Staff Directory 6370516

Janet Moore

Reporter | Transportation
Phone: 612-673-7752

Transportation reporter Janet Moore covers trains, planes, automobiles, buses, bikes and pedestrians. Moore has been with the Star Tribune for 21 years, previously covering business news, including the retail, medical device and commercial real estate industries. 


Prior to moving to Minnesota, she worked as a business reporter at the Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal and Easton (Pennsylvania) Express-Times. She has a mass communications degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and was a Knight-Bagehot fellow in Business and Economics Journalism at Columbia University in New York.
Recent content from Janet Moore
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Rep. Pete Stauber questions closing of Federal Prison Camp in Duluth

Federal officials cited aging infrastructure and staffing challenges in the pending closure. Some 90 jobs will leave Duluth.
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., speaks during a news conference earlier this month.

In rare bipartisan effort, Klobuchar and Cruz push to make 'revenge porn' a federal crime

The Take It Down Act would require social media companies to remove nonconsensual intimate images.
Holiday travelers line up at security in Terminal 2 at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in St. Paul on Tuesday, two days before Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving expected to be record-breaker at MSP Airport and on Minnesota roads

Travel has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels and then some. Pack some patience and plan carefully to stay sane.
Commuters exit the Northstar train in the morning at the Target Field Northstar Station in Minneapolis on Wednesday. Metro Transit held a celebration

What's the fate of the Northstar Commuter Rail and a link to St. Cloud?

This month marked the 15th year of the commuter rail service between Minneapolis and Big Lake. But ridership numbers haven't rebounded to pre-pandemic levels.
Karie Andrews and a group of Listening House clients help clean up bus stops and Green Line light rail stations in St. Paul.

Homeless Minnesotans hired to clean Metro Transit light rail stations in St. Paul

A pilot program launched earlier this year was recently expanded to pay unhoused workers to pick up litter at Metro Transit Green Line stations in St. Paul.
According to the FAA, laser strikes on aircraft have reached an all-time high.

As laser strikes on airplanes surge in Minnesota, so do dangers

Flashing a laser into the cockpit of an airplane can distract, even temporarily blind pilots. Minnesota incidents have increased by more than 180% since 2015.
Riders board the Green Line in Minneapolis on Wednesday.

Crime on Metro Transit buses and trains increased during the summer, but has decreased this year from 2023

The top crime on public transit: people smoking. Overall, crimes reported on buses and light rail have declined over this year and compared with 2023.
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, DFL-Minn., speaks during a DFL election day watch party at InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront in St. Paul on Tuesday.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar defeats GOP challenger Royce White

Klobuchar won her fourth six-year term in the U.S. Senate.
U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., speaks during a DFL Election Day Watch Party at InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront in St. Paul on Tuesday.

DFL Rep. Ilhan Omar re-elected in Minnesota's safely blue Fifth District

Omar won a fourth term after a challenge from Republican Dalia Al-Aqidi in the urban district.
Travelers at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport during MEA weekend last month. The airport nearly shattered its own record for the number of p

MSP Airport records second busiest day in history during MEA weekend

Oct. 17 was the second busiest day in MSP Airport's history, surpassed only by the day after Super Bowl LII was held in Minneapolis in 2018.
The Nicollet Avenue bridge, which spans Minnehaha Creek and Parkway, received a $34.3 million grant from the federal government for an overhaul.

Historic Minneapolis bridge spanning Minnehaha Creek gets $34 million in federal funds for overhaul

The bridge was last rehabbed in 1973 and has deteriorated due to salt and water exposure.
Two bills at the Legislature would change enforcement of fare evasion on Metro Transit LRT trains and rapid buses.

For the first time in years, Metro Transit could lower fares for most buses and trains

The Met Council will consider Nov. 13 whether to lower fares for most buses and trains, hoping the price decrease will attract more Metro Transit riders.
Andrew McGillivary, right, election systems program manager for Hennepin County, hands a stack of testing ballots to Seth Gellman, elections assistant

How Minnesota is recruiting poll workers in a divisive presidential election

More than 30,000 election judges, or poll workers, will conduct the election amid division statewide.
A Gold Line bus rapid transit station under construction at Rice Park in downtown St. Paul. Service will be expanded to downtown Minneapolis in 2027,

Metro Transit to expand Gold Line bus rapid transit to Minneapolis

A late add to the $505 million project involves upgrading existing I-94 express bus service between Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Commuters get on the C Line rapid bus Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019, outside HCMC at 7th St. and Park Ave.] DAVID JOLES • david.joles@startribune.com

Work on Purple Line bus rapid transit continues, despite Maplewood's opposition

The Metropolitan Council is continuing work on the Purple Line while Maplewood officials support a different kind of transit called arterial bus rapid transit.
Minneapolis demonstrates accuracy of voting equipment

Here's how election equipment is tested in Minnesota

Public Accuracy Tests are required by state law. We watched them in Hennepin County and Minneapolis.
TSA PreCheck staff directs foot traffic as MEA weekend travel kicks off at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Wednesday morning.

'Don't expect an empty seat': MSP Airport braces for influx of MEA travelers

Here are tips on how to avoid lines, whether you're traveling or picking up passengers this busy weekend.
Clockwise from top left, four of the six voters interviewed for this story: Wayne Rohde, Mary Zappia, Billy Bird and Greg Kjos. All describe themselve

What six independent voters in Minnesota think about the presidential election

About a third of likely voters in the latest Star Tribune/MPR News/KARE 11 Minnesota poll describe themselves as independent, and they're fairly evenly divided on the top of the ticket.
The Purple Ramp at MSP Airport's Terminal 2 now has an area to pick up and drop off passengers.

MSP airport's Terminal 2 adds new express lane for passenger pickup and drop-off

Area inside parking ramp aims to ease traffic backups in front of the smaller terminal at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
A light-rail train in Minneapolis in 2022. The Blue Line extension has cleared a key hurdle.

Blue Line LRT extension clears critical step despite opposition

Cities along the 13-mile route granted consent to move forward; critics are not happy with the votes.
Former Metro Transit Police Chief Ernest Morales III.

With brash police chief gone, Metro Transit's safety efforts push on

Amid an investigation, the Met Council said last week Ernest Morales III was no longer chief of the Metro Transit Police Department.

MSP Airport to add two sensory rooms to help alleviate travel stress

Sensory or quiet rooms are an increasingly popular amenity at airports across the country.
Passengers wait for the bus at the Maplewood  Mall Transit Center in Maplewood, Minn., on Tuesday. The fate of the $445 million Purple Line bus-rapid

Maplewood vote puts Purple Line BRT project at risk

The fate of the bus rapid transit project between St. Paul and Maplewood now remains unclear.
A car at left makes an illegal pass through the bicycle lane as it speeds down Park Avenue near East 36th Street on Thursday in south Minneapolis.

Speeding motorists turn Minneapolis avenues into urban speedway

Minneapolis residents in the Central neighborhood are pushing Hennepin County to improve Park and Portland avenues to reduce frequent street racing and crashes.
Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Republican Royce White received the endorsements of their respective parties this year.

Minnesota Poll: Klobuchar holds sizable lead over White in U.S. Senate race

The incumbent DFL senator's Republican challenger Royce White did well in greater Minnesota; the Twin Cities suburbs are up for grabs.
Several red and blue "I voted" stickers across a black background. The blue stickers are on the left and the red stickers are on the right

Minnesota 2024 voter guide: Who's running, where they stand on the issues

Early voting begins today in Minnesota. We ask major party candidates for U.S. Senate and Congress about issues ranging from the economy to immigration.
Commuters walk past a Delta help desk at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

MSP Airport ranked best in the U.S.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport won top place for "mega" sized airports in the prestigious J.D. Power survey after losing to Detroit last year.
A C Line rapid bus approaches a stop at Olson Memorial Highway and Penn Ave. N. Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019, outside HCMC at 8th St. and Chicago Ave.] DAVI

Ramsey County abandons Riverview streetcar project

The county cited public input in scrapping the $2.1 billion plan to link Union Depot to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and the Mall of America.
Isabella Rhawie, interim vice president for revenue development at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, in Terminal 2 where the first of a wave

New concessions planned for Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport's Terminal 2

Plans call for local full-service restaurant, more coffee shops and quick-serve options.
Talking to Gen Z voters at the Minnesota State Fair

What do Gen Z voters care about in this election?

Will the key voting bloc support Harris or Trump? We went to the Minnesota State Fair (where else?) and asked them.
A new fire station at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport was celebrated Monday.

New fire station dedicated at MSP airport

Airport firefighters respond to about 3,200 calls a year. The new station replaces an aging 60-year-old building.
Minnesota state Sen. Patricia Torres Ray gives Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan a big kiss on the cheek at the Minnesota delegation breakfast on Monday.

Minnesota delegates roll into Chicago excited by state and Walz's starring role at DNC

The governor's role on the national ticket sends partisan enthusiasm into the stratosphere.
Officials including Metro Transit Police Chief Ernest Morales announce a three-month improvement project that will aim to improve Metro Transit rider

Sources: Metro Transit chief under investigation for hostile workplace allegations

Multiple complaints by staff prompted an internal investigation this spring, but Morales was not placed on administrative leave until last Friday.
The Riverview Corridor streetcar will look a lot like the Kansas City streetcar.

Streetcar from St. Paul to MOA could snarl traffic, officials say

Bus rapid transit would cost a billion dollars less and, they say, not disrupt airport passengers and workers.
Crime aboard the Green and Blue light rail lines and Metro Transit buses was down 17.5% during the second quarter of this year.

Metro Transit crime down in second quarter

But officials say there's still work to be done to attract more riders.
Amtrak’s Borealis daily service to Chicago from St. Paul’s Union Depot began May 21, but it doesn't serve Madison.

Why don't Amtrak trains from St. Paul to Chicago stop in Madison, Wis.?

They just don't. But new passenger rail service through Eau Claire is being studied.
Rendering of the proposed at-grade crossing of the Blue Line light-rail extension at Wirth Parkway/Grand Rounds in north Minneapolis.

Park Board members say Blue Line light rail crossing could endanger cyclists, pedestrians

Some on the Park Board want the Met Council to go back to the drawing board to preserve the Grand Rounds trail.
Commuters navigate the Delta ticket area at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Wednesday.

Massive MSP airport expansion will bring years of disruption

Leisure travelers have returned with a vengeance post-pandemic. Expect lots of construction over the next 20 years.
An image released by Tesla Motors, is a sketch of the Hyperloop capsule with passengers onboard. . Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk on Monday, Aug.

Hyperloop study fails to gain support from Met Council committee

Boosters say futuristic vacuum tube could whisk passengers between Twin Cities and Rochester in 15 minutes, although the technology is largely theoretical.
The confluence of the Interstate-35W and Interstate-94 during afternoon rush hour last week in Minneapolis. A new state law aimed at curbing climate c

Law seeks to change Minnesotans' relationship with cars in wake of a climate crisis

The Minnesota Department of Transportation leads effort to offer more choices so people drive less.
Kou Yang, an Metro Transit bus driver, sat at an event Tuesday marking Metro Transit's light-rail line anniversaries — 20 years of service for the B

Happy birthday, Metro Transit light rail

The transformative Blue and Green lines mark their 20th and 10th anniversaries, but both still face vexing challenges post-pandemic.
The Hiawatha Light Rail Line is being rebranded as the METRO Blue Line. The Blue Line is the first of the Twin Cities METRO system of rapid transit li

The time is now to comment on the Blue Line LRT extension

You can share your thoughts on a draft environmental plan online, at hearings and community events.
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No relaunch date yet for Minnesota's e-bike rebate application

Overwhelmed website shut down last week shortly after its launch. State officials working on a fix with outside vendors.
The state's new e-bike rebate program crashed shortly after it launched Wednesday. Officials are working with outside vendors to fix the problem.

State working with IT vendors to fix Minnesota e-bike rebate fiasco

Fewer than 80 applications were completed before the system shut down Wednesday. It's unclear when the popular program will be relaunched.
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State's e-bike online rebate application crashes

Technical difficulties cited within minutes of the program's launch; state is working on a fix.
Luke Breen, owner of Perennial Cycle in Uptown Minneapolis, flashes a Gazelle Ultimate C380+ electric bike from the store.

Starting Wednesday, Minnesotans can apply for rebates worth up to $1,500 for e-bikes

The state has allocated $2 million for each of the next two years to reduce the price of e-bikes for thousands of customers.
The Kenilworth Corridor between 21st Street and Cedar Lake Parkway. ] GLEN STUBBE • glen.stubbe@startribune.com Friday, April 19, 2019 Pretty s

Crews fix improperly installed Southwest LRT tracks

Problem was discovered by Minneapolis residents wielding tape measures.
The Hiawatha Light Rail Line is being rebranded as the METRO Blue Line. The Blue Line is the first of the Twin Cities METRO system of rapid transit li

Lawmakers frustrated by delays, cost overruns enlist MnDOT on light-rail project

Aware of the Southwest line's problems, Minnesota legislators are concerned about Met Council's ability to finish the Blue Line extension within budget and on time.
Passengers board at the Red Wing train station as Amtrak’s Borealis daily service to Chicago began from St. Paul’s Union Depot on Tuesday.

Amtrak's Borealis train makes its maiden Minnesota-to-Chicago voyage

Celebrations of the new Amtrak route occurred before an enthusiastic crowd at St. Paul's Union Depot and continued through its route through Red Wing, Winona and stops in Wisconsin.
Mark Hughes boards a Metro Mobility van outside the library in Woodbury on Friday.



The Metro Mobility van was scheduled to arrive at the pickup loc

Riders say Metro Mobility is a lifeline, but sometimes it makes their lives miserable

Delays, denials, circuitous routes, a confusing complaints process — Met Council says it's working on it.
Passengers made their way off and onto the Amtrak at the Union Depot, Thursday, May 8, 2014 in St. Paul, MN. It is the first passenger train in more t

All aboard: Amtrak announces Borealis route from St. Paul to Chicago

One-way fares begin at $41 for the new service, which will begin May 21.
Metropolitan Council Chair Charlie Zelle says the council "will take steps to ensure [rider] concerns are fully documented," following the release of

Late pick-ups, slow service, unearned bonuses: State audit finds fault with Metro Mobility

Report notes quality issues, challenges for lodging complaints. Met Council promises improvements.
The pilots on the first Aer Lingus flight from Dublin wave the American and Irish flag after the flight parks at the gate on Monday at Minneapolis/St.

Aer Lingus returns to MSP airport with nonstop flights to Dublin

Service to Ireland was suspended during COVID-19 outbreak
Passengers get on and off the light rail at the Capitol / Rice Street Station, Green Line light rail in St. Paul.

Crime on Metro Transit trains and buses dips by nearly 8%

Officials say program to combat crime, increase an official presence on transit is working.
Ridesharing apps Uber and Lyft left Austin, Texas, for more than a year in 2016 following a dispute over fingerprinting drivers. The companies have en

What happened when Uber and Lyft shut down in Austin, Texas

As Minneapolis tussles with the ridesharing giants, the Texas capital provides a case study on what happens when they left.
Traffic moves along Hennepin Avenue near W. 24th Street during an evening commute in Minneapolis.

A climate-minded newcomer's guide to riding transit in the Twin Cities

With a little planning and perseverance, it can work for commuting and just getting around.
A view of 10th Avenue in Minneapolis' North Loop where a transit mall will be built for Blue Line trains and a bike and pedestrian trail. Two electric

Light rail runs into new obstacle in North Loop: Key utility lines

Xcel Energy lines in the North Loop, which provide power to parts of downtown Minneapolis, will need to be moved.
The turbulent course of carbon offsets in recent years means that many travelers should think twice before buying them.

Think twice about buying carbon offsets when you fly

Airlines are moving away from the practice and toward broader strategies to combat climate change. Do your research if you buy them.
A Richfield man died after he was struck by a Blue Line train at 35th Street and Hiawatha on Monday.

Bill would give MnDOT the lead on big transit projects, not the Met Council

Backers say the state transportation department can get the jobs done on time and on budget — but MnDOT says it can't take on more work.
The Kenilworth Corridor between 21st Street and Cedar Lake Parkway. ] GLEN STUBBE • glen.stubbe@startribune.com Friday, April 19, 2019 Pretty s

The latest SWLRT problem: Wrong placement of tracks

But the Met Council says fixing it won't affect the nearly $3 billion price tag.
A traveler navigates the rideshare area in Terminal 1 at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Friday.

MSP Airport officials fret about the loss of Uber, diminished Lyft service

Tens of thousands of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport passengers use ridesharing every week.
An Amtrak crew member checks to make sure all passengers have gotten on the train before it departs to Chicago.

Feds map out potential Amtrak routes from Twin Cities to Denver, Phoenix and San Antonio

The expansion of intercity passenger rail serving Minnesota is still in the fact-finding phase.
Metro Transit signed pacts with the Bloomington and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport police departments last year to add officers at both MS

Metro Transit ends its safety pacts with MSP Airport and Bloomington police

Agreements were a stopgap measure to stem crime and nuisance behavior on the Blue Line; National Guard not seen as an option.
Travelers check into Delta flights in Terminal 1 at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport on Nov. 22, 2023.

MSP Airport honored as best in North America once again

Airport trade group uses passenger surveys to craft rankings.
The Riverview Corridor streetcar will look a lot like the Kansas City streetcar.

Cheaper alternative to a St. Paul streetcar emerges. It's a bus.

Ramsey County will decide this fall if it's a $2 billion streetcar or a $121 million bus that will run along W. 7th.
A flying car prototype made by Oregon-based Samson Sky.

Minnesota lawmakers may pave the way for flying cars

Though the vehicles won't get off the ground for at least a couple of years, some Minnesota lawmakers want to make sure they're ready for Minnesota roads.
The view looking down N 10th Avenue toward N 3rd Street from N Washington Avenue in Minneapolis in 2023. The Blue Line LRT extension will connect down

Cost of Blue Line extension could exceed the Southwest light rail

The $2.9 billion to $3.2 billion estimate built in the potential for unexpected costs.
Lexington Restaurant at 1096 Grand Av. in St. Paul. The restaurant was listed in the Green Book, a travel guide during segregation era that listed des

The Green Book guided Black travelers safely through segregated Minnesota, too

About 80 restaurants, hotels and other places of refuge were listed in Minnesota during America's Jim Crow era. Most are gone.
Keith Alexander, of Minneapolis, was one of 22 bus drivers who received diplomas from Metro Transit on Tuesday.

These 22 graduates will make the wheels on the bus go round

Metro Transit celebrated a new class for what a union leader admits is 'not an easy job.'
The departures area at MSP Terminal 2 was relatively quiet on Feb. 22, 2023 in St. Paul.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport gets $20 million to expand Terminal 2

More construction coming; federal grant will help pay for two new gates at the smaller MSP terminal.
Commuters disembarked from buses Tuesday at the Mall of America Transit Station in Bloomington.

Metro Transit ridership creeps up, but rush hour no longer rules

Ridership is at 60% of what it was prepandemic. Midday, afternoon trips are now busier than mornings.
An electric vehicle is getting a charge.

Minnesota rolls out rebates of up to $2,500 for EV buyers

Used vehicles could bring a $600 rebate. Federal tax credits are also available.
Metro Transit says an increased presence of police, community service officers, security guards and others is helping to make the system feel safer.

Crime jumped 32% on Metro Transit trains, buses in 2023

As riders return, Metro Transit is bolstering the presence of police, security guards and others to make people feel safe.
View of skyline of downtown Rochester, Minn.

Group wants $2M from Met Council for 'hyperloop' study

The proposal to study the theoretical technology has buy-in from some metro leaders, though others say it's unproven.
Work on Green Line Bryn Mawr Station in March 2023  in Minneapolis.

Met Council engineer sues his employer, saying it illegally inflated cost of Southwest LRT

Met Council denies allegations in federal lawsuit.