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Light rail debut called successful
by Art Hughes, Minnesota Public Radio
June 28, 2004

The tracks along the Hiawatha light rail line. (MPR Photo/Art Hughes)

Metro Transit officials declare the opening of the Hiawatha Light Rail line a success. A host of celebrations greeted riders over the weekend and the train performed regular, less ceremonious duty Monday. There have been a few minor incidents, but officials say none that mar the smooth function of the state's first commuter train since the mid-'50s.

Minneapolis, Minn. — So many things can go wrong when the first public test of a transportation system includes a crush of nearly 90,000 people in two days. Planning, and a significant measure of luck, kept major mishaps at bay for the Hiawatha line's weekend debut and the first day of regular commuter service. Chief of staff Mark Fuhrman says most everything went as expected.

	Waiting at the station

"We're ecstatic with the turnout Saturday and Sunday. As I roamed throughout the system, there were many, many unsolicited positive comments offered by first-time riders. And I'm hearing the same thing this morning with the regular commuters," Fuhrman says.

It may be a stretch to call anything about a train system in operation for only three days "regular," but some adventurous and well-organized commuters put their faith in the train on its first full-fare day. Fuhrman says some of the cars pulled into their downtown stops with standing room only.

"The ridership has been quite spread out. Steady at many platforms, and during the peak 7 o'clock hour this morning, our downtown staff reported standing loads on some trains arriving in downtown Minneapolis," Fuhrman says.

For months the sleek yellow, blue and gray trains ran test runs along the tracks. But they are still novel enough to elicit stares from many people as they pass. Some commuters, however, seem to have already settled into a commuting routine, reading or talking on cell phones.

Julie Toth of Minneapolis says she's anxious for the remainder of the track to open later this year, so she can avoid getting off the train and transferring to a bus.

	Inside the train

"The train itself is lovely. It's quiet, it's smooth. I can do reading on it quite easily, more so than the bus. It doesn't have the jerking motion to it," Toth says. "There's a stop right in front of my office building. So if the train actually ever gets out there, I'm ready for it."

Currently the trains stop at Fort Snelling. More than three miles of track to the airport and the Mall of America are scheduled to open by the end of the year. Officials expect ridership to more than double after that happens.

Metro Transit currently predicts about 9,500 train riders every day through the summer and fall. This time next year they say as many as 25,000 people will board the train every day.

Southeast Minneapolis resident Joe Sullivan is a reluctant train rider, even though he admits it's faster and more comfortable than the meandering Number 19 bus he usually takes to work. Still, he doesn't feel it's worth the $715 million cost.

"The bus was just fine with me," Sullivan says. "No, I did not support this. But it's here and I thought I'd give it a try. ... Since it's right here in my neighborhood, I'll probably be taking it."

	Buying tickets

Many people will buy bus passes through the vending machines at the stations. They expire after two and a half hours. If a bus rider gets a rail transfer, it lasts 22 hours, so it's good for a return trip after work. The passenger would then have to pay a second bus fare to get back where he started. Regular bus rider John Haag stood on the 38th St. platform, waiting for his first ride on the train. He says it's sure to shave some time off his ride to work.

"I just walked. It's a little further than the bus to walk here. But I rode it yesterday and it was much faster to get downtown, and it was a much better ride," Haag says.

Metro Transit has yet to start a new card system, where riders can pay fares ahead of time for both rail and bus rides. Until it does, the agency has set up a prepaid monthly service riders can purchase, in addition to the monthly bus passes.

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