Mall of America (Metro Transit station)
Mall of America Transit Station | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coordinates | 44°51′15″N 93°14′32″W / 44.85417°N 93.24222°W | |||||||||||||||
| Owned by | METRO | |||||||||||||||
| Line(s) |
METRO Blue Line METRO Red Line | |||||||||||||||
| Platforms | Island platform | |||||||||||||||
| Connections |
Metro Transit routes 5, 54, 415, 515, 538, 539, 540, and 542 MVTA routes 444 and 495 | |||||||||||||||
| Construction | ||||||||||||||||
| Disabled access | Yes | |||||||||||||||
| History | ||||||||||||||||
| Opened |
December 4, 2004 (Blue Line) June 22, 2013 (Red Line) | |||||||||||||||
| Services | ||||||||||||||||
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Mall of America Transit Station is the busiest[1] transit hub/station in Minnesota, with bus and light rail service linking the Mall of America to many destinations in the Minneapolis – St. Paul metro. Public transit service is provided by Metro Transit and Minnesota Valley Transit Authority. The station is served by METRO Blue Line and Red Line. Many area hotels and Mystic Lake Casino offer free shuttles to their establishments.
A $25 million upgrade to the station is proposed. [2]
Location and Design
The transit station for local bus/rail service is in the lower level of the eastern parking ramp. The station was built in the early 1990s.[2]
It has a utilitarian design with basic finishes. Met Council member Steve Elkins said in a council meeting, “It’s just dark and dank, and not really safe or inviting.” [2]
METRO service
The station is served by METRO Blue Line and Red Line. The mall is the nineteenth and final stop on the Blue Line and is the northern terminus of the Red Line.
METRO Blue Line light rail connects the mall to the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport and downtown Minneapolis and terminates at Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins.
METRO Red Line connects the mall to Eagan and Apple Valley.
Commuter traffic
The mall is not a park and ride facility. Overnight parking is banned to prevent passengers from parking to take the train to the airport. Commuters are encouraged to use the nearby 28th Avenue Station's parking ramp.
Proposed Upgrade
The Mall of America Transit Station is undergoing a study to increase efficiency and capacities, and to provide a better experience for its users.[3] A Minnesota Senate publication during the 2015-2016 legislative session called the station functionally obsolete.[1][4]
The improvements will enable buses to enter the station more easily.[4]
Prior to the renovation, the station has no external signage or identity. Renderings published by the Minnesota Senate show an external presence outside the parking lot.[1]
The proposed station would improve station amenities, its aesthetic appeal, and the visitor experience. The upgrade also would provide clear and convenient pedestrian access.[1]
Estimates for the upgrade are approximately $25 million. There is $8.77 million shortfall in the funding for the project.[2][3]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Mall of America Transit Station" (PDF). Senate.MN. Minnesota Senate. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 Moore, Janet (28 November 2015). "Plans to upgrade MOA transit station fall short financially". Star Tribune. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
- 1 2 Reilly, Mark (30 November 2015). "Who'll pay for Mall of America transit upgrade? Not MOA". Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
- 1 2 Van Berkel, Jessie (20 June 2015). "Short- and long-term changes planned for Red Line BRT". Star Tribune. Retrieved 4 November 2016.