Minneapolis Streetcar System

This article is about the proposed modern streetcar system in Minneapolis. For the streetcar system in the Twin Cities up to 1954, see Twin City Rapid Transit Company.

The Minneapolis Streetcar System is a proposed streetcar system for the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Extensive studies and plans for the new system were completed in 2007 and presented to the Minneapolis City Council in January 2008;^[1] on April 2, 2010, the Council voted to approve the plans and seek funding.^[2] On December 21, 2010 the Federal Transit Administration granted $900,000 to further study the Nicollet and Central Avenue corridors.^[3]

Streetcar vs Light rail

Based on similar federal funded streetcar programs in the USA (mainly Portland, Oregon) streetcars are rarely separated from other traffic and are not given traffic-signal priority over other vehicles (like Light rail), except in a few situations to allow the rail cars—which cannot turn as sharply as other most motor vehicles—to make some turns. In Portland, using this "mixed traffic" operation has reduced the cost of constructing each segment and—by not closing traffic lanes permanently to other traffic, as is typically done with light rail—also minimized disruption to traffic flow, and allowed curbside parking to be retained, but also means slower operating speeds compared to light rail. Additional factors making the Portland Streetcar line less expensive to build per mile than light rail are that use of city streets largely eliminated the need to acquire private property for portions of the right-of-way, as has been necessary for the region's light rail lines, and that the vehicles' smaller size and therefore lighter weight has enabled the use of a "shallower track slab". The latter means that construction of the trackway necessitated excavating to a depth of only 12.2 inches (310 mm) instead of the conventional (for light rail) depth of around 18.3 inches (460 mm), significantly reducing the extent to which previously existing underground utilities had to be relocated to accommodate the trackway.

Vehicles

Each Portland streetcar is 66 feet (20.12 m) long, whereas light rail cars are typically 80 to 95 feet (24.38–28.96 m) long (Portland's Lightrail are between 80 and 95ft. long) and streetcars are operated as single cars at all times, never coupled into trains. The shorter cars keeps station construction expense lower than would be the case for a light-rail station, but the smaller cars do not provide equal carrying capacity as that of a light-rail train; a single articulated Portland streetcar is only about one-third the length of a two-car Lightrail Trains. It can be assumed the Minneapolis streetcars would follow similar design standards or acquire ex-Twin City Rapid Transit PCC streetcars from Newark City Subway. Click to view an example of the Portland streetcar vehicles Vehicle image one Vehicle image two

How to Ride

The streetcars would cost either as much as Hiawatha light rail ($1.75 non-rush hour, $2.25 rush hour) or slightly less due to slower travel speeds ($2.05 all day-like Portland). Discounted fares for disabled riders and veterans would also apply. Ticket boxes would be the same ones used at Hiawatha lightrail and Northstar Commuter Rail stations, and would accept day, event 6 hour, metro, U, college, and student passes, as well as super savers. Click to go to the Metro Transit website and learn more about these fares. Metro Transit website

Use of Nextrip signs would also be used at the stations, to allow riders to determine the time of the next arriving train or bus at the station. The streetcars would be operated by Metro Transit a division of the Metropolitan Council.

Lines

The current plans include seven lines,^[4] which with the exception of the Midtown Greenway line follow former Twin City Rapid Transit streetcar routes that were ripped up out of the ground in the early 1950s.^[5]

It appears as if the Central Line combined with the Nicollet Ave./Mall Line is the most promising line to be built, due to its importance in helping revitalize both North and South Minneapolis

Central Avenue Line

This line would run along Central Avenue NE (Minnesota State Highway 65) from the Nicollet Avenue/Mall Line in Downtown Minneapolis to the Columbia Heights Transit Center in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. The line would cross the Mississippi River via the Third Avenue Bridge. There is an at-grade railroad crossing at 36th Avenue NE that would have to be altered to ensure steady traffic flow for the streetcars. Other than the railroad crossing, there are no major construction or engineering issues along the corridor.

The total length of the line would be 9.6 miles (15.4 km). The cost of track for the line would be approximately $100,000,000. Ridership estimates for the line are around 5,500 to 7,000 weekday riders.

Combined with the Nicollet Avenue/Nicollet Mall Line (current proposed action) the total length would be approximately 9.6 miles and a total combined cost of $185,000,000. Travel time from the I35W & 46th St. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Station to the Columbia Heights Transit Center would be approximately 35 minutes. Estimated ridership for the combination of the two lines would be 14,500-17,500 riders per weekday. Compared to the 30,500 riders per weekday on the 12.3 Mile Hiawatha Light Rail Line from Target Field in Downtown Minneapolis to Mall of America.

The route follows the northern leg of TCRT's Bloomington–Columbia Heights line.

Nicollet Avenue/Mall Line

This line would run along Nicollet Avenue and Nicollet Mall from 46th Street South through Downtown Minneapolis (connecting to the Hiawatha Line at Nicollet Mall Station) to the Central Avenue Line.

The line would be 4.1 miles long. The track would cost approximately $85,000,000. Ridership estimates for the line are approximately 10,000 to 12,000 weekday riders.

Combined with the Central Avenue Line (current proposed action) the total length would be approximately 9.6 miles and a total combined cost of $185,000,000. Travel time from the I35W & 46th St. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Station to the Columbia Heights Transit Center would be approximately 35 minutes. Estimated ridership for the combination of the two lines would be 14,500-17,500 riders per weekday. Compared to the 30,500 riders per weekday on the 12.3 Mile Hiawatha Light Rail Line from Target Field in Downtown Minneapolis to Mall of America.

The route follows the southern leg of TCRT's Nicollet–Northwest line.

Midtown Greenway/Lake Street Line

This line would run along Lake Street between St. Louis Park & Hiawatha Avenue, connecting the future proposed Southwest LRT Line, Hiawatha LRT Line, and several major housing sites together.

Although TCRT streetcars never ran along the rail corridor that is now the Midtown Greenway, the Minneapolis leg of the Selby-Lake line ran one block south on Lake Street.

University/4th Street Line

This line would run from downtown along Hennepin Avenue to University Avenue, continuing east to Oak Street. The route follows the northern leg of TCRT's Oak–Harriet line.

Broadway/Washington Avenue Line

This line would run along West Broadway (Hennepin County Road 81) and Washington Avenue from the Robbinsdale Transit Center to ether Nicollet Mall and 5th Street or Park Avenue and 5th Street in Downtown Minneapolis, depending on the final configuration.

The line would be 11.4 miles long. The track would cost approximately $135,000,000. Estimated ridership for the line would be approximately 4,500 to 5,500 weekday riders.

The route follows TCRT's 28th Ave.–Robbinsdale line.

Hennepin Avenue Line

This line line would run mostly along Hennepin Avenue from the Uptown Transit Center through Downtown Minneapolis (connecting with the Hiawatha Line at Warehouse District / Hennepin Avenue Station) to the University of Minnesota's East Bank, at which point it would become the University/4th Street Line. The line would cross the Mississippi River on the Hennepin Avenue Bridge.

The line would be 3.9 miles long. The track would cost approximately $80,000,000. Ridership estimates for the line are approximately 9,500 to 12,000 weekday riders. (This includes the University/4th Street Line also.)

The route follows a portion of the southern leg of TCRT's Oak–Harriet line.

Chicago Avenue Line

This line would run along Chicago Avenue from 38th Street South to Nicollet Mall in Downtown Minneapolis via 9th and 10th streets. The line would then run along Nicollet Mall to 5th Street. It would terminate at Nicollet Mall Station on the Hiawatha Line.

The line would be 3 miles (4.8 km) long. The cost of track for the line would be approximately $80,000,000. Ridership estimates for this line are approximately 11,000 to 13,000 riders on weekdays.

The route follows the southern leg of TCRT's Chicago–Penn line.

References

1. ^ Minneapolis City Council. "Streetcar Planning". http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/public-works/trans-plan/StreetcarStudy.asp. Retrieved 5 April 2010. 
2. ^ "Minneapolis City Council Agenda, April 2, 2010". http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/council/2010-meetings/20100402/Council20100402Agenda.asp. Retrieved 5 April 2010. 
3. ^ "Alternatives Analysis Project Descriptions". http://www.fta.dot.gov/news/news_events_12233.html. Retrieved 21 December 2010. 
4. ^ "Long-Term Streetcar Network Map". December 2007. http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/public-works/trans-plan/StreetcarNetworkMap.pdf. Retrieved 5 April 2010. 
5. ^ "Minneapolis Street Railway system map". 1946. http://www.trolleyride.org/History/PDFs/TCRT_Mpls_map_1946.pdf. Retrieved 5 April 2010. 

External links

• Minneapolis City Council: Streetcar Planning
• Mayor Rybak Supports Transportation Proposals
• Old Studies of Midtown Greenway Streetcar