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Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Twin Cities transit: The B Line replaces the Route 21 on Saturday
After decades of transporting passengers from the Uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis to downtown St. Paul, the slow but storied Route 21 bus will be discontinued this month and replaced by a new bus rapid transit service that travels intermittently in its own lane, allows passengers to pay in advance and offers boarding from three doors. With 34 stops instead of 90 and a more direct trajectory, Metro Transit's new B Line is expected to shave time off end-to-end commutes while cementing the public transit authority's commitment to its growing network of bus rapid transit corridors. The Route 21 is Metro Transit's most popular yet slowest bus, drawing 7,000 average weekday riders along the corridor while traveling at some eight miles per hour. 'BRT is all about less stop and more go,' said Katie Roth, Metro Transit's Arterial Bus Rapid Transit project manager. The first B Line bus will roll out at 4 a.m. Saturday, absorbing passengers from the Route 21 at 42 new bus shelters equipped with electronic real-time signage, bike racks and other amenities. The B Line, which follows Lake Street and Marshall and Selby avenues before entering downtown St. Paul, will collect riders from curbs that, in many cases, have been elevated to nine inches, instead of the standard six inches, for easier boarding and dismounting. Those and other touches, including more frequent departures and traffic lights that in some cases communicate with buses to offer signal priority, are intended to speed boarding and improve overall quality of service compared to the Route 21, reducing end-to-end commutes — Lake Street and France Avenue to the St. Paul Union Depot — from 76 minutes down to 64 minutes, and Uptown to downtown travel times from 64 to 52 minutes. B Line fares on Saturday will be free from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., courtesy of Midtown Global Market. Community celebrations, featuring snacks, a Metro Transit mascot and kid tables, are planned from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the downtown St. Paul Union Depot and the Lake Street and Chicago Avenue station. Roth noted that 100,000 people living within walking distance of the line, which will service a sizable number of colleges and high schools, including Concordia University, Central High School and St. Paul College. Not all of the B Line's 34 stops mirror those of the Route 21. Unlike the Route 21, the B Line will bypass University Avenue completely, with only a single stop on Snelling Avenue at Snelling and Dayton avenues. To fill in the gap in the Midway, Metro Transit is launching a new Route 72, which will travel between the Snelling/University area and the SunRay Transit Center on St. Paul's East Side. In Minneapolis, a new Route 27 will service South Minneapolis around Lake Street and Abbott Northwestern Hospital. In downtown St. Paul, the B Line will share six stops with the Gold Line at the Smith Avenue ramp at Fifth Street, Sixth and Washington streets by Rice Park, Sixth and Minnesota streets, Sixth and Jackson streets, the Union Depot and Wacouta Street, and within the Union Depot station itself. The B Line marks Metro Transit's seventh bus rapid transit service in the Twin Cities metro, and the second of three BRT lines launching this year. The Gold Line began service from downtown St. Paul to Woodbury in March, and the E Line begins service from Westgate Station on University Avenue to the Southdale Transit Center in Edina in December. By 2035, Metro Transit anticipates having 15 BRT lines in operation. Funding for the B Line design and construction totaled approximately $74 million, including some $16 million from the Federal Transit Administration, $43 million from the state and approximately $15 million from the Metropolitan Council. St. Paul, Minneapolis, Hennepin and Ramsey counties contributed more than $25 million in additional corridor improvements, including resurfacing some 31 lane miles along Lagoon Avenue and Lake Street in Minneapolis. Construction of the B Line shelters, lanes and other amenities began in 2023, connecting the corridor with 42 new BRT platforms, 236 ADA-accessible pedestrian ramps and 12 miles of underground fiber optic cabling. An operator restroom has been installed at the Lake and France end of the line. Due to unrelated construction on Interstate 94 this year, a temporary westbound bus lane has been installed on Marshall Avenue between Wilder and Cretin avenues, eliminating access to 40 parking spots between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. weekdays. The temporary measure is in response to changes in traffic patterns, but will be lifted before the end of the year, according to Metro Transit. Some building owners have complained they received late written notice of the changes, which arrived on Monday, even though they take effect this week. • The B Line travels 13 miles from France Avenue and Lake Street in St. Louis Park to the downtown St. Paul Union Depot off Fourth Street. • Serving 34 stations, some of which are shared in St. Paul with the new Gold Line to Woodbury. • It had a $74 million design and construction budget. • B Line buses will travel in dedicated bus lanes on intermittent portions of Lake Street and Lagoon and Marshall Avenues, and in downtown St. Paul. Most of the bus-only lanes are westbound. • The B Line is Metro Transit's seventh bus rapid transit service and the second of three BRT lines launching this year. For more information, visit Ex-Metro Transit employee claims religious discrimination in lawsuit Jerome Johnson: A new era for Riverview mobility Cops, service providers increasing presence on St. Paul's University Ave., Green Line Alternatives to defunding: Who goes to help when police aren't needed? Metro Transit seeks feedback by Friday on 17 potential BRT routes
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Metro Transit B Line to bring faster travel through Minneapolis, St. Paul
Metro Transit B Line to bring faster travel through Minneapolis, St. Paul originally appeared on Bring Me The News. Metro Transit has identified Lake Street as one of the slowest places to get through in the Twin Cities, especially during rush hour. To combat that, Metro Transit is unveiling a new bus rapid transit route aimed at making trips 20% faster for riders — and it will debut this weekend. Metro Transit's B Line will open to the public on Saturday, marking the culmination of two years of construction and the official retirement of Route 21. The goal of the new rapid route is to shave time off commutes reducing stops, getting riders on buses faster, us taking advantage of bus-only lanes. The public transit agency says it picked the Lake Street corridor for rapid transit because of its popularity. Prior to the pandemic, Route 21 was the second-busiest bus route, with an average of 10,000 daily rides. The route brings customers through Minneapolis to downtown St. Paul along Lake Street, Marshall Avenue, and Selby Avenue. Travelers who frequent the ride will notice a difference not only with the route, but also on the actual buses as Metro Transit will be using buses with more doors and bigger aisles to reduce crowding. Opening day celebrations are scheduled for this Saturday at Union Depot in St. Paul and at Lake & Chicago. All B Line rides will be free Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Amtrak's Borealis train, from Milwaukee to the Twin Cities, had more than 200,000 riders in its first year
Ridership of Amtrak's Borealis line with service from Milwaukee to the Twin Cities and Chicago climbed to more than 200,000 passengers in its first year of operation, the agency reported May 21. Operated daily, Borealis ridership for the 11 months ending April 30 was more than 205,800 people. Total ridership for the new St. Paul to Chicago corridor, including both the Borealis and the Amtrak Empire Builder, was more than 293,000, up 227% compared to the previous year, according to Amtrak. 'When the Borealis launched in May 2024, it was the first passenger rail service expansion in Wisconsin in more than two decades. The train has since become a resounding success story and the ridership data reflects that. It provides a transportation alternative for people living in smaller Wisconsin communities and a new way for Wisconsinites to explore big cities like Milwaukee, Chicago, and the Twin Cities," said Wisconsin Transportation Secretary Kristina Boardman in a statement. When the route started May 2024, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation estimated that 232,000 people would ride the new trains in their first full year of service. In its first month, the route served more than 18,500 passengers, about 600 riders per day. Passengers of Borealis route faced cancellations in March after Amtrak removed its fleet of Horizon passenger cars due to concerns over corrosion, although service was restored without bus substitutions later that month. The train makes the current Empire Builder stops between St. Paul and Milwaukee and the Hiawatha stops between Milwaukee and Chicago. St. Paul-Minneapolis, Minn. - Union Depot (MSP) Red Wing, Minn. (RDW) Winona, Minn. (WIN) La Crosse, Wis. - Amtrak Station (LSE) Tomah, Wis. (WDL) Wisconsin Dells, Wis. (WDL) Portage, Wis. (POG) Columbus, Wis. (CBS) Milwaukee, Wis. - Downtown (MKE) Milwaukee, Wis. - General Mitchell Airport Trains (MKA) Sturtevant, Wis. (SVT) Glenview, Ill. - (GLN) Chicago, Ill. - Union Station (CHI) The most up to date arrival and departure times are available on the mobile app or by text or phone. Call 1-877-231-9448 to speak with an Amtrak customer care specialist. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Amtrak Borealis train surpassed 200,000 passengers in its first year
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Month-by-month guide to spring and summer festivals and family fun
We've got it all in St. Paul. Hmong music festivals; German, Irish, Scottish and pan-African cultural fairs; a massive Cinco de Mayo parade; an Indigenous fashion show; Asian night markets — you name it, and local artists and cultural organizations are making it happen around town this spring and summer. So grab your calendars: Here are just some of the many family-friendly fairs, celebrations and festivals to check out over the next few months. April 19 — Earth Day 2025, El Rio Vista Recreation Center: MN350 and St. Paul Parks & Recreation are teaming up to celebrate sustainability, enjoy a free community meal, and watch live entertainment from local musician David Huckfelt and others. Plus, family activities and seed-planting. Free; 12–3 p.m.; 179 E. Robie St., on the West Side. April 25 — Native Nations Fashion Night, InterContinental St. Paul Riverfront: Designers in this year's Native fashion show focused on water, whether by using upcycled materials to highlight sustainability, centering clay pottery and water vessels or using woodland imagery to call to mind the need to care for lakes and forests. Plus, a marketplace with designers' clothing and products and DJ'ed music. Event space opens at at 6 p.m., fashion show at 7 p.m.; tickets ($55.20/person, including fees) available at 11 East Kellogg Blvd. April 25–27 — The St. Paul Art Crawl, various locations: The spring edition of this twice-yearly extravaganza takes place across three weekends. Plenty of open studios, live music, food and more across town. Venues this weekend are in Ward 2, which encompasses downtown, Lowertown, West Seventh, Summit Hill and the West Side. In particular, stop by the Schmidt Artist Lofts Brewhouse, with more than 80 artists across five levels: 6 to 9 p.m. April 25; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 26; 12 to 6 p.m. April 27. 900 W. Seventh St.; entrance is at Door 1 between West Seventh and Oneida streets. Artists will also be at Union Depot in Lowertown: 5 to 9 p.m. April 25; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 26; 12 to 6 p.m. April 27. April 25–27 — Minnesota Horse Expo, Canterbury Park: It's the state's largest horse-centric trade show, plus info on horse training and care — and free pony rides. Single-day admission, available online, is $18 for adults; $15 for seniors and youth; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 25 and 26, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 27. 1100 Canterbury Road, Shakopee April 27 — Minnesota Qeej and Hmong Arts Festival, Union Depot: This fourth annual festival bills itself as the only event in Minnesota and possibly the country focusing on the traditional Hmong qeej instrument. Enjoy a variety of Hmong music, dance, food vendors, crafts and family-friendly cultural activities. Free; begins 10 a.m.; 214 E. Fourth St. May 2–3 — West Side Cinco de Mayo: Celebrate Mexican culture and community organizations across the West Side during this two-day street fair. Expect food, music, dance, live wrestling, a car show and plenty of family activities on Cesar Chavez Street and Clinton Avenue on either side of Parque Castillo; 149 Cesar Chavez St. More info at May 2–4 — The St. Paul Art Crawl, various locations: The second weekend brings us around the North End and greater East Side for open studios, food, music and more. In particular, stop by Urban Roots between 1–5 p.m. May 3 for all of the above plus DJ sets, creating art, free nature coloring books and a youth bake sale; 1110 Payne Ave. May 3 — Fraser Festival, RiverCentre: This fun event brings together music, movement, games, food and animals in ways that are inclusive for those with sensory processing differences. The annual festival is also a fundraiser for the nonprofit Fraser. Attendance is free, with donations accepted at The event runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at RiverCentre downtown. May 9–11 — The St. Paul Art Crawl, various locations: Finish out the crawl across the central part of the city, from Como to Highland Park; from Frogtown to St. Anthony Park. May 10–11 — Minnesota Songkran Festival, Capitol: This celebration of the Thai new year returns with live music, dance, vendors and the annual spicy papaya-eating contest — not for the faint of heart! Free; no ticket required. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 10, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 11; 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. May 16 — Parks & People Coloring Book Launch, Irvine Park: It's the 176th birthday of the St. Paul park system! Come celebrate a new 'grown-up' coloring book showcasing 19 parks, with illustrations by Jeanne Kosfeld and writing by former Pioneer Press arts editor Kathy Berdan. Buy the book and enjoy music and food trucks, 12 to 1 p.m.; 25 Walnut St. May 17–18 — Hmong American Day Festival, old Sears lot: In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Hmong community in the U.S., a two-day festival with cultural performances, food vendors, beer garden and more activities. Free; 425 Rice St. May 22–25 — Kickoff to Summer at the Fair, Minnesota State Fairgrounds: The early summer Fair preview is back with food, beer, vendors, the Milk Run 5K race, Giant Slide rides and other attractions. And maybe the best perk: free parking. Attendance is limited per day and tickets go on sale soon at May 29 — Archival Footage Bingo, Minnesota History Center: Think bingo — but instead of numbered balls, it's videos pulled from history, like local news segments, home videos, short films and more 'quirky clips.' Free event, and History Center admission is also free Thursday afternoons; 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the first-floor Heffelfinger Room; 345 W. Kellogg Blvd. June 1 — Grand Old Day, across Grand Avenue: A parade! Food! Live music and street performances! Supporting local businesses on Grand Avenue! What more could you ask for? More info on specific events at June 7 — St. Anthony Park Arts Festival: Centered on the St. Anthony Park Branch Library (2245 Como Ave.), this long-running neighborhood art festival also includes a beer and mead garden, food and music. Free; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 14–15 — Asian Street Food Night Market, old Sears lot: Inspired by night markets across Asia, a variety of organizations are putting on a version here with street food, music, dancing, a beer garden and a talent show. Free to enter; 3 to 11 p.m. Saturday, June 14, and 2 to 10 p.m. Sunday, June 15; 425 Rice St. June 14–15 — Deutsche Tage, Germanic American Institute: The long-running annual German cultural festival returns with food, beer, music, dancing and more. A full list of vendors and performers is still in the works, but hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. June 14 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 15. The event is free and open to all ages; 301 Summit Ave. June 14–15 — STP Pride Festival, Dual Citizen Brewery: After two years downtown, this festival dedicated to building opportunity for queer youth in St. Paul is heading to St. Anthony Park. Expect music, food and better accessibility and parking; organizer Kyle Rucker also teased a performance from circus school Circus Juventas. Free; 12 to 8 p.m. both days; 725 Raymond Ave. June 20–21 — Twin Cities Jazz Festival, Mears Park: This popular public jazz celebration features a variety of performances, including Emmet Cohen Trio, Doreen's Jazz New Orleans and Adi Yeshaya Jazz Orchestra on June 20 and Catherine Russell and Sean Mason, L.A. Buckner and BiG HOMiE, Jazz Women All Stars and Society of Chemists on June 21. More details including performance times at 221 E. Fifth St. June 27–29 — Kaposia Days, South St. Paul: This year marks the 50th anniversary of South St. Paul's community celebration. Kick things off with a parade at 6:30 on June 27 (following a generally similar route with the exception of final blocks moved from Seventh Avenue to Fifth Avenue) and a full slate of events at June 28–29 — Little Mekong Night Market, Little Mekong Cultural District: Food, arts, cultural performances and other small business events running from day into night — plus singing and a dance competition. Free; 5 to 11 p.m. June 28, and 3 to 9 p.m. June 29. Events run along the Little Mekong area on University Avenue, between Mackubin and Marion streets. July 12 — West St. Paul Pride: West St. Paul's LGBTQ pride festival is marking its sixth year at the West St. Paul Sports Complex; 1650 Oakdale Ave. More specific details will be posted on the organization's Facebook page. July 19 — Minnesota Scottish Fair & Highland Games, Macalester College: Find Celtic music, athletics and music competitions, dancing, Scottish vendors, kids' crafts and storytelling and info to help you find your Scottish ancestry. Admission is $20; free for kids under 12. Info at Aug. 3 — Little Africa Parade and Festival, Hamline Park: The 11th annual celebration of African cultures and communities kicks off with a Parade of Nations starting and ending at Hamline Park. There'll also be dance groups, drummers and musicians, local businesses, food and more. Parade begins at noon and event runs till 9 p.m.; 1564 Lafond Ave. August 8–10 — Irish Fair of Minnesota, Harriet Island Regional Park: One of the country's largest Irish festivals, St. Paul's includes plenty of food, dance, music, cultural programming and a marketplace. Single-day tickets run $25 for adults, $15 for seniors and teens and free for kids; weekend passes are $60 for adults, $50 for seniors and teens and free for kids. Visit Aug. 21–Sept. 1, Minnesota State Fair: Of course we're already thinking about it! Five out of the 12 Grandstand shows have been announced as of this writing; we'll be visited by Old Dominion, Melissa Etheridge and Indigo Girls, the Happy Together Tour 2025, Def Leppard and Steve Miller Band.
