Twin Cities rapidly adding bus rapid transit. The Star Tribune’s Janet Moore writes: “When the A-line rapid-bus service debuted two summers ago, transit planners called it a ‘historic’ addition to the Twin Cities’ public transportation network. Since then, the A-line has proved to be a star performer for Metro Transit, with ridership along the route increasing by more than a third in its first year alone. … In the coming years, 10 more rapid-bus lines will snake throughout the metro’s busiest transit corridors — and last week, the network’s build-out reached two milestones. Advocates say rapid-bus service offers passengers a light-rail-like experience but is far cheaper to build and maintain.”
Who knew what about MNLARS, and when? KMSP’s Jeff Baillon reports: “When the State of Minnesota rolled out a new $93 million vehicle licensing and registration system last summer called MNLARS, it immediately backfired. … People waited in long lines, it took months to get license plates and car dealers couldn’t sell inventory. … And now Governor Dayton’s administration said the new computer system, which was eight years in the making, needs a huge $43-million fix. … Secret recordings given to the Fox 9 Investigators show the Governor’s office was notified three years ago that the project was headed for a cliff.”
Careful out there. The Star Tribune’s Tim Harlow reports: “Dry pavement is quickly glazing over as a band of icy precipitation moves into the Twin Cities, threatening to make travel treacherous. … The wintry mix has already caught drivers’ attention as the precipitation is freezing to anything it falls on. … At 9 a.m., MnDOT was reporting a handful of crashes in the Twin Cities metro area and several more along I-35 and Hwy. 52 in southern Minnesota where conditions are deteriorating rapidly.”
In other news…
Well it was totally worth it then: “Survey: Super Bowl coverage leaves favorable impression of Minneapolis” [MPR]
More on this: “Petition: Take segregationist’s name off University of Minesota’s Coffman Union” [City Pages]
Octogenarian rapper: “DFL leader, WWII pilot and ‘octogenarian rapper’ George Farr dies at 93” [Pioneer Press]
Correction: An earlier version of this post contained a link to an outdated story. It has been removed. Additionally, a story about Al Franken was removed after Newsweek retracted it.
