Hiawatha Corridor Project
Alignment and
Track Details


Total Alignment Length - 60,000 feet (11.4 miles)
Airport Tunnel Length - 8,300 feet (1.6 miles) (Subject to Final Design)

Roadway Grade Crossings (See Below)
Gated - 15
Traffic Lights w/Pre-Emption - 10
Traffic Light w/o Pre-Emption - 8


Bridges
Location Type
Under I-494 Modify Existing Bridge
Over TH 62 and TH 55 New Bridge
Over Minnehaha Creek Separate Contract (Highway)
Under Godfrey Parkway Separate Contract (Highway)
Over East Lake St New Bridge
Over 28th St New Bridge
Over TH 55 New Bridge
Over Cedar Ave Modify Existing Bridge
Over Franklin Ave Modify Existing Bridge
Under 6th St Ramp
Under I-94
Under 5th St Ramp
Over I-35W Modify Existing Bridge
Over TH 122 Modify Existing Bridge
Over 3rd St South Modify Existing Bridge

Track Details

Gauge - 4' 8 1/2" (Standard)
Rail Type
-
        115 RE Tee Rail (Open Track)
        RI 59 Girder Rail (Embedded track)
Rail Fastener
-
        Resilient Clip (Open Track)
        Resilient Clip w/Rail Boot (Embedded Track)
Rail Support
-
        Ballast & Concrete Tie (Ballasted Track)
        Concrete Plinth (Direct Fixation Track)
        Concrete Slab and Embedded Steel Tie (Embedded Track)
Roadway Grade Crossings
- Precast Concrete panels


Special Trackwork
Quanity Size Type Location
8 No. 8 Crossovers  
1 No. 8 Crossover  
10 No. 8 Turnouts  
2 No. 5 Equilateral Turnouts  
28 No. 5 Turnouts Yard & Shops
1 50 Meter Crossover  
1 50 Meter Double Crossover  

Maximum Gradient - 4.25%
Minimum Radius (Hiawatha Corridor) - 200 feet
Minimum Radius (Downtown Minneapolis) - 100 feet
Maximum Superelevation - 3.5 inches
Pocket Tracks - Mall of America/24 Ave Station & Ft. Snelling Station


SPEEDS

Top Speed - 55 MPH
Design Speed  (Bloomington/34th Ave S) - 15-45 MPH
Design Speed (Airport Tunnel) - 55 MPH
Design Speed (Hiawatha Corridor) - 30-35 MPH
Design Speed - (Downtown Minneapolis) - 10-30 MPH
Average Service Speed - 22 MPH


Grade Crossing Locations and Protection
Station Name Grade Crossing Location Crossing Protection/Traffic Light Interaction
Nicollet Mall Marquette Avenue
2nd Avenue South
3rd Avenue South
Traffic Light, No Pre-Emption
Traffic Light, No Pre-Emption
Traffic Light, No Pre-Emption
Government 4th Avenue South
5th Avenue South
Portland Avenue South
Park Avenue South
Traffic Light, No Pre-Emption
Traffic Light, No Pre-Emption
Traffic Light, No Pre-Emption
Traffic Light, No Pre-Emption
Downtown East Chicago Avenue South
Norm McGrew Pl.
11th Avenue South
15th Avenue South
Traffic Light, No Pre-Emption
Gated, No Adjacent Traffic Light Interaction
Gated, No Adjacent Traffic Light Interaction
Gated, No Adjacent Traffic Light Interaction
Cedar-Riverside
Franklin East 26th Street Gated, Adjacent Traffic Light Pre-Empted
Lake Street East Lake Street
East 32nd Street
East 35th Street
Elevated
Gated, Adjacent Traffic Light Pre-Empted
Gated, Adjacent Traffic Light Pre-Empted
38th Street/Mill City East 38th Street
East 42nd Street
Gated, Adjacent Traffic Light Pre-Empted
Gated, Adjacent Traffic Light Pre-Empted
46th Street/
  Minnehaha Park
East 46th Street
East 50th Street
Gated, Adjacent Traffic Light Pre-Empted
Gated, Adjacent Traffic Light Pre-Empted
50th Street/
  Minnehaha Park
East 52nd Street
East 54th Street
Gated, Adjacent Traffic Light Pre-Empted
Gated, Adjacent Traffic Light Pre-Empted
VA Medical Center VA Medical Center Drive
TH 62
Gated, Adjacent Traffic Light Pre-Empted
Aerial Structure
Fort Snelling Militia Drive Gated, No Traffic Light Interaction
Airport 34th Avenue South Gated, Adjacent Traffic Light Pre-Empted
Humphrey Terminal East 72nd Street
NW Cargo Center
NW Airlines Drive
Airport Lane/Cemetary Entrance
I-494 Entrance Ramp
I-494 Exit ramp
East 80th Street
34th Avenue South
Traffic Light, with Pre-Emption
Traffic Light, with Pre-Emption
Traffic Light, with Pre-Emption
Traffic Light, with Pre-Emption
Traffic Light, with Pre-Emption
Traffic Light, with Pre-Emption
Traffic Light, with Pre-Emption
Traffic Light, with Pre-Emption
Bloomington South Ceridian Drive
28th Avenue South
Traffic Light, with Pre-Emption
Traffic Light, with Pre-Emption
Mall of America/
  24th Avenue

Note: Crossing protection south of 1-494 reflects center - running on 34th Ave. S.
Changes resulting from decision to locate along east side of 34th Ave. will be reflected soon.


Information Source - Information posted on this page has been taken from the "Hiawatha Corridor Light Rail Fact Book", Version 1, published January 2000 and from other internet sources.   Regardless, Lightrail.com and it's staff  does not guarantee the accuracy of the information, yet does make efforts to insure sources are reliable.


Updated March 06, 2000

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