This fantasy line is based mostly on the Northwest LRT Line proposal from the late 1980s LRT system studies.  As an alternative to the LRT line, studies in the early 2000s recommended a BRT line along the corridor, and the county secured funding to begin construction.  More recently, there were calls by some local officials in 2007 to forgo the Bottineau BRT line and concentrate on constructing an LRT line instead.  My fantasy line would also replace the proposed Northwest Busway/Bottineau BRT line.

This line starts underground at the Downtown Multimodal station, first looping around the north side of the Hennepin County incinerator, then continuing west along Olson Memorial Highway, returning to grade in the median of Olson Hwy near Humboldt Ave N.  The line follows the median of Olson Hwy westward to near Thomas Ave N, where it dips underneath the westbound MN 55 lanes and then curves northward into the BNSF RR spur right-of-way.

The line then follows the BNSF spur all the way to Osseo, mostly following the existing rail grade but passing over or under several roads, highways, and a Canadian Pacific rail line.  These grade separations include Plymouth Ave, Wirth Pkwy, Golden Valley Rd, 36th Ave N, 42nd Ave N, MN 100, the CP rail line, Bass Lake Rd, 63rd Ave N, I-94/694, 77th Ave N, US 169, and 85th Ave N.

At Osseo, the line follows a long curving bridge over Jefferson Hwy, 89th Ave N, and CSAH 81, returning to grade in the middle of Osseo's 1st Ave NW, just south of 3rd St NW.  The line follows 1st Ave NW through Osseo, then turns northeast north of 93rd Ave N, crossing Jefferson Hwy again (at-grade this time) just north of Fair Way N.

East of Jefferson Hwy, the line heads eastward through currently undeveloped land, then begins a long elevated section that crosses US 169 just south of MN 610, then turns north and crosses MN 610 just east of US 169.  Then line then turns northeast again, crossing the existing W Broadway/Winnetka Ave N intersection, then briefly turns east before ending on the north side of 97th Ave N, in the middle of the proposed Target North campus.

Stations would be provided at the following:

• Van White North (at Emerson Ave)
• Penn Ave
• Golden Valley Rd (south side)
• Downtown Robbinsdale (at 42nd Ave N, with connection to Robbinsdale streetcar)
• Bass Lake Rd
• 63rd Ave N
• W Broadway (north side)
• 77th Ave N
• 85th Ave N
• Downtown Osseo (west side of Jefferson Hwy)
• Target North

If population density or travel demand support it, a possible extension would be further up the BNSF tracks to Rogers or even Albertville.

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Page last modified 23 December, 2007