The Future of Northstar in a Post-Pandemic World
Ridership on the Northstar during the pandemic has averaged between 100 and 300 weekday riders, making it one of the lowest performing commuter/regional rail routes in the country.
Category: Railroads
Dog Nearly Bites Man and Converted Churches on Dayton’s Bluff
September 27, 2021 Downtown, Lowertown, Dayton’s Bluff 20.1 miles The route map of my September 27, 2021 ride. The map is zoomable. A sunny late September day with the temperature in the mid-70s is a day to ride. And so I was winding my way east on Kellogg Boulevard Downtown toward Dayton’s Bluff. At the […]
The Northstar Is Broken. How can we fix it?
Contributor Ian Gaida offers musings on how to make the Northstar a more useful – and utilized – system.
Beyond 2035: MNDOT’s Stretch Goals and Blind Spots
Taking a closer look at passenger rail routes that have mostly gone unstudied by MNDOT.
A Bicycle Tour of Twin Cities Lift and Swing Bridges
From the beginning, the key to coexistence of rail and river traffic has been a half dozen movable swing and lift bridges. Unlike Duluth’s and Stillwater’s lift bridges, many Twin Cities lift and swing bridges operate in underappreciated obscurity. Let’s take a bicycle tour!
Theoretically Inclusive, Practically Uninviting: A Case Study of Union Depot
By Sam Ding In December 2012, after two years of renovation, the brand-new Union Depot in Downtown Saint Paul revealed itself. Situated in the Lowertown neighborhood, this train station has transformed into a multimodal transportation hub while serving the people of Saint Paul as a public space. It was a heavy investment— from both the […]
BNSF Said No to Light Rail, Would They Say Yes to a Trail?
The Blue Line Extension hit a major roadblock when BNSF Railway refused to allow part of the light rail route on their right-of-way. This means delays and a higher cost to the project, but it’s also been an opportunity to reroute the light rail through North Minneapolis. What hasn’t been talked about however, is the […]
Beyond 2030: Looking at Intercity Rail in Minnesota
A look at the future of Minnesota’s intercity rail beyond Duluth and Chicago
Rail vs Bus on the Red Rock Corridor
Back in the late 1990s, MnDOT analyzed several existing freight rail corridors in the Twin Cities region for the possibility of implementing commuter rail service. Three routes were chosen for their cost effectiveness and best potential ridership: the Northstar Line to St. Cloud, the Red Rock Corridor to Hastings, and the Dan Patch Corridor to […]
In, Out and Around Railroad Island
September 23, 2019 23 miles Summit-University, Frogtown (Thomas-Dale), Downtown, Railroad Island (Payne-Phalen), North End, Midway, Lexington-Hamline, Macalester-Groveland, Highland Park Downtown Minnesota’s stunningly beautiful and recently renovated Capitol building obviously is the center piece of the Capitol Complex. However, the Transportation Building, Senate and State Office Buildings, the Judicial Center, and some 10 other structures (and […]