A Train on the Hiawatha Light Rail Line

Clara James

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The Hiawatha Light Rail Line in Minneapolis and Bloomington

The Hiawatha Light Rail Line:

Opened in 2004, the Hiawatha Light Rail Line connects downtown Minneapolis with the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and the Mall of America.

The line is operated by Metro Transit, who also run the Twin Cities' buses.

Trains run 20 hours a day. The trains run every 7-15 minutes during the day, and 15-30 minutes apart in the evenings.

The line has been a great success for Metro Transit. Approximately 65% more riders than anticipated in the plans use the line.

The Light Rail Line's Route:

The line starts in the Warehouse District, just west of downtown Minneapolis, runs through downtown, follows Hiawatha Avenue through Midtown to Hiawatha Park and Fort Snelling, then on to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and the Mall of America.

Buying a Ticket:

Buy a ticket before boarding the train. The stations are unstaffed and have automatic ticket machines which take cash, credit and debit cards.

Riders may pay for a single fare, or choose from one of the passes available. The 6-hour or the 24-hour unlimited bus and train passes suit riders making more than one journey, and save queueing for return tickets.

A single fare for the train costs the same as a bus fare.

There are no ticket barriers at the stations. Ticket inspectors randomly inspect passengers' tickets, and the fine for traveling without a ticket is very steep.

Reasons to Use the Light Rail Line:

Parking in downtown Minneapolis is tricky at best, impossible at worst, and expensive in any case. Commuters use the light rail to get to work. Visitors to downtown attractions such as the Metrodome, the Target Center, and the Guthrie Theater find the light rail very convenient.

It's usually cheaper to drive to a park-and-ride station and ride the train, than parking in Downtown Minneapolis. This is especially true for those going to a game or event, when parking rates are hiked.

Several bus routes are timed to meet trains to make travel convenient for commuters who don't live near a station.

Park and Ride:

Three stations have park-and-ride lots. Parking is free. The stations are:

• 28th Avenue, Bloomington
• Fort Snelling
• Lake Street/Midtown

Lake Street has a small lot that fills up fast. 28th Street and Fort Snelling have larger lots and space is usually available.

Overnight parking is not permitted, except for a couple of spaces designated for one night's parking only.

Safety Around Trains:

Light rail trains travel much faster than freight trains, up to 40 mph. So it's very unwise to try to run the barriers.

Drivers should watch for pedestrians, cyclists, and buses at stations.

Cross the tracks only at designated crossing points. Be extremely careful crossing the tracks. Look both ways, listen for train lights, horns and bells. If you see a train coming, wait for it to pass, and make sure another train isn't coming, before you cross.

The Planned Light Rail Extension:

The next phase of the Twin Cities' light rail plan is a second line to connect downtown Minneapolis with the University of Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul.

The proposed Central Corridor line is very much on the drawing board, with a spiralling budget and serious design and route planning issues. It is projected to be completed sometime around 2014.