People trying to get between Minneapolis and St. Paul this weekend will have to find a means other than the Green Line.
Starting Friday night and running through Sunday, the Green Line will be closed in both directions between the Stadium Village and Union Depot stops.
Buses running along University Avenue and into downtown St. Paul will serve as a temporary replacement, and Metro Transit staff will be present on light rail platforms to shepherd riders to the bus.
Metro Transit Chief Operating Officer Brian Funk says crews will repair sections of track that were damaged over the winter.
Advertisement
“What we’re looking at is trying to fix some places where we had rail breaks over the winter,” Funk said. “What that means is that the rail on the light rail line is welded together, and when we have a lot of freezing and thawing, it can thaw apart.”
Those rail breaks have resulted in speed restrictions along the University Avenue corridor. Funk says he hopes this round of maintenance will keep the Green Line running smoothly through the summer.
“Taking care of this now, early in the season, really should provide a good assurance that we don’t have to have more interruptions throughout the year on this really important train line,” Funk said.
Funk said the western portion of the Green Line that’s still open this weekend will likely close in mid-July for similar repairs.
Meanwhile, Blue Line trains will operate at three-car capacity this weekend to accommodate fans traveling to and from this weekend’s Twins and Timberwolves games.
Advertisement
Visit Metro Transit’s website for the latest service updates.
This week’s Fab Five photo display includes highlights from Minneapolis South’s 88-84 boys basketball victory over Minneapolis North on Wednesday, December 11.
The photos include two South players who led them with 22 points each (DeAmontre Scott and Eugene Brown), the player who scored 22 points to lead North (JMarion Sanders), North’s point guard who scored 14 points (Allen Hill), and a former Marshall University High School and Augsburg University great officiating the game (Ronnie Henderson).
Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader comments to mcdeezy05@gmail.com.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The Minneapolis Police Department is asking for the public’s help as they search for a vulnerable teen reported missing on Thursday.
Advertisement
Missing teen in Minneapolis
What we know: The Minneapolis Police Department issued an alert on Thursday evening for 16-year-old Ashton Ferraro who went missing in the afternoon hours.
Police say he was last seen in the area of Hennepin Avenue East and Central Avenue Northeast around 1 p.m.
Ashton is described as a thin, 5’8″ tall, with hazel eyes and brown hair. He was wearing a blue puffy Hilfiger jacket with a white stripe, a black hoodie, black pants, and black shoes.
Advertisement
The backstory: Police say Ashton doesn’t live in Minneapolis but was in the city with his family when he jumped from their vehicle and ran away.
Police say Ferraro is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, ADHD, and is on the autism spectrum.
Advertisement
How to help: Police ask anyone who sees Ferrara to call 911 immediately. Anyone with potential information on his whereabouts can call non-emergency dispatch at 612-348-2345, email policetips@minneapolismn.gov. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crimestoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.CrimeStoppersMN.org.
MINNEAPOLIS — A 38-year-old Minneapolis woman is accused of speeding through multiple red lights before causing a crash at Emerson Avenue North and 26th Avenue North that left two people dead and two injured.
Teniki Steward, 38, faces two counts of criminal vehicular homicide and two counts of criminal vehicular operation. If convicted, she faces up 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
The crash killed Esther Jean Fulks and Rose Elaine Reece.
“Our office has been in close communication with the Minneapolis Police Department regarding this case, which was submitted to our office on Thursday and charged Friday,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said.
Advertisement
“This was another completely avoidable incident of a car being driven irresponsibly with disastrous consequences. Our thoughts are with the surviving victims and with the families of the two members of our community who were killed.”
On Dec. 16, Minneapolis police responded to a crash at the intersection of Emerson Avenue North and 26th Avenue North.
Prosecutors said Steward was driving a Buick Enclave at a high rate of speed when she ran a red light at Emerson Avenue North and Broadway Avenue North, nearly causing a collision.
Steward continued driving northbound on Emerson Avenue North at high speed, according to authorities.
As she approached 26th Avenue North, the traffic light for northbound traffic was red. Despite this, Steward entered the intersection at high speed and struck a Ford Explorer traveling eastbound, which was lawfully entering the intersection on a green light, authorities said.
Advertisement
The collision killed both individuals in the Ford Explorer. The force of the impact caused the Explorer to hit a pedestrian on the sidewalk, resulting in a third victim.
The passenger in the Buick Enclave also suffered injuries in the crash