Light Rail Opens in Minneapolis; Disaster Doesn't Occur

Sishir Chang · Jun 28, 2004

Here's a good story in response to the all of the light rail paranoia threads that had been posted around the opening of Houston's light rail line.

http://www.startribune.com/stories/368/4848766.html

Last update: June 28, 2004 at 12:00 AM
Getting off on the right track
Laurie Blake, Star Tribune
June 27, 2004 LRTOPEN0627

Ceremonies, activities -- and trains packed shoulder-to-shoulder. Sitting and standing, passengers inaugurated the new Hiawatha light-rail line Saturday.

An estimated 30,000 were the first to take a trip on opening day.

"This is part of the history of Minneapolis," said Nan Grube of Minneapolis as she waited with her grandchildren to board the train at Downtown East/Metrodome Station.

For a trip on the train, passengers waited in long lines, in some cases for more than an hour. "I can't believe how many people are at Fort Snelling," said Lt. Jeff Rugel of Minneapolis traffic police.

Larger crowds gathered at the Metrodome, where the Twins had an autograph party, and at the Warehouse District, where the line to board the train snaked down First Avenue and around the corner to Sixth Street.

Free train service ran 8 miles from the downtown Minneapolis Warehouse District to Fort Snelling. Trains arrived in seven pairs roughly 10 minutes apart.

A 14th rail car cleared safety testing Friday night and was immediately pressed into service.

To accommodate the crowds, Metro Transit emptied the trains at both ends to let new passengers climb aboard.

Praise for the rail line echoed throughout the day.

• "It's about time - every other city has one," said Jewell Schelde of Minneapolis as she got off the train. "It's quite nice and clean."

Said Clare Staff of Minneapolis: "I've waited for this day for 10 years. It's great."

• Emmett Mullin of Minneapolis said: "I'm impressed. It's going to be a great connection for me to the airport. I'm ready for stage two."

• Yelena Slinin of St. Paul said: "I think it's a good thing. Fewer people will drive and pollute and congest." She brought her two children to ride the train because it reminded them of the trains in San Francisco where they once lived.

Light-rail manager and police declared opening day successful and eventful, and without problems.

Joe Marie, Metro Transit's assistant general manager for rail operations, said light-rail service was unfolded without incident. Minneapolis and Metro Transit police reported the same: "Big crowds - no incidents," Rugel said.

Metropolitan Council Chairman Peter Bell began opening ceremonies at the Warehouse District/Hennepin Avenue station with the announcement that "world-class cities have world-class transportation systems."

Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who as a legislator opposed the rail line, said that the opposition is water over the bridge and that the goal now is to make it successful. Pawlenty, who ended with a plug for the proposed Northstar commuter rail line between the Hiawatha line in downtown Minneapolis and Big Lake, said: "This project will teach us lessons. ... Let's be open-minded in learning from it."

Other speakers included Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, Rep. Martin Sabo, D-Minn.; Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn.; Federal Transit Administration administrator Jenna Dorn, and Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin.

Laurie Blake is at lblake@startribune.com.
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macho GRANDE · Jun 28, 2004

There were also a ton of officers at intersections directing traffic and warning pedestrians.

MadMax · Jun 28, 2004

has there been a ton of paranoia here? i don't see that. i see full trains running quickly, cleanly and efficiently down main street. we've had our fair share of accidents, that's for sure. but those have been diminishing. at this point, it's a non-story...the line is built...it's running...and we have phase II on the way.

ima_drummer2k · Jun 28, 2004

How close does the train drop people off to the Toyota Center? My folks are going to Simon and Garfunkle and they want to take the rail.

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Light Rail Opens in Minneapolis; Disaster Doesn't Occur

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