinkle Bus in the Holidazzle Parade on Dec. 14,2013

Metro Transit's Twinkle Bus (Bus # 7326)  has a lot of lights. In fact, there are 23,120 of them spread across the perimeter of the 40-foot hybrid-electric bus. The lighting -- including 7,980 blue, 7,420 yellow, 6,090 green, 630 red and 280 white LED bulbs -- makes for quite a display

Time-lapse of METRO Green Line

This is a time lapse by blogger of Eccentric Aspects.


A Time-lapse Tour of St. Paul's Green Line from cynick on Vimeo.

Buses return to Washington Avenue on U of M campus

Buses return to Washington Avenue on U of M campus today.

Union Depot – by drone

Video: Union Depot – by drone – on first anniversary
Video by John Brewer, Pioneer Press

Muni Train Takes Off Without Operator

Happy Birthday Northstar

Today marks the 4th anniversary of the Northstar

Bus Driver Save Lady

Buffalo bus driver Darnell Barton was crossing a bridge when he noticed a woman standing over the guard rail ready to jump. That's when he intervened to save her life.

It amazes me that you see in the video that there are people walking, driving and biking by the lady and no one noticed her.

Bottineau Transitway

 Flyover simulation video of the Bottineau Transitway (METRO Blue Line Extension).



 Informational video about the Bottineau Transitway.

New Bus Stop Signs

Informational presentation to the  Metropolitan Council Transportation Committee on Monday, October 21, 2013  New Bus Stop Signs  link to presentation



Sounds like bus stops along the Green Line will be the first to be replaced. All sign in the sytem should be replaced in 3 years.

To Whom It May Concern

This blog is not an official publication of Metro Transit or Amalgamated Local 1105 . Information presented here should not be interpreted as official policy of any of the aforementioned organizations. All videos are made using my own equipment and on my own time.

Washington Avenue Transit Mall

Metro Transit buses training on the Washington Avenue Transit Mall at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN. The buses will be running on the Metro Green Line right of way through the campus area.

Multi Agency Emergency Drill 2012

Multi Agency Emergency Drill 2012 involving Northstar Commuter Rail  and Metro Transit.

Southwest Light Rail Transit (Green Line Extension) Resolution

Transportation Committee on Monday, October 14, 2013. Vote on the Resolution for alignment of the Southwest Light Rail Transit (Green Line Extension) Includes public comment. Link to presentation

Minnesota State Fair at Como Transit Center

The Como Transit Center at the Minnesota State Fair. on Sept.2,2013

Google Map Car

I saw the Google Street View map car on I 94

Green Line Vertical Connection Groundbreaking

Close Call

Bike involved in a close call talks about his experience.

New Metro Transit Police Officers

 



 

The Metro Transit Police Department has added 19 new full-time officers to its ranks. Officers were sworn in this afternoon by Chief John Harrington at a ceremony in Minneapolis.

“This well-qualified group of full-time officers will fill a key role for our region’s growing transit system – particularly as we prepare for METRO Green Line light-rail service next year,” Harrington said. “Metro Transit customers represent many different cultural backgrounds and this diverse group of officers is reflective of the many communities that make up the Twin Cities.”

The 19 officers come from various law enforcement backgrounds. Five of the officers have previous sworn law enforcement experience totaling nearly 24 years of service.  The new officers represent diverse community backgrounds including African-American, Somali and Latino and several are bilingual, speaking Arabic, Somali or Spanish.

The new officers join 64 licensed and sworn full-time and 60 existing part-time Metro Transit Police officers. This addition will result in a net increase of 15 more full-time Metro Transit Police officer positions – for a total of 83. The growing department added 22 additional part-time officers in April of this year and plans to hire an additional 26 part-time officers this fall.

Green Line Update

Car Stuck on the Tracks

Early Monday morning July 22,2013, a car got stuck on the track Downtown Minneapolis between 2nd Ave N. and 3rd Ave N. No trains was delayed.

 

 

Testing Start on Green Line

Light rail vehicle tests begin through University of Minnesota

 

 

ST. PAUL, Minn. – July 24, 2013 –The first light rail vehicle to operate under its own power on the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Project (Green Line) will make its inaugural run this week.

"The line is energized through the University of Minnesota campus, and this is where the first testing will occur. This is an electrifying moment in more ways than one," said Metropolitan Council Chair Sue Haigh, whose agency designed and built the line, which will open in mid-2014 before the Major League Baseball All-Star game at Target Field next July.

A railcar mover will pull one light-rail vehicle (LRV) on Thursday morning from the West Bank Station, past the East Bank and Stadium Village stations and then return to the West Bank. Then, the LRV will move alone overnight Thursday over the same route, drawing power from overhead wires. This will be the start of overnight testing on weeknights through campus, which will resume on or after Aug. 5 and continue through mid-September. Testing on University Avenue and the rest of the corridor will begin late summer. Months of daily testing will follow, the outcome of which will determine the line’s opening date in mid-2014.  

Green Line Quiz Bowl

How to be safe around light rail

What's new with Central Corridor construction

Rail Tamper at Work

Rail Tamper at work by Railworks employees at Franklin Ave Station during a shutdown on July ,2013

Vikings Stadium Transit Plans

Presentation of Vikings Stadium Transit Plans to Transportation Committee on Monday, July 8, 2013

Metro Transit Police Doing Traffic Control

Metro Transit Police doing Traffic Control for METRO Blue Line rail maintenance downtown Minneapolis. at South 5th Street and 5th Ave South

Rail Grinding on the Blue Line

This why the Blue Line will be shut down several night this week. Metro Transit is grinding the rail to make a smoother ride.  The work is being done by  Loram Maintenance of Way.  Other work will also be done this week during the shutdowns.

SUV Stops Trains Last Friday

SUV on tracks in Minneapolis disrupts LRT briefly

 

 

Arterial Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Quarterly Update

Presentation of Arterial Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Quarterly Update  to Metropolitan Council Transportation Committee Monday, June 24, 2013


Link to Presentation

Happy Anniversary to the METRO Blue Line

Happy Anniversary to the METRO Blue Line! Nine years ago today the state’s first light-rail line began service between downtown Minneapolis and Fort Snelling.

Here is link to some of the Blue Line detail

METRO Red lLine

The METRO Red Line opened last Saturday

KSTP story:

Minneapolis Man Pulls Loaded Gun in Back of Police Car

Rail Grinding on METRO Green Line

Rail Grinding on METRO Green Line (Central Corridor) on University Ave in St. Paul,MN 6-10-13

Northstar Commuter Rail - The Choo Choo Bob Show

Southwest Light Rail Transit Update to St. Louis Park City Council

Representatives from the Metropolitan Council presented options for co-location and re-routing of freight trains as part of the Southwest LRT project to the St. Louis Park  City Council.

Metro Transit Lost And Found

Hiawatha Light Rail Rebranded as 'Metro Blue Line'

Baby rescued from SEPTA tracks

Wi-Fi Testing

 Metro Transit is conducting a month long test of free Wi-Fi on two Metro Transit bus 7320 and 7321. These two buses will run on routes 11,17, and 18. The bus will have a decal by the front door to identify them.

Metro Transit is partnering with Titan. Metro Transit wants customer feedback during the test.
This is a plan to study Wi-Fi on Metro transit buses and trains. Below is a Passenger Wi-Fi Update presentation to the Metropolitan Council Transportation Committee on March 25,2013

New Metro Transit Bus Stop Signs Test

The Metro Transit T is making a comeback. Metro Transit is testing new bus sign look on  West 7th Street in St. Paul. The new sign test is being expanded to locations in downtown Minneapolis along Marquette and 2nd Avenues as well as express stops along 3rd/4th streets and 11th/12th streets. The new bus stop sign features a unique number so you can get trainst information for that stop on via NexTrip at metrotransit.org/mobile and metrotransit.org. Also, you are able to access information by Bus Stop Number at 612-373-3333.

New Bus Stop Sign



 Old Test sign on West 7th Street and Walnut in St Paul.
With route numbers



Back of the old test bus stop sign with a bus logo



Current Bus Stop Signs



Old MTC Bus Stop Sign

Smooth test run on new light rail line

METRO Orange Line Bus Rapid Transit Update

I-35W /METRO Orange Line Bus Rapid Transit Quarterly Update to the Transportation Committee link to presentation

Update on the Green Line O&M

 Link to CCLRT OMF update

Also, expect to see a LRV on the Green Line next week. They are going to be doing dead train pull by the Brandt. They have to do this to check for clearances.

Major Metro Transit Investigation Finished

Bus Driver Assaulting a Passenger

A Lincoln, Nebraska bus driver accused of assaulting a passenger repeatedly punched the man before dragging him off the vehicle and leaving him on the side of a road has been fired.

Bus Gets Stuck Last Snowstorm

Northstar Commuter Rail Arriving Big Lake Station

Major Scoping Decisions for Southwest Light Rail Transit

Informational presentation Major Scoping Decisions for Southwest Light Rail Transit to the Metropolitan Council Meeting on March 27, 2013.

Northstar Commuter Rail Time Lapse

Metro Transit Type 1 Bombardier Flexity Swift

Metro Transit Type 1 Bombardier Flexity Swift LRVs on the METRO Blue Line (Hiawatha Line) at 26th St and Hiawatha Ave on April 1,2013
Sorry about this wind noise This is not one of my best videos. It was very windy and the sun was bad too.

Siemens S70 3-LRV Consist

Metro Transit Siemens S70 3-LRV Consist on the METRO Blue Line (Hiawatha Line) at Hiawatha Ave and 26th Street. LRV # 201-202-203

Philadelphia saves man from Subway tracks

Mall of America Transit Station: Master Plan Presentation

Mall of America Transit Station: Master Plan Presentation to the Transportation Committee on Monday March 11, 2013 at Metro Transit FT Heywood Chambers.

I requested the posting of the presentation.

Here is the link: Mall of America Transit Station: Master Plan Presenta

Man Killed on Blue Line Accident

Pioneer Press Story :Minneapolis: Motorist killed when light-rail train hits car at crossing

Star Tribune Story: One dead after train hits vehicle on south Minneapolis tracks

International Bus Driver Appreciation Day

International Bus Driver Appreciation Day

The Interchange Update

The Interchange Update to the Transportation CommitteeMonday, February 25, 2013

link to presentation



 KARE 11 news story

METRO Red Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Update

Metropolitan Council Transportation Committee Monday, February 25, 2013

Link to Presentation

Plowing in Coon Rapids

Stay Safe on the Green Line

Last Train To London - Jerusalem Light Rail Train Employees

These guys know how to have fun

Customer Information Centers

New Customer Information Centers are being intalled on buses

METRO Green Line Construction

METRO Green Line Construction (Central Corridor Light Rail) from Minneapolis to Downtown St Paul, MN on Dec 5 & 6, 2012. The projct was over 85% done at the time of video. I know this was done a couple months old. Life just happens. Please leave a comment and let me know what you think.

State of the Region 2013 - Transit Proposal

Metropolitan Council Chair Susan Haigh discussed Governor Mark Dayton's transit proposal during the 2013 State of the Region at the Union Depot in St. Paul. The proposal would help build out a full metro-wide transit system.

Open Doors

Chicago Tribune Video of Doors open on Metra

Video Featured on Finance & Commerce News Blog

My video of the new Siemens LRV  was featured on the Finance & Commerce blog Working on the Railroad which was posted on Metropolitan Council Facebook page.

Siemens S70 Debut on METRO Blue Line (Hiawatha Line)

EXCLUSIVE: In -service debut of the new Siemens S70 LRV #201 and 202 on the METRO Blue Line (Hiawatha Line) 2-12-13

Metropolitan Council Public Hearings on Green Line (Central Corridor)

Metropolitan Council Public Hearings on business impacts along the Central Corridor LRT at Model Cities, Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 8a.m.



Metropolitan Council Public Hearings on business impacts along the Central Corridor LRT at Goodwill/Easter Seals, Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 6p.m.

No Pants Subway Ride 2013 Minneapolis

New Blog

This is a continuation of my blogging of Twin Cities Transit blog. Due to a mix up in my Internet provider I am not able to log on to the old blog.