U of M Transitway

Overview
System| University of Minnesota shuttle, Minnesota State Fair shuttle
Status| Open
Began service| 1992
Routes
Routes| Campus Connector (route 121),
Metro Transit route 272[1]
Locale| Minneapolis, Minnesota,
Saint Paul, Minnesota,
Falcon Heights, Minnesota
Length| 2.6 miles (4.2 km)
Stations| 1 (formerly 3)
| Route map

Legend

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5th Street

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| Buses continued

on surface streets

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|  | Oak Street
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21st Avenue

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|  | 23rd Avenue
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| Buses continue

on surface streets

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|  | 23rd Avenue
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Green Line

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25th Avenue

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29th Avenue

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30th Avenue

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Malcolm Avenue

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|  | Originally planned stop
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Westgate Drive

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MN 280

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BNSF Midway Subdivision

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Energy Park Drive

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Raymond Avenue

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BNSF St. Paul Subdivision

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Como Avenue

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|  | Commonwealth Avenue
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| Buses continue

on surface streets

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The U of M Transitway is a busway that runs between the University of Minnesota's Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses. Use of the roadway is limited to buses, bicycles, and emergency vehicles. The University of Minnesota runs zero-fare buses along the busway connecting the two campuses, primarily the Campus Connector but also shuttles to and from the St. Paul campus for football games. A bicycle trail runs alongside the transitway for most of its distance. Between the endpoints, there are only two intersections with stoplights controlling busway traffic at Energy Park Drive and Como Avenue. The stoplights are designed to normally give the buses priority, so it is possible for many buses to run the length of the transitway without stopping.

## Initial plans[edit]

Plans for a park-and-ride between the Saint Paul and Minneapolis campuses were first introduced in 1976. The project was delayed due to St. Anthony Park neighborhood concerns, required land purchases, University budgets and federal transportation requirements.[2] U.S. Representative Martin Olav Sabo pushed through $2.8 million for the transitway in the 1987 House appropriations bill.[3][4] The final project was approved in 1990 and included three park and ride lots, two in Minneapolis and one in Saint Paul. The project added 2,400 parking spaces to the Minneapolis campus. The project cost $21 million with $1.2 million from MnDOT, $6.4 million from the University and $13.5 million in federal money from the Interstate Substitution Funds.[2][5] The busway opened in 1992.

## Current use[edit]

Several express buses using the Transitway during the Minnesota State Fair. From left to right, operators are Minnesota Valley Transit Authority, Metro Transit, and Southwest Transit.

There were a large number of crashes in the early years of the transitway. It was determined that many intersections along the route did not have good visibility, so that led to a project in the late 1990s to add magnetic loops and Autoscope devices to detect buses and bicycles.[6][7] These systems activate lighted stop signs to grab the attention of motorists approaching on cross streets.

During the Minnesota State Fair (late August through Labor Day each year), Metro Transit along with other area bus companies use parts of the transitway as a fast way to get to Como Avenue via 280 to Energy Park Drive, creating a seamless park and ride system from across the metro. The transitway also sees usage by non-University buses in other parts of the year. As of 2009, the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority uses the transitway to bring buses to a parking lot across from the State Fairgrounds which is used as a layover point.

## 2008 modification[edit]

The western end of the transitway was cut back about 1⁄4 mile (0.40 km) in 2008 in order to make way for the new TCF Bank Stadium. Previously, it had run all the way to Oak Street in front of Mariucci Arena. This process also removed two stops on the western end of the transitway where there had previously been parking lots. Northbound Campus Connectors loop north around the stadium on 6th Street and Oak Street, while southbound buses use Oak Street to University Avenue before turning right onto 26th Avenue.[8] The western stops were eliminated, while the eastern stops were moved to the entrance of the transitway. Stops at the eastern end of the transitway at Commonwealth Avenue were not affected.

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Route 272 - Express Bus Route". Metro Transit. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
2. ^ a b Hopfensperger, Jean (May 24, 1990). "Busway to connect two university campuses moves nearer to reality". Star Tribune.
3. ^ Berg, Steve (August 20, 1986). "Congressman dips into pork barrel to bring home bacon". Star Tribune.
4. ^ Hamburger, Tom (October 26, 1992). "Fifth District has branched out, but its liberal base is broad - Sabo's quiet ways win praise in D.C. but are frustrating to some at home". Star Tribune.
5. ^ Ahern, Don (May 17, 1990). "BUSWAY CONNECTING U CAMPUSES NEARS APPROVAL". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
6. ^ "Minnesota Guidestar: University of Minnesota Transit Way". Minnesota Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 16, 2009.
7. ^ Stirling Stackhouse, Donna Tranchida (1996). "Human factors for transitway safety improvement: final report for phase 1". University of Minnesota ITS Institute. Retrieved December 16, 2009.
8. ^ "Minneapolis East Bank (map)" (PDF). University of Minnesota. June 2009. Retrieved December 19, 2009.

## External links[edit]

* Busing - University of Minnesota Parking and Transportation Services

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Transit in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area

* Metropolitan Council
* Go-To card
* List of routes
* List of stations

Transit operators|

* Metro Transit
* Metro
* Maple Grove Transit
* Minnesota Valley Transit Authority
* Plymouth Metrolink
* SouthWest Transit
* University of Minnesota PTS

Light rail transit|

* Blue Line
* Green Line

Bus rapid transit|

* Orange Line
* Red Line
* A Line
* C Line
* D Line
* U of M Transitway

Commuter rail|

* Northstar Line

Intercity rail|

* Empire Builder
* Union Depot

Expansion|

| Light rail|

* Southwest LRT (2027)
* Bottineau LRT (2028)
* Riverview Corridor (2032)

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Bus rapid transit|

* B Line (2025)
* E Line (2025)
* F Line (2026)
* Gold Line (2025)
* Purple Line (2026)
* G Line (TBD)

Commuter rail|

* Northstar extension (TBD)
* Commuter rail projects in Minnesota

Intercity rail|

* Great River (2024)
* Northern Lights Express (TBD)
* Chicago Hub Network
* Intercity rail projects in Minnesota

Cancelled|

* Dan Patch Corridor
* Minneapolis Modern Streetcar
* Rochester Zip Rail
* List of cancelled transit projects in Minnesota

Historical|

* Counties Transit Improvement Board
* Nice Ride Minnesota
* Twin City Rapid Transit

Other|

* Metro Transit rolling stock
* MSP Airport Trams
* MnDOT
* Minneapolis
* Streets
* Trails
* Passenger rail projects in Minnesota

* v
* t
* e

Falcon Heights, Minnesota

Topics|

* Gibbs Museum of Pioneer and Dakotah Life
* Minnesota State Fairgrounds
* Roseville Area Schools
* University Grove modern architecture neighborhood

University of Minnesota St. Paul Campus|

* Bell Museum of Natural History
* Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium
* Goldstein Museum of Design
* Les Bolstad Golf Course

| Colleges|

* Biological Sciences
* Continuing Education
* Design
* Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences
* Veterinary Medicine

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Transit|

* Larpenteur Avenue
* Snelling Avenue
* U of M Transitway
* A Line

History|

* Curtiss Northwest Airport (1919-1930)
* Shooting of Philando Castile (2016)

Related|

* People from Falcon Heights
* Media category on Wikimedia Commons

| Government|

* Ramsey County
* Minnesota House 66A held by Alice Hausman
* Minnesota Senate 66 held by John Marty
* U.S. House MN-4 held by Betty McCollum

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44°58′27″N 93°11′58″W﻿ / ﻿44.97429°N 93.19953°W﻿ / 44.97429; -93.19953
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