Transit Improvements on East-West Routes in Downtown
Minneapolis Michael Mechtenberg Planner Metro Transit
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
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Todays Presentation Overview of transit service in Twin Cities
East-west transit service background Initial plan: consolidation
Revised plan: balancing volumes Recent progress and next steps
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Metro Transit Snapshot 15th largest U.S. transit system 7
counties, 90 cities Bus, light rail, commuter rail 127 routes, 941
vehicles 81 million rides in 2012 3
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Transit in the Twin Cities 4 East-West Hennepin Nicollet 4th
Street Blue Line LRT MARQ2
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Existing Transit Usage 5 Second busiest transit spine
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Passenger Facilities 66
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Access Minneapolis Downtown Plan June 2007, City approves
Downtown Action Plan Plan Vision Thriving economic center Livable
and walkable streets High-quality transit system Transportation
choices Transit spine recommended to consolidate financial
resources, simplify for users and improve transit operations 8
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Access Minneapolis Downtown Plan Marquette and 2 nd Ave
Double-wide bus lanes Shelters and real-time signs Hennepin/1 st
Ave Conversion to two-way traffic Nicollet Mall All hybrid buses
Free ride service Local routes only East-West Spine Initial two-way
8 th Street concept rejected Continue to evaluate alternatives for
local east-west service. 9
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10 2010 Concept Plan: Consolidation T T Nearside (new) Farside
(existing) Consolidate service onto 7 th and 8 th streets Split
stop at Nicollet Mall, with new nearside location Curb extensions
at stops Upgraded shelters with heat, light and better schedule
info
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2010 Concept Plan: Consolidation 11
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Concerns of this concept raised by downtown stakeholders :
Traffic and curbside impacts (parking, loading, taxis); storefront
views/access High volumes of people/sidewalk congestion; security
Initial plan dropped due to lack of support 12 Stakeholder
Feedback
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Coordinated with downtown stakeholders on East-West Corridor
Task Force Downtown Council Downtown Improvement District Key
business representatives City / Metro Transit staff Broaden scope
to address larger vision for downtown Project not only about
transit Downtown 2025 Plan Downtown Action Plan 13 Revised
Approach
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Alternative approach to balance volume of riders Distribute
versus concentrate bus routes and stops Relocate local routes Route
14 to 4 th Street Route 22 to 4 th Street Route 19 to 9 th Street
Enhance sidewalks for length of corridor, not just at stops
Streetscape and greening Improve bus stops 14 Revised Plan
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Street Environment 15
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Providing a better pedestrian environment 16
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9 th Street 7 th Street 4 th Street 8 th Street 6 th Street
Nicollet LaSalle Hennepin Marquette 2 nd Ave Current Weekday
Boardings by Stop Proposed Weekday Boardings by Stop
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9 th Street Pilot Project 18 Apply on street temporary measures
to demonstrate proposed concept Install colorized roadway surface
treatment Install planters to provide barrier between roadway and
pedestrian area. Install pavement markings and signs to duplicate
what is needed in proposed concept Collect data and analyze
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9 th Street Pilot Project 19
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Pilot Project Example: Union Square North, NYC 20
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Status of transit changes Route 14 to 4 th Street Route 22 to 4
th Street Route 19 to 9 th Street Develop and revisit facility
design alternatives Street, pedestrian and transit customer
Stakeholder/policymaker changes Renew stakeholder conversations 21
Next Steps
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Transit Improvements on East-West Routes in Downtown
Minneapolis Michael Mechtenberg Planner Metro Transit
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
