Northstar fine-tunes runs for workers, fans

The newly inaugurated Northstar rail line is tweaking its regular weekday schedule, and a special run is being added Sunday following the Vikings-Bears football game at the Metrodome, transportation officials have announced.

Beginning Monday, trains leaving downtown Minneapolis on weekdays will depart five minutes later than originally scheduled. New departure times are 3:55 p.m., 4:25 p.m., 4:55 p.m., 5:25 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. The morning reverse commute trip also will leave five minutes later, at 6:10 a.m.

"Customers told us that it was too much of a rush to leave their jobs and make it comfortably to departing trains in the 20 minutes we budgeted to travel from the core of downtown to Target Field Station," said Adam Harrington, assistant director of route and system planning.

"The extra five minutes will give customers a reliable connection to their homebound trains."

Metro Transit, which operates the Northstar line, also is changing some travel times between stations for all weekday trips leaving downtown. Travel time from Target Field Station to the Fridley Station will be cut by two minutes, while travel time between the Elk River Station and the Big Lake Station will grow by two minutes, keeping the end-to-end running time at 51 minutes.

In reaction to kickoff for the Vikings-Bears game being pushed back to 3:15 p.m., a 7:20 p.m. departure from Target Field Station is being added. Normal weekend fares apply. Service to the game offers arrival times at Target Field Station of 11:20 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. From there, travelers can use the Hiawatha light-rail line to cross downtown to the Metrodome.

For information on fares, schedules and transfers, visit metrotransit.org or call 612-373-3333.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482