CHATER ONE: SUMMARY OF EXISTING TRANSIT SERVICE NETWORK CURRENT NETWORK STRUCTURE In the Northwest Metro Transit Study area, as in most of the Metro Transit network, there are two distinct route structures, namely, one for off-peak periods (the base structure) and one for peak periods. The base route structure is generally radial, focusing on downtown. In north Minneapolis, the route structure is a traditional grid system, with the majority of services being in a north-south alignment oriented to downtown Minneapolis. Most suburban routes, on the other hand, are structured around timed transfer focal points at Robbinsdale and Brooklyn Center transit centers. Metro Transit s approach to providing productive yet convenient service in suburban areas has been to operate several short shuttle routes serving the surrounding area from transit centers strategically located throughout the suburbs, with connections between major transit centers and also with downtown Minneapolis. During peak hours, most of the base network remains, and is overlaid by additional peak-only commuter routes, providing direct, no-transfer service between suburban residential areas and downtown Minneapolis. Many of these routes also serve one or more of the many park-and-ride lots located throughout the suburban areas. Typically, these routes use the freeway network to allow relatively quick travel times between downtown and the suburban neighborhoods that they serve. The current route network in the study area as of April 2006 is in Figure 1. The Northwest Metro Transit Study area can be divided in five parts: Minneapolis, Brooklyn Center (BCTC) services, Robbinsdale routes, Starlite Transit Center connections and commuter routes: MINNEAOLIS In north Minneapolis, the route structure is a traditional grid system, with the majority of services being in a north-south alignment oriented to downtown Minneapolis. The grid is well developed, with the exception of enn Avenue. During rush hours the area is primarily served by local routes, with the exception of limited stop service between BCTC and downtown via Osseo Road, 44 th Avenue, Fremont and Dowling. Some routes, in particular Route, have complex multiple branches that make use of the service difficult to understand. BROOKLYN CENTER TRANSIT CENTER Routes from this facility serve primarily Minneapolis, Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn ark. Route is the primary local connection to north Minneapolis. Daily connections exist with Starlite ; weekday connections exist with Robbinsdale and across the Mississippi River into Anoka County. Bus routes are timed to facilitate transfers. ROBBBINSDALE TRANSIT CENTER Routes from this facility serve primarily Minneapolis, Robbinsdale, Crystal, New Hope and Golden Valley. Route 14 is the primary local connection to north Minneapolis. A connection 8
eony Central Vicksburg West Fish Niagara Zachary Wisconsin Louisiana Xylon Zane Russell enn Humboldt Mooney Territorial Troy Wayzata rench W Troy 1st N Hadley 89th 82nd Co Rd 24 Co Rd 1 Ln Lawndale Holly Weaver 776 776 E th N ark Reserve Old Rockford Wayzata ewel J 2th Holly Valley Forge Bass Medina 30th 771 783 Gleason 9th 781 Co Rd 9 117th N 776 Ranchview Weaver Medina 18th Co Rd 6 Vicksburg Vicksburg 37th Rice arkers Fish SuperiorRidgedale 788 740 1st N Co Rd 30 32nd Schmidt lymouth Ranchview Shenandoah Territorial 772 Niagara Co Rd 1 Existing Service Cutters Grove Dayton French Hayden Anoka Lemans West Fish 770 Fish Regional ark Reserve Transit Station 300 Cheshire Lane Lk. Rd. lymouth Rockford 28th 21st 34th 19th Harbor Juneau Carlson Harbor Bass 27th 771 13th Cheshire 1st N 741 East Fish 4th Annapolis Annapoils Cheshire 780 2nd 4 Campus 741 Industrial ark Co Rd 6 Carlson kwy 3 788 Xenium 781 740 774 Co Rd 81 Co Rd 30 Weaver 4 Sycamore rudential Northwest ineview St Cedar Island Quinwood ineview Oakview Northwest Sycamore Sunset lymouth Road Bus Routes: 62, 671, 672,, 677, 740, 741, 743, 770, 771, 774 Northwest Metro Transit Study Final lan (Apr 06) Cartway Champlin Dr. 1st Ave Champlin th Ave 7th Ave West River 117th Ave ark Reserve 6th 772 ineview 770 Mud 89th Ave 790 780 H emlock Hemloc k East Fish Bass 791 Forestview Maple Grove Larch 28th 30th 26th Ave 18th 781 3rd 742 Goose Hemlock 791 96th West Eagle Northwest Blvd 62nd Deerwood Schmidt Clifton E French Regional ark 792 Eagle ike 790 773 9th Ave Boundary Creek Revere 93rd Ave Zachary Zachary Old Rockford W Sunset Tr Ave Bass 46th 36th Revere Ridge 673 Lemans Trenton 792 79 782 Central 4th 1st Schmidt Lk. Rd. 4th Fairfield Co Rd 73 Revere 793 79 742 Champlin D Champlin Hennepin Technical 40th ilgrim 34th Magda Frontage Rd Lancaster Kilmer 26th 13th N Frontage Shelard 1st Ave Osseo Ford 89th Ave Northland Existing Routes Terr. Bass 790 793 Mendelssohn Hillsbor o 721 63rd Ave Research Ctr Rd see Champlin inset at left 49th Ave Xylon Ave land Ave Wyoming 4th 79th Jolly Northland Dr. New Hope Science Ctr Dr Four Seasons Mall lymouth Betty Crocker General Mills Modern W innetka Winnetk a th Ave General Mills 4th 764 117th Ave 764 7 Wayzata Setzler kwy 7 78 721 Laurel 764 93rd Ave Candlewood Idaho 716 42nd Ave 36th Ave 32nd Ave Brooklyn Blvd Hampshire Olympia Maryland Neddersen kwy. 8th Ave 723 North Hennepin Community Starlite COUNTY 81 Louisiana Ave. Bus Routes: 9, 604, 643, 649, 62, 663, 672,, 7, Bus Routes:, 721,, 764 Golden Valley Market St. 6th 78 63rd Ave 47th Ave 716 19 Sandburg Honeywell Golden Valley Community Zane 78 Service Rd. Colorado 716 78 M I S S 9th Ave 1st Ave 80th Bass, 7, 14, 19,, 29, 32,, 716, 717, 721, 7, 723,, 740, 741, 742, 7,, 78,,, 762, 763, 764,, 770, 771, 772, 773, 774, 776,, 780, 781, 782, 783, 788, 790, 791, 792, 793, 79, 801 Yates Regent Brunswick Duluth Xenia Golden Hills Dr. Crystal Airport COUNTY 81 3 I S S I I R I V E R 83rd 6th Hubbard 723 63rd Ave Corvallis 763 71st Brooklyn Blvd Orchard Crystal 0 6 39th 36th Ave 9th 762 Twin s Twin s 19 14 Sweeney 7 West River Brooklyn ark Halifax Glenwood 69th 717 763 almer s Bus Routes: 14, 19, 32,, 716, 717 Crystal 32 74th th Lad Ewing Oakdale Brooklyn Hanson Shingle Creek kwy Brooklyn Center Bus Routes:,, 717, 721, 7, 723,,, 801 643 6th 97th 8th Ave 8th Ave Robbinsdale York Upton Washburn 7 14 7 1st Ave Robbinsdale Wirth ark Vincent Thomas 36th Coon Rapids Blvd Shingle Creek kwy Shingle Creek kwy Osseo enn enn lymouth 19 Brooklyn Center 69th Logan 44th 42nd 763 7th 49th Dowling 33rd Golden Valley Lowry Coon Rapids Regional ark Mall Earle Brown 22 29 3rd Humboldt 801 762 6th 721 Dupont Fremont 33rd 26th Ave Glenwood Cedar 0 Wirth Laurel Bryn ark Mawr ark Each route is marked by a different Frontage color Rdto show its travel path. Kenwood ark Bus Route West River Rd Fremont 67th 7 Bryant 762 Shingle Creek North Commons Non-stop Service No stops to pick up or drop off customers on these route segments. Limited Service Only certain trips take this route. To/From Downtown Route continues non-stop to/from downtown Minneapolis or St. aul. Route Number ark & Ride lot Bicycle Locker Miles Coon Rapids Webber Emerson W Lyndale 32 Foley 4th Lyndale Lyndale 7th West River Rd 8th Ave 66th E Lyndale M Foley I S S I S S I I R I V E R 7 Washington 14 32 2nd hdale 0 1 2 University 801 Springbrook Osborne Columbia 1st 31st Grand 8th NE 8th N 3th Lowry 11 Marshall Downtown Minneapolis Figure 1
exists with Brooklyn Center on weekdays and with Starlite in the peak periods. Bus routes are less coordinated for timed transfers. STARLITE TRANSIT CENTER This transit center currently functions as an anchor point rather than a major transfer location. There are fewer routes serving this facility that any other transit centers and more random transfer connections. The Northwest Metro Transit Study will increase the role of this facility in serving the transit needs of the northwest suburbs. COMMUTER ROUTES These routes provide direct, no-transfer service between suburban residential areas and downtown Minneapolis. Many of these routes also serve one or more of the many park-and-ride lots located throughout the suburban areas. Typically, these routes use the freeway network to allow relatively quick travel time between downtown and the suburban neighborhoods that they serve. Many of these routes have a local tail section before serving a primary park-and-ride lot and then traveling non-stop to downtown. Express or limited-stop routes without a major parkand-ride lot are notably less productive. The majority of these routes operate only in peak periods, although Routes 7, and also operate in the midday. CURRENT SERVICE FREQUENCIES AND HOURS OF SERVICE As would be expected, the sections of the Northwest Metro Transit Study area with the most frequent service are also those with the highest residential and employment densities. In north Minneapolis the coverage and frequency is good at all times. North Minneapolis has a frequency range of every -7 minutes in rush hour to every 30 minutes in the late evening. Most areas in north Minneapolis are within a ¼-mile walking distance to transit. All major corridors (Lyndale Avenue,, Emerson/Fremont and enn Avenue) have good service at all times of the day and all days of the week. Service hours are typically between :00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m., with 24-hour service operating on Route. In other parts of the study area- specifically the suburban areas- route coverage varies considerably. During peak periods, coverage is quite good. During off-peak times, however, many routes do not operate. Those that do may have frequencies of 60 minutes or more. RIDERSHI AND ROUTE ERFORMANCE A comprehensive analysis of existing transit ridership and route performance is provided in the Existing Conditions Report. It includes ridership by route, time of day and day of week, along with the distribution of boardings and alightings at individual bus stops. This analysis is based on extensive ride checks that were completed in November 2001-February 2002 and were rechecked as necessary in 200 and 2006. Figure 2 illustrates the ridership activity on weekdays. Key findings from the analysis: Level of transit service throughout the day is reasonably well-matched with the distribution of current demand Ridership in north Minneapolis is strong at all times Ridership during peak periods is generally good, especially on commuter routes
COUNTY ROAD 1 N XENIUM LN N ZANE AVE N YATES AVE N ENN AVE N HEMLOCK LN N HIGHWAY N XERXES AVE N FORESTVIEW LN N ILGRIM LN N BOONE AVE N 9TH LN NOBLE AVE N NOBLE AVE N ZANE AVE N THOMAS AVE N ENN AVE N HIGHWAY 22 HUMBOLDT AVE N BRYANT AVE N 2ND ST N LAWNDALE LN N FERNBROOK LN N HEMLOCK LN N FREMONT AVE N REGENT AVE N MARSHALL ST NE JUNE AVE N HIGHWAY 47 MAIN ST NE 9TH AVE N DAYTON RIVER RD DAYTON RD VALLEY FORGE LN N DAYTON RD FRENCH LAKE RD CARTWAY RD CHURCH ST MAIN ST W ARK ST FERRY ST S MILLER RD CHAMLIN DR N FERRY ST N 1ST AVE HAYDEN LAKE RD E 3RD AVE 4TH AVE 4TH AVE TH AVE IERCE ST 7TH AVE MAIN ST E 7TH AVE NORTH ST RIVER RD E MAIN ST E ROUND LAKE BLVD NW 117TH AVE N RIVERDALE BLVD NW MAIN ST NW MAIN ST NW 119TH AVE NW N 4TH AVE NW Figure 2 Ridership and 242 Service Weekdays CROOKED LAKE BLVD NW CROOKED LAKE BLVD NW HIGHWAY NORTHDALE BLVD NW HANSON BLVD NW ROBINSON DR NW 113TH AVE NW 1ST AVE NW XEON ST NW NORTHDALE BLVD NW HIGHWAY NORTHDALE BLVD NW 1ST AVE NW FOLEY BLVD NW FOLEY BLVD NW EGRET BLVD NW BROCKTON LN N 9TH AVE N 9TH AVE N BOUNDARY CREEK TER N 1ST AVE N WINNETKA AVE N MISSISSII BLVD NW N NOBLE AVE N 1ST AVE N HANSON BLVD NW COON RAIDS BLVD NW 99TH AVE NW EGRET BLVD NW COON RAIDS BLVD NW HIGHWAY HIGHWAY 47 COUNTY ROAD 30 TROY LN N GARLAND LN N 82ND AVE N WEAVER LAKE RD N RICE LAKE RD N COUNTY ROAD 81 ELM CREEK BLVD N ELM CREEK BLVD N WEAVER LAKE RD N REVERE LN N COUNTY ROAD 81 JEFFERSON HWY N CENTRAL AVE JEFFERSON HWY N 7TH ST N XYLON AVE N 8TH AVE N 97TH AVE N SETZLER KWY N 8TH AVE N CANDLEWOOD DR N HIGHWAY NOBLE KWY N NOBLE KWY N 8TH AVE N 8TH AVE N 83RD AVE N 97TH AVE N HIGHWAY EDINBROOK KWY N RUSSELL AVE N HIGHWAY EAST RIVER RD NW EAST RIVER RD NW EVERGREEN BLVD NW 8TH AVE NW TROY LN N 77TH AVE N LAKELAND AVE N RANCHVIEW LN N FISH LAKE RD E 77TH AVE N BROOKLYN BLVD JOLLY LN N BROOKLYN BLVD BROOKDALE DR N BROOKDALE DR N 22 BROOKDALE DR N BROCKTON LN N per Day (Jobs 4 er Acre) COUNTY ROAD 24 E LAKE ST E EONY LN N EONY LN N 38TH AVE N COUNTY ROAD 1 N COUNTY ROAD 24 14TH AVE N COUNTY ROAD 1 N HIGHWAY LAWNDALE LN N Legend OLD ROCKFORD RD N MEDINA RD ROCKFORD RD VICKSBURG LN N VICKSBURG LN N HIGHWAY FISH LAKE RD W COUNTY ROAD 47 Boardings per Stop 1-11 - 0 1-0 1-00 01 and over Trips per Street 32ND AVE N Segment er Day 0-11 - 2 26-0 1-0 1-837 E GLEASON LAKE RD 28TH AVE N SCHMIDT LAKE RD LYMOUTH BLVD MEDINA RD SHENANDOAH LN N 18TH AVE N NIAGARA LN N GLEASON LAKE DR HARBOR LN N FERNBROOK LN N 19TH AVE N CARLSON KWY 27TH AVE N OAKLAND RD CHESHIRE LN N ROCKFORD RD XENIUM LN N CAMUS DR 30.1 and over NORTHWEST BLVD COUNTY ROAD 6 LYMOUTH RD SYCAMORE LN N INEVIEW LN N 6TH AVE N QUINWOOD LN N OAKVIEW LN N 62ND L N LARCH LN N 26TH AVE N 18TH AVE N RIDGEMOUNT AVE W EAGLE LAKE DR W INTERSTATE 3 INTERSTATE 3 Employment Density COUNTY ROAD 6 0.1 - XENIUM LN N NORTHWEST BLVD 3RD AVE N SCHMIDT LAKE RD.1-20 20.1-0 0.1 and over NORTHWEST BLVD OLD ROCKFORD RD N opulation Density (ersons er Acre) 0.1 -.1-20 20.1-30 SUNSET TRL MEDICINE LAKE DR W 0 0. 1 2 Miles MEDICINE LAKE DR W SUNSET TRL FAIRFIELD RD TRENTON LN N 46TH AVE N 4TH AVE N MEDICINE LAKE BLVD E REVERE LN N TOWN RD SHELARD KWY INTERSTATE MAGDA DR N 1ST AVE N LANCASTER LN N 34TH AVE N ROCKFORD RD FORD RD 63RD AVE N 26TH AVE N MEDICINE LAKE RD QUAKER LN N MENDELSSOHN AVE N NORTHLAND DR N SCIENCE CENTER DR HIGHWAY N HIGHWAY N BOONE AVE N BOONE AVE N LYMOUTH AVE N TH AVE N NB HWY TO EB I3 4TH AVE N XYLON AVE N 49TH AVE N MODERN RD N WINNETKA AVE N WINNETKA AVE N WINNETKA AVE S 71ST AVE N RHODE ISLAND AVE N AVE OLYMIA ST GOLDEN VALLEY RD DULUTH ST INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 0 0 LAKE DR 32ND AVE N LYMOUTH AVE N LAUREL AVE 68TH AVE N 67TH AVE N 63RD AVE N FAIRVIEW AVE N SANDBURG RD 6TH AVE N 73RD AVE N AVE XENIA AVE S HIGHWAY 0 GLENWOOD AVE UNITY AVE N LAKELAND AVE N DULUTH ST WOODBINE LN N 6TH AVE N ORCHARD AVE N 39TH AVE N 3 HOV LN NOBLE AVE N NOBLE AVE N BROOKLYN BLVD 3 HOV LN 71ST AVE N 63RD AVE N 8TH AVE N AVE 74TH AVE N ECKBERG DR FRANCE AVE N FRANCE AVE N 6TH AVE N HIGHWAY 0 LAKE DR OAKDALE AVE N XERXES AVE N XERXES AVE N COUNTY ROAD HIGHWAY 0 1ST AVE N OSSEO RD WASHBURN AVE N OSSEO RD GLENWOOD AVE SHINGLE CREEK KWY LOWRY AVE N GOLDEN VALLEY RD EARLE BROWN DR ENN AVE N ENN AVE S LOGAN AVE N LYMOUTH AVE N ENN AVE N 3RD AVE N 49TH AVE N 44TH AVE N DOWLING AVE N LOWRY AVE N 26TH AVE N CEDAR LAKE RD N 67TH AVE N FREMONT AVE N EMERSON AVE N DUONT AVE N 7TH AVE N TH AVE N SHINGLE CREEK DR DUONT AVE N BRYANT AVE N WEBBER KWY EMERSON AVE N LYNDALE AVE N HIGHWAY 22 70TH AVE N INTERSTATE 6 SB I TO 3RD AVE N NB I TO 49TH AVE N DOWLING AVE N 26TH AVE N BRYANT AVE N LYNDALE AVE N 3 HOV LN SB I TO WB I3 WASHINGTON AVE N LYMOUTH AVE N 8TH AVE N 7TH ST N DUNWOODY AVE LYNDALE AVE N 7TH ST N EAST RIVER RD NE SB I TO 4TH ST N 3 EAST RIVER RD NE 6 WASHINGTON AVE N GRAND ST NE 2ND ST N ACIFIC ST 2ND ST N TH ST N COLUMBIA AVE 1ST ST N HENNEIN AVE 9TH ST S NICOLLET MALL 11TH ST S TH ST S 44TH AVE NE 1ST AVE N MAIN ST NE BROADWAY ST NE 8TH AVE NE MARQUETTE AVE 2ND AVE S TH ST S
rimary boarding locations: downtown Minneapolis; along enn Avenue, Emerson/Fremont Avenues, and ; at the Robbinsdale and Brooklyn Center transit centers; major park-and-ride locations Ridership on suburban routes during the off-peak varies considerably Ridership levels are lower in the evenings and on weekends, as are service levels DEMOGRAHICS AND LAND USE Staff analyzed, and mapped where appropriate, the various forms of demographics and land use in north Minneapolis and the northwest suburbs that would be expected to influence transit use: opulation density Employment density Retail centers Youth population Seniors population Households in poverty Minority population Major trip generators In general, the analysis showed that north Minneapolis is densely developed and has demographic characteristics that are consistent with high transit usage. In addition there are many high traffic activity centers within other parts of the study area, most of which are located on prime transportation corridors (e.g., Brooklyn Boulevard, Zane Avenue) as well as the two colleges and the major shopping centers. These activity centers are shown in Figure 3, along with residential and employment densities. EXISTING CONDITIONS REORT UDATE Since ridership counts were obtained in winter 2001-02, several service changes have been implemented. New ridership data has been gathered as part of this planning effort: Routes E, 7, 716 Sunday, 717 Saturday and Sunday, 7 Saturday were eliminated. lymouth Avenue is now served by Routes 7 and 29 instead of Route 20. Route 76 was incorporated into Route 78 Route 768 was incorporated in Route. Routes J, 19S, 717 and 78 were rerouted. All off-peak service on the and branches of Route 19 was eliminated. New midday short-lines on Route to 4 th /Wisconsin were added during weekday offpeak times. Weekday off-peak services on Route 717, Saturday service on Routes and 716 and peak service on Route 32 were eliminated. The was relocated to new Brooklyn Center. In addition, the Hiawatha light-rail transit line opened between downtown Minneapolis, south Minneapolis, the airport and Mall of America. The new LRT line provides new connections and mobility opportunities with bus routes throughout the system.
Legend Hospital Government Center City Halls ublic High School ost Offices Neighborhood Center (20,000 to,000 Sq. Ft.) Community Center (,000 to 400,001Sq. Ft.) Regional Center (400,001 Sq. Ft. and Over) ersons er Acre(2000) 0.00 -.0.1-20.0 20.1-30.0 30.1-36.80 Jobs er Acre(2000) 0.01 -.0.1-20.0 20.1-0.0 0.1-73.33 Bus Routes 242 22 4 0 1.2 2. Miles Major Activity Centers Northwest Metro Transit Study Final lan 3 0 6 Figure 3 H:\ServDev\LANNING\Sectors\Sector 8\GIS and Graphics\Final Concept lan Mapping\MXD\Figure 4 - Major Activity Centers.mxd December 11, 2006 (Revised)