The Twin Cities have regional public transit, how did they do it?
The light rail line between St. Paul and Minneapolis was expensive, but it also brought in a ton of revenue for the two cities, says the former St. Paul mayor.
Metro Blue Line light rail train approaching 46th Street station from the south in Minneapolis.
Minneapolis and St. Paul have more expansive public transit than what exists in the Detroit and metro Detroit region. And in 2014, the Twin Cities opened a light rail line that carries passengers across much of the area.
How did they do it? And, what were the challenges that local officials and activists had to overcome?
“We have seen an explosion of new housing along the rail line between the two cities. We’ve also seen an explosion of investment.” — Chris Coleman, former St. Paul mayor.
Listen: How Minneapolis and St. Paul got a light rail line.
Guest
Chris Coleman is the former St. Paul mayor between 2006-2018. He helped establish light rail between Minneapolis and St. Paul, which first opened in 2014. He says Minnesota representatives went across the country to see which cities were more effectively instituting public transit. Once the rail line was built, the former mayor says investment came pouring in nearby.
“We have seen an explosion of new housing along the rail line between the two cities. We’ve also seen an explosion of investment,” says Coleman.
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