Rail-Only Transfers to be eliminated Jan. 1

NEWS FROM: METRO TRANSIT

Effective Jan. 1, bus drivers will no longer issue Rail-Only Transfers. If your trips include a transfer from bus to light rail, use a Go-To Card for an easier way to pay your fare.

Get your Go-To Card today!

Go-To Cards can be used over and over again and automatically include a transfer.

Get your Go-To Card here or at Metro Transit stores or select retailers.

Find the nearest Go-To Card retailer.

New bicycle pumps installed at six city sites

NEWS FROM: CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS

Commuting to work by bike got just a little bit easier with City of Minneapolis offering new bicycle pumps at six sites to allow downtown bike commuters to manually inflate their tires. The bright blue Air Kits were manufactured and installed by Minneapolis-based Dero Bike Racks. Folks can find them at the bike racks at the Public Service Center (at Third Avenue and Fourth Street South, to the rear of the building), City Hall (at Fourth Street and Fourth Avenue South), Minneapolis Farmers Market (Border Avenue and Third Avenue North), Convention Center (Third Avenue and 12^th Street South), and the 2nd Police Precinct (Central and 19^th Avenues NE, to the left of the front entrance)and 3rd Police Precinct bike racks (East Lake Street and Snelling Avenue). These are free for anyone to use.

Remember that bicycle tires require regular inflation every few weeks and more often as the weather gets colder. Improper inflation can lead to flat tires, decreased rider control, and inefficient riding. Check the sidewall of the tire to read the inflation rating for your bike tire, and use the gauge on the new pumps to inflate to the correct pressure.

These pumps were purchased by the Minneapolis Department of Health & Family Support as part of the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) Active Commuting Initiative. They were installed by the Bike Walk Ambassador Program, part of the Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program (NTP).

Metro Transit & Northstar Link offer free rides to Target Holidazzle Parade December 10, 17

Enjoy a free ride on Northstar Link buses and Northstar trains to the Target Holidazzle parade in downtown Minneapolis Dec. 10 and 17. Details for the free bus ride from St. Cloud to Big Lake are at CatchTheLink.com.

The Northstar commuter rail line is making the holiday season brighter by offering free special-event service on Saturday, Dec. 10, and Saturday, Dec. 17, to Target Holidazzle Parade in downtown Minneapolis.

The special-event train will leave Big Lake Station at 3:06 p.m. both days and, after stops at Elk River, Anoka, Coon Rapids and Fridley, will arrive in downtown Minneapolis at 3:55 p.m., giving parade goers extra time to enjoy downtown attractions. The popular parade kicks off on Nicollet Mall at 6:30 p.m.

The free-ride offer is available on Northstar trains after 3 p.m. on both days. Metro Transit buses and light rail will be free from 4-8 p.m. on Dec. 10 and 17 as well.

Once Northstar customers reach downtown Minneapolis, getting to Nicollet Mall is an easy ride on light rail, which connects at Target Field Station. Return Northstar service leaves downtown Minneapolis at 8 p.m.

This year’s Holidazzle season begins Friday, Nov. 25, and continues every Thursday through Sunday night through Dec. 18. Now in its 20th season, the parade features colorful displays, lights, costumes, music and dancing to celebrate the holidays.

Get more information at metrotransit.org/holidazzle.

Metro Transit is a service of the Metropolitan Council. Customers boarded Metro Transit buses and trains 78 million times in 2010.

MnDOT seeks public input on proposed Twin Cities to Milwaukee segment of high-speed rail corridor

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Department of Transportation is hosting two open houses and one webinar in December to solicit public comment on the recently completed Draft Alternatives Selection Report for the proposed Twin Cities to Milwaukee section of the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail corridor to Chicago.

The public information meetings and webinar will be held:

• Monday, Dec. 12 — 5 to 7 p.m., at the Stillwater Public Library, 224 Third St. N., Stillwater, Minn.
• Tuesday Dec. 13 — 5 to 7 p.m., at the Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson St., Winona, Minn.
• Wednesday, Dec. 14 — 5 to 7 p.m., Webinar: http://mndot.adobeconnect.com/mwrriphase7-webinar12142011/; conference call-in number – 1-800-591-2259; participant code – 697770.

MnDOT representatives will be available at the open houses and webinar to answer questions. There will be a brief presentation at 5:30 p.m.

The Federal Railroad Administration approved the recommendation in the Draft Alternatives Selection Report, which describes the methodology and analysis that was conducted to identify ‘reasonable and feasible passenger rail alternative(s)’. The report identifies one route, (Route 1; the existing Amtrak route from: Milwaukee-Watertown-Portage-Tomah-La Crosse-Winona-Hastings-St. Paul-Minneapolis) as the most reasonable and feasible passenger rail alternative. The route provides an opportunity to incrementally use a reduction in travel time and increase train frequency by phasing the build-out of the route, according to the report. This phased approach recognizes the constraints associated with funding requirements for major infrastructure improvements and is consistent with the Minnesota Statewide Rail Plan.

Public comment will be taken at the open houses, webinar, and through MnDOT’s website atwww.dot.state.mn.us/passengerrail/mwrri/phase7.html beginning Dec. 12.

The public also may submit comments from Dec. 12, 2011 to Jan. 12, 2012 by:

Email: MWRRIPhase7@state.mn.us
Fax: 651-366-4248
Phone (leaving a recorded message): 651-366-3199
Mail: Minnesota Department of Transportation
Passenger Rail Office
Mail Stop 480
395 John Ireland Boulevard
St. Paul, MN 55155

The Minneapolis/St. Paul – Chicago corridor program is part of the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative, which seeks to create a network of high-speed passenger rail corridors in the Midwest to provide business and leisure travelers with shorter travel times, additional train frequencies and connections between urban centers and smaller communities. For more information about the MWRRI, visit www.dot.state.mn.us/passengerrail/mwrri/index.html.

To request an ASL interpreter or other reasonable accommodation for either open house, call Janet Miller at 651-366-4720 or 1-800-657-3774 (Greater Minnesota); 711 or 1-800-627-3529 (Minnesota Relay). You may also send an e-mail to janet.rae.miller@state.mn.us. (Please request at least one week in advance).

Portion of Glenwood Ave. N to close Saturday, Nov. 12

Glenwood Avenue North from 12th Street North to Lyndale Avenue East (northbound Lyndale) will close to all traffic from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12. The closure is required to allow Minneapolis crews to place new water and sewer lines in the roadway for a new development.

A signed detour will posted and the roadway will reopen around 6 p.m. that evening.

Region’s Creative Commuting Programs Recognized

ST. PAUL – (Nov. 9) – Seven Twin Cities organizations and four individuals today received Commuter Choice awards at a ceremony in St. Paul for innovation in helping people get to work without adding to traffic congestion.

Metro Transit and the region’s Transportation Management Organizations (TMOs)
– Minneapolis Commuter Connection, 494 Commuter Services, St. Paul Smart Trips and Anoka County Commute Solutions – sponsored the 21^st annual Commuter Choice Awards to recognize organizations, employers and individuals for their work to support or promote commuting options, including taking transit, bicycling, carpooling, vanpooling, walking and telecommuting.

The following awards were presented to these employers and organizations:

Northern Brewer of Roseville was named Organization and Community Champion. The employer was praised for its support of employees who commute to work by bicycle. The company sponsors Bike to Work events and events in local neighborhoods as well. This year, Northern Brewer employees volunteered at a bike safety rodeo, offering free bike safety and maintenance checks at the Hancock Recreation Center in St. Paul.

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Minneapolis, was recognized with the Sustained Commitment to Transportation Options award. To increase parking availability on its campus, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage started a new carpool program for employees, with incentives such as guaranteed parking and gift cards for participants. In a related effort, Wells Fargo started a shuttle service for employees who parked at an offsite location, which had an added bonus of reducing traffic. In addition, the company continued its support of bicycle commuting programs offered to its employees.

The Outstanding Relocation award was presented to U.S. Bank – Richfield. The organization prepared its employees for an office relocation from St. Paul to Richfield this year by hosting two transportation fairs that provided more than 400 employees with resources for their new commute. To encourage more employees to share the ride to work, U.S. Bank established preferred underground parking for employees who share the ride and promoted vanpooling and carpooling at commuter fairs.

The Sustained Commitment to Transportation Options award went to Cushman & Wakefield/NorthMarq Real Estate Services – Campbell Mithun Tower. The property management company partnered with Minneapolis Department of Health and Minneapolis Commuter Connection to provide amenities that encouraged tenants to try bicycle commuting. Efforts included doubling the number of bike racks available to commuters, providing information to cyclists on bike theft prevention, and adding showers and lockers.

Minneapolis Community and Technical College was recognized as Outstanding Educational Organization. The college subsidizes transit pass programs both for students (College Pass) and for employees (Metropass). In addition, it partnered with a student transportation advocacy club, resulting in the installation of a bicycle repair station on campus and increased bicycle use and awareness at the college.

The Sustained Commitment to Community Outreach award went to outdoor retailer REI. Among its accomplishments, REI provided free bicycle commuting classes at three local stores and sponsored an outreach program on bicycle commuting and safety. In addition, REI hosted Bike Walk to Work Day celebration events, which offered free bicycle safety checks and prizes for those who participated in the event. REI also worked with partner organizations on a Cyclefest event, with information and classes on bicycle commuting.

Nice Ride Minnesota won the Outstanding Transportation Demand Management Organization award for its efforts to bring a bicycle-sharing program to the Twin Cities. In 2011, the organization expanded to additional neighborhoods across the Twin Cities, including north and northeast Minneapolis and University of Minnesota (St. Paul campus), University of St. Thomas, Macalester College, Concordia College and Hamline University.

The following awards were presented to individuals:

The Workplace Champion award went to Kristen Ries, of Columns Resource Group. Ries was credited for getting the Metropass program at her employer and its subsidiaries running within two months. To support that effort, she helped arrange commuter fairs so employees would be more aware of their transportation options.

Kelly Burroughs, of Blaine, was named Creative Commuting Ambassador. He shows his commitment to commuting options every day with his commute to work: pedaling 5 miles to a park-and-ride lot, then an 18-mile bus ride to downtown St. Paul. He also promoted commuting options at his worksite, helped arrange a commuter fair and served as an ambassador to other employees interested in combining bicycle plus bus trips.

Jodie Zurn, who works for the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service office in Minneapolis, received the Change Agent award. She led an effort to get USDA employees converted from a cumbersome transit voucher system to the unlimited-ride Metropass program. She worked at various levels of her organization to make the change, resulting in considerable cost savings to her agency and making transit a more convenient choice for employees. Her efforts will be included in a White House report.

The Commuter Solutions Leader award was presented to Susan Humphrey, of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. She spearheaded an effort to promote alternate commute options to federal agency employees at the Whipple federal building at Ft. Snelling before they moved to a temporary location in Bloomington. Among her accomplishments, she helped plan several commuter fairs for federal employees, established a vanpool from western Wisconsin and championed ridesharing options at her worksite.

Metro Transit, a service of the Metropolitan Council, is the transportation resource for the Twin Cities, offering an integrated network of buses and trains as well as resources for those who carpool, vanpool, walk, bike or telework.

Nice Ride 2011 season ends November 6

The 2011 Nice Ride season will end at 10pm on Sunday November 6th. Nice Ride may shut down before this date if significant snowfall occurs.

Starting at 10pm on November 6th, all stations will be locked. Users will be able to return bikes to stations but new rentals will not be allowed. Please plan accordingly. Crews will begin removing equipment from the streets the following day.

The Nice Ride season runs from the first week of April, through the first week of November, weather permitting. Many of our location permits require us to remove equipment from streets and sidewalks before significant snowfall occurs to accommodate snow plowing. In addition, exposing our equipment to road salt would violate the terms of our warranties.

Thank you for using Nice Ride, watch for our return in April of 2012.

Please contact us with questions or concerns:
customerservice@niceridemn.org
1-877-551-6423

City’s street paving season ends with more than 45 miles of new driving surfaces

NEWS FROM CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS:

The 2011 street paving season is ending on a very high note. Reconstruction, repaving and sealcoating work on Minneapolis roadways has put new, smooth driving surfaces on more than 45 miles of city streets. More than half of all streets in the downtown core now have a driving surface that’s three years old or less.

By the numbers:

0.82 miles of roadway reconstructed
25.83 miles of roadway resurfaced
18.7 miles of roadways and alleys seal coated 
45.35 miles of new driving surfaces

Downtown streets, among the busiest ones in town, got additional attention in 2011. More than 50 blocks of downtown streets were repaved, including some sections that required repeated patching to repair potholes. Other streets that needed attention were seal coated, which is another way to prevent potholes and extend the lives of these roadways.

This year was the third of the 5-year, $22.6 million Infrastructure Acceleration Program (IAP), which supplements the City’s existing infrastructure plan and supports street paving as well as signal and lighting repairs. Street work is generally funded through the City’s Capital Improvements Program and the general maintenance program. However, it was not enough to keep pace with the overall decline of street conditions. The IAP initiative increased the amount of work done each year, slowing the decline of street conditions and making better roadways for all drivers

For more information about Minneapolis’ 2011 Capital Improvement Projects visitwww.minneapolismn.gov/public-works.