Recent content from Janet Moore
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.
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.
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.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar defeats GOP challenger Royce White
Klobuchar won her fourth six-year term in the U.S. Senate.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/MRWIH2HJQ5YDEYKR64TLWTNR5A.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
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.
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.
'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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/JXZMXHOYDZ4VBC7PNRM5T7UHZA.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Metro Transit crime down in second quarter
But officials say there's still work to be done to attract more riders.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
State's e-bike online rebate application crashes
Technical difficulties cited within minutes of the program's launch; state is working on a fix.
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](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/ME26TIQV6VZPFS3OLZ5GTCCIZE.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Crews fix improperly installed Southwest LRT tracks
Problem was discovered by Minneapolis residents wielding tape measures.
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.
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.
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.
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](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/3DUUWUL3DKZ5KVG746POLRVCCM.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
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.
Aer Lingus returns to MSP airport with nonstop flights to Dublin
Service to Ireland was suspended during COVID-19 outbreak
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 latest SWLRT problem: Wrong placement of tracks
But the Met Council says fixing it won't affect the nearly $3 billion price tag.
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.
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 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.
MSP Airport honored as best in North America once again
Airport trade group uses passenger surveys to craft rankings.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.'
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Met Council engineer sues his employer, saying it illegally inflated cost of Southwest LRT
Met Council denies allegations in federal lawsuit.
Metro Transit's fare enforcement yielding results
More than 500 scofflaws were cited in the past month.
Slightly fewer guns found last year at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
TSA discovered 53 guns at MSP checkpoints in 2023, down from 58 in 2022.
New price tag for Southwest light-rail line: $2.86 billion
The final budget figure won't be available until spring, but officials expressed confidence "that will be the number."
Overhaul planned for the troubled Lake Street/Midtown LRT station
Construction is scheduled to begin next year, aimed at making the Blue Line station more welcoming, safe and accessible.
