Construction crews work on completing the light rail track crossover between Nicollet Mall and Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. Photo by Josh Collins

Fall colors fade and chillier temperatures settle in, but construction continues briskly along the Hiawatha light rail transit corridor. Construction will carry on at its normal pace between downtown Minneapolis and Bloomington until the ground freezes.

With more than a million construction labor hours clocked on the project so far, it is not difficult to see that hard work has led to substantial progress on the Twin Cities metro area's first light-rail line.

While Mn/DOT’s general contractor puts the finishing touches on the Minneapolis segments, crews continue to move earth and lay track throughout Bloomington. Winter weather will not slow crews laying track sheltered inside the twin tunnels under the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

With track and stations largely complete throughout Minneapolis, this fall crews focus on installing electrical components, signals and gate arms at grade crossings as well as the poles and wires that will deliver power to the fleet of light-rail vehicles being assembled at the LRT Maintenance Facility at Cedar Avenue and I-94 in south Minneapolis.

The Hiawatha LRT test car pauses at the 38th Street station in south Minneapolis. The train rests between two dominant architectural themes of the area: the grain elevators along Hiawatha Avenue and the station which reflects the bungalow design of many homes in the city’s Longfellow neighborhood. Photo by Craig Wilkins

Construction is on track to have the Hiawatha Line ready for operation in April 2004 between downtown Minneapolis and Fort Snelling. This means that crews will soon pack up their tools and move south to focus on completing rail facilities in the airport and Bloomington segments.

After the holiday season, crews expect to begin work in the intersection of 24th Avenue and Killebrew Drive near the Mall of America. This work will be among the last segments that will have significant impact to traffic movements along the line.

And while construction on the line continues, so does testing of the prototype Hiawatha LRT vehicle. Area residents often see the train at night logging the necessary miles to ensure it meets all safety and operational requirements.

"There is no slowing down for us now," said John Caroon, Mn/DOT design-build project manager for the Hiawatha Project Office. "With trains out there testing on our tracks, it is more clear than ever that the finish line is in sight."

Check out the Hiawatha light rail transit Web site for more information.

By Josh Collins

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Two recent crashes at Minnesota railroad crossings that claimed five young lives have prompted Mn/DOT and the Minnesota Operation Lifesaver to remind drivers, bikers and pedestrians to use caution at highway-railroad grade crossings.

Four people were killed on Sept. 26 in a train-vehicle crash on Hwy 47 in Anoka; one person was killed on Sept. 29 in a bike-train crash at Fourth Street in Moorhead. In the past 10 years, there has been a significant decrease in the number of crashes at highway-rail crossings in Minnesota. These recent crashes slow that trend.

The number of crashes at Minnesota rail crossings declined from 144 in 1994 to 72 in 2002. So far this year, 28 crashes have been reported at rail crossings. In 2002, nine people died in crashes at rail crossings. In 2003, there have been eight fatalities in nine months.

"Rail crossings are dangerous and require people to pay attention and be smart," said Al Vogel, Mn/DOT’s director of Freight, Railways and Waterways. "Safe driving, biking and walking behavior can and does save lives."

According to Mike Langer, Minnesota Operation Lifesaver state coordinator, rail-crossing fatalities could be prevented if people were more aware of the dangers trains pose.

"Because of their size, approaching trains appear to be traveling at a slower speed," Langer said. "It takes a fully loaded freight train traveling at 50 miles an hour 1.5 miles to come to a full stop. By the time the train engineer sees a vehicle or pedestrian on the tracks, it is often too late to react safely."

Langer said drivers, bikers and pedestrians should be aware of the following:

• Lowered gates indicate a road is closed and vehicles are prohibited from crossing.

• Thirty-five percent of train-vehicle crashes in Minnesota occur at crossings with active warning devices (flashing lights and/or gates). Driving around lowered crossing gates is the equivalent of driving through a red light traffic signal and is a misdemeanor offense.

• Trains have the right-of-way at highway-rail crossings; all vehicles are required by law to yield.

• Drivers and pedestrians should always expect a train because trains can run on any track at any time.

"We could exceed last year’s rail crossing fatalities if this worrisome trend of fatalities continues in 2003," Vogel said. "By issuing this safety alert we hope to help prevent further injury, death and property damage."

Minnesota Operation Lifesaver is a non-profit public education and awareness program dedicated to preventing collisions, fatalities and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and on railroad rights-of-way. For more information on highway-railroad grade crossing safety, visit the Operation Lifesaver, Inc. Web site at www.oli.org.

By Donna Lindberg

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Mn/DOT’s Metro District will urge motorists not to tangle with snowplows when the University of Minnesota’s Golden Gophers football team takes on the University of Indiana on Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Metrodome in Minneapolis.

The game begins at 11 a.m.

Staff from Metro will give football fans a close-up look at a Mn/DOT snowplow and hand out flyers and other materials urging them to drive carefully during the winter.

Snowplow operators will be on hand by the plow to answer questions and share their knowledge of safe winter driving practices. The plow will be displayed on the plaza in front of the Metrodome.

In addition, public announcements about winter driving safety will be made throughout the game.

"Having a presence at the Dome gives us a chance to speak with people individually and to stress the importance of driving with extra caution and giving snowplows plenty of room to work," said Kevin Walker, a Metro public affairs coordinator.

A package that includes a ticket, a hot dog and a soda is available for $11. To order tickets call 612/624-8080 or 800/U-GOPHER or via the Web at www.gophersports.com.

By Craig Wilkins

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Betsy Parker is the new director of the Office of Government Relations. Photo by Dave Gonzalez

Betsy Parker, a career Mn/DOT employee and the current associate director of government relations, was named as Mn/DOT’s government relations director. Parker succeeds Tim Worke, who resigned in July to accept a position with the Associated General Contractors.

Parker’s career with Mn/DOT began in 1977 and progressed through several assignments including director of the former Office of Motor Carrier Services from 1989 until 1996, when she assumed her current assignment in Government Relations. Her primary responsibilities included developing Mn/DOT’s legislative initiatives.

In announcing her appointment, Bob McFarlin, assistant to the commissioner for policy and public affairs, said, "Betsy’s extensive legislative experience and knowledge of Mn/DOT issues will be great assets as we tackle the transportation policy challenges that face us in the future."

Parker holds a bachelor’s degree in humanities from Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas and a law degree from the William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul.

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Centerline rumble strips are installed on Hwy 371 between Pequot Lakes and Pine River. Photo by Jenny Seelen

Editor’s note: The following article recently was printed in the Brainerd Daily Dispatch.

Each year during the past five years, an average of 14 fatal head-on and sideswipe vehicle crashes occurred on central Minnesota’s heavily traveled two-lane highways.

This trend prompted the District 3 staff to examine projects and engineering techniques that would put the brakes on the disturbing annual number of fatal crashes.

In response, Mn/DOT installed centerline rumble strips in 2000 on nearly 50 miles of Hwy 23 in Stearns and Kandiyohi counties to improve safety. The rumble strips are designed to alert motorists driving too close to the opposite travel lane or who cross over the centerline into the opposing lane of traffic.

Preliminary results of using rumble strips are favorable. Market research, for example, found that drivers believed the rumble strips did improve safety by making them more aware of their location within the driving lane. Those results, coupled by similar findings in states such as Colorado, Delaware, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington are encouraging.

The finished product: centerline rumble strips after they've been cut into the pavement on Hwy 371. Photo by Jenny Seelen

That's why Mn/DOT recently installed centerline rumble strips on an additional 190 miles of rural two-lane highways throughout central Minnesota. The highways with rumble strips include Hwy15, Hwy 18, Hwy 23, Hwy 25, Hwy 55, Hwy 65, Hwy 95, Hwy 169, Hwy 210 and Hwy 371.

According to a recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the overall frequency of crashes on roads with rumble strips was reduced 14 percent. Crashes resulting in injuries were reduced by 15 percent. Head-on and opposing-direction sideswipe crashes, the primary target of centerline rumble strips, were reduced by 21 percent. Similar crashes involving injuries were reduced by 25 percent.

There are, however, concerns about using rumble strips. People living adjacent to the roadways with rumble strips have concerns about increased noise, while crews charged with maintaining the roadway also have concerns--all of which warrant further study. These issues and more will be studied during the next three years as part of a comprehensive research effort to further refine this engineering tool to save lives by reducing crashes and injuries.

It is unfortunate that such a technique has a negative effect of increased noise to adjacent residents. Yet, in our opinion, it would be irresponsible not to take the action, trying to make our highways safer. I hope vehicle crash avoidance systems will soon make the centerline rumble strip a relic of the past.

By Gary Dirlam, District 3 traffic engineer

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The state employees' annual Combined Charities Campaign begins Oct. 27 and runs through Nov. 7.

"Now More than Ever" serves as the theme for this year’s Combined Charities Campaign that begins Oct. 27 and runs through Nov. 7.

Mn/DOT annually participates in the Combined Charities Campaign in which all Minnesota state agencies jointly raise money for a variety of charitable causes.

"Last year, Mn/DOT employees contributed $64,500 of the total $950,000 that was raised across the state," said Ron Bisek, Mn/DOT’s campaign coordinator. "The statewide goal for this year’s campaign is $1 million."

The program allows employees to make donations via payroll deductions throughout the year or with a one-time offering.

"If every Mn/DOT employee pledged a mere $1 per paycheck a year, Mn/DOT would raise more than $125,000," Bisek said.

There will be no hard copy pledges accepted this year. Employees must submit their pledges electronically using the self-serve state employee Web site at www.state.mn.us/employee, which is the same site used to view pay stubs.

Those interested in donating time as well as money can assist by distributing materials, publicizing the campaign and helping individual employees understand the new pledging process.

"This campaign is very rewarding, and I hope employees take this opportunity to give back to their communities," said Lt. Gov./Commissioner Carol Molnau, who serves as the honorary chairperson for this year’s campaign. "There’s nothing more gratifying than Minnesotans helping out other Minnesotans in need."

For more information about the Combined Charities Campaign, visit the www.charities.state.mn.us. For offices interested in appointing someone to coordinate their office’s campaign, contact Ron Bisek at 651/296-1361 or ron.bisek@dot.state.mn.us.

By Daneeka Marshall-Oquendo

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The new Innovative Construction Initiative Web site serves as a resource for Mn/DOT’s partners, stakeholders and employees.

The new Innovative Construction Initiative Web site serves as a resource for Mn/DOT’s partners, stakeholders and employees as they work to accelerate the development and construction of highway projects.

This site currently features extensive information on the design-build method, providing links and documents that assist in the design-build contract process. The site will also serve as a clearinghouse for other innovative methods being researched and used to speed up the pre-construction and construction processes such as warranties, contracting, land acquisition and utility relocation practices.

The Web site can be viewed at www.dot.state.mn.us/information/ici. Contact the Innovative Construction Initiative team at 651/296-9704 for more information.

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