Construction on portions of the Central Corridor light-rail line in downtown St. Paul is scheduled to begin March 21 | StarTribune

Construction on portions of the planned Central Corridor light-rail line in downtown St. Paul is scheduled to begin March 21, with work starting on Fourth Street between Wacouta and Broadway.

A six-block section of Fourth, between Broadway and Minnesota streets, will be closed to through traffic at various times in stages through November, with some exceptions made for access to parking facilities and for deliveries. Intersections will be closed during work on adjacent segments.

Utility and other work has been underway on the line in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

The 11-mile Central Corridor line will link downtown St. Paul and downtown Minneapolis along Washington and University avenues. It’s scheduled to begin service in 2014. The line will connect with the Hiawatha LRT line at the Metrodome station in Minneapolis and the Northstar commuter rail line at the new Target Field station.

China Develops First Fuel Cell Light Rail Locomotive | Inhabitat

The fuel cell light rail locomotive has many benefits — its permanent-magnet synchronous motor can be used to efficiently generate power while reducing vibrations and noise, yielding a remarkable degree of energy efficiency. The magnetic motor is able to achieve higher performance than regular motors, while still cutting energy use by 10-20 percent.

Kudos to China. 

Plans for fast passenger rail between the Twin Cities and Chicago hit a few big speed bumps | MinnPost

Early this year, the dream of high-speed passenger rail service seemed almost on the brink of becoming a reality.

Now, after the midterm elections, plans for the service linking Chicago and the Twin Cities could be sidetracked indefinitely, if not derailed, to the dismay of Minnesota rail boosters.

The article only goes downhill from there. It’s really unfortunate that these projects aren’t gaining any traction.

Light-rail deal clears way for funding | Star Tribune

The University of Minnesota has tentatively agreed to drop its long-standing lawsuit over the Central Corridor light-rail line, clearing the way for federal funds needed to complete the project.

After months of public friction and dozens of court-ordered mediation sessions, the university and the Metropolitan Council announced Wednesday that they had agreed on a plan to protect the U’s research facilities from vibration and electromagnetic interference caused by the $957 million line that is already under construction.

The pact still needs approval by the full Metropolitan Council and the U’s Board of Regents. The regents will vote on the agreement and easements at their regularly scheduled meeting Sept. 8. U President Robert Bruininks has recommended their approval.

It’s really great that this seems to be ending amicably. I always found the U’s resistance to the project a bit on the ridiculous side, as they are to be one of the largest beneficiaries of the project.

Can money match Minneapolis' desire for streetcars' return? | StarTribune

With the Obama administration rediscovering streetcars, Minneapolis is revving up plans for tram service on parts of Nicollet and Central avenues, perhaps as soon as 2014.

The city submitted an application last week for federal funding to help analyze the alternatives for streetcar service on those streets. That follows years of planning that yielded some possible routes and funding options for a trolley system but left the city short of making a financial commitment.

As the federal government loosened the purse strings for streetcars, Minneapolis discovered that it needs more analysis to compete for federal construction money.

“Minneapolis is a great city that grew up along streetcar lines, and we believe its future is there as well,” said Mayor R.T. Rybak, who touts streetcars as a contributor to pedestrian neighborhoods and a way to fight sprawl.

Met Council approves light rail from Minneapolis to Eden Prairie | Citypages

Plans for a third light rail line connecting downtown Minneapolis and Eden Prairie have won approval from the Met Council.

The 14-mile, $1.25 billion Southwest Corridor route will run through Minnetonka, Hopkins and St. Louis Park and link up downtown with the Hiawatha line, the just-begun Central Corridor line, and existing Northstar commuter rail line at the new Target Field Station.

The Federal Transit Administration is expected to pick up half the cost of the project.

Just two days ago, the Met Council learned the Central Corridor line jumped the final hurdle in the way of the FTC paying for 50 percent of the $957 million, 11-mile line connecting St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Great news for me and the thousands that commute to and from the southwest suburbs on a daily basis. Unfortunately the line isn’t slated for operation until 2015.

St. Paul's Union Depot to get $35 million in federal grants

St. Paul’s Union Depot will be receiving $35 million in federal stimulus grants, part of $1.5 billion worth of grants for transportation projects that are being announced today.

The amount was announced at the depot at a 9 a.m. news conference.

The Ramsey County Regional Rail Authority had applied for $135.8 million in Transportation Improvements Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER, grants for the renovation of the historic depot.

Ramsey County officials have long viewed the historic depot as a regional transit hub for trains, buses, taxis and bicycles. It will be the terminus of the Central Corridor light-rail line, and Amtrak is expected to move there after the renovation is complete.

Another step forward. I’m very excited to see the Twin Cities in the next 5 years.