‘Transit’ Archives
Metro Transit: Welcome Back, Transit!
By JOHN CHARLES WILSON As I’m fairly sure most people who use Metro Transit, or at least read this column, know, Metro Transit service has been severely curtailed in the past few years, first due to the pandemic, then due to a driver shortage.Finally, there is good news on that front: some of the service we lost is being restored as of the next pick, effective Saturday, 17 June 2023. While improvements are happening throughout the system, the following changes most directly affect the alley readership area:The Orange Line is being restored to run once every 15 minutes rather than every half hour on weekdays during the midday period.The D Line will have minor schedule adjustments for construction on Osseo Rd. in North Minneapolis and to match traffic conditions.Route 5 will also have minor schedule adjustments for construction on Osseo Rd.Route 9 will be restored to run once every half hour on weekdays during the midday period, rather than once an hour.Route 67 will have minor [...]
Metro Transit: Not Bad, But Not Good Either
by JOHN CHARLES WILSONMetro Transit announced its quarterly service changes just in time for this month’s alley. Unfortunately, the promise of better service after a hiring blitz isn’t ready for prime time yet. The changes this time around are very minor. For routes that affect the Phillips community, these are the only changes happening on March 18th: The D Line will have minor schedule and trip adjustments for all days of the week. Route 5 will have time and trip adjustments from 5 to 10 minutes, all days of the week. The first Sunday southbound trip will be 9 minutes later, the last northbound trip will be 4-5 minutes later every day, and the last southbound trip will be 1-3 minutes later every day. Route 22 will have two weekday afternoon southbound trips from Brooklyn Center switched. The 3:36 PM trip will leave Brooklyn Center 2 minutes later and go via Penn instead of Dupont Avenue, and the 3:56 PM trip will go via Dupont instead of Penn, with no time change. This [...]
Metro Transit: December Disaster!
By JOHN CHARLES WILSON The latest news out of Metro Transit isn’t good. Thanks to a shortage of drivers, one of the worst cutbacks in recent years is coming soon. Unlike past cutbacks, this isn’t due to lack of funding, lack of riders, or a pandemic. It is literally because they can’t hire enough drivers. As of 15 October 2022, Route 27 (26th/28th Streets between Hiawatha and I-35W) has been suspended. People are recommended to take Route 21 (Lake Street) instead. In addition, the following cutbacks in the Phillips community will start 3 December 2022:The Orange Line will be reduced from once every 15 minutes to once every half hour during the weekday midday period.Route 9 is being reduced from once every half hour to once an hour except during rush hours.Route 67 is being reduced from once every half hour to once an hour except during rush hours. Many other transit routes in various areas of the Twin Cities are also being cut. However, the 9 and the 67 are pretty [...]
