Tidbits - Nov 2024

GOLD LINE TO LINK WOODBURY TO MINNEAPOLIS
To enhance regional mobility, the METRO Gold Line, a bus rapid transit line opening in March 2025, will be extended to downtown Minneapolis in 2027. The Gold Line will become the region’s sixth bus rapid transit line when it opens next year, providing frequent, all-day service between downtown St. Paul and Woodbury. Gold Line buses will primarily operate in bus lanes generally along the Interstate 94 corridor, serving 16 stations in St. Paul, Maplewood, Landfall, Oakdale and Woodbury.
In 2027, Gold Line service will be extended to downtown Minneapolis. The Gold Line Extension will bring new, enhanced stations to Interstate 94 and Snelling Avenue, where riders can connect to the METRO A Line and METRO B Line, and near U.S. Bank Stadium. In Minneapolis, the Gold Line will serve existing bus rapid transit stations on 7th and 8th streets and bring riders as far as the METRO Green Line Extension’s Royalston Avenue/Farmers Market Station.
The Gold Line will be considered substantially complete later this year. The $505 million project is set to finish on time and under budget, with service scheduled to begin on March 22, 2025. Extending the Gold Line is estimated to cost up to $20 million, with money primarily going toward buses and station construction.

MCLAUGHLIN RETIRES FROM LISC TWIN CITIES
Peter McLaughlin, executive director of LISC Twin Cities, retired on Aug. 9, winding down a career that spanned more than five decades. A widely respected leader, change maker and public servant, McLaughlin joined LISC in May 2019 and, during his tenure, the office has invested nearly $459 million in grants and loans to support affordable housing, nonprofits, and small businesses. This has resulted in the creation of more than 7,000 units of housing and nearly 2 million square feet of community and commercial facilities in the Twin Cities and has leveraged $4.26 billion in total development.
In previous roles, Peter was the chief author of Minnesota’s parental leave law, making the state the first in the nation to provide guaranteed leave for both mothers and fathers; he was responsible for financing the first two light rail lines in the Twin Cities and he initiated the use of ballpark sales tax revenue for investment in youth recreational facilities and expansion of library hours.

3-PAC MEETS EVERY OTHER MONTH
3-PAC (Third Precinct Advisory Council) has been meeting with the Minneapolis police on a regular basis for more than 30 years. The purpose of 3PAC is to foster communication between residents and the Minneapolis Police Department in the Third Precinct. 3-PAC also provides meals and treats to the officers throughout the year. 3-PAC meets every other month on the second Monday of the month. Meetings are in February, April, June, August, October and December. "Because we no longer have a precinct building in our neighborhood, 3-PAC meets at Corcoran Park - 3334 20th Avenue South - from 6:30 to 8 p.m.," say organizers. The next meeting will be Monday, Dec. 9.