The Cedar Line is my idea for an LRT extension of the Hiawatha Line south of the Mall of America, essentially replacing the proposed Cedar Ave Busway with a similar routing.  The proposed Cedar Ave BRT is the result of studies in the early-mid 2000s to determine the best method of transit to implement in the Cedar Ave corridor.  Both BRT and LRT were studied, and BRT was selected as the preferred mode for the corridor.  My fantasy Cedar LRT line is based loosely on the Nichols-Galaxie alignment alternative from the corridor study.

From the south entrance to the Mall of America, the line begins heading west, elevating over Killebrew Dr then turning south along the east side of MN 77.  The line follows the east side of MN 77 southward across the Minnesota River to the proposed Cedarvale station (just south of MN 13), with a brief tunnel underneath the Old Shakopee Rd interchange and new bridge structures across the Minnesota River, the Union Pacific rail tracks south of the river, and MN 13.

At the Cedarvale station, the line breaks off from the freeway and follow the middle of Nichols Rd south, bridging over Diffley Rd and Cliff Rd. Near the south end of Nichols Rd (near Kings Rd), the line bridges over I-35E and continues along the east side of MN 77 for about another 1/4 mile, where it then cuts east along the north edge of a mobile home area before connecting to Galaxie Ave near Geneva Way.  The line then follows Galaxie Ave south with bridges over McAndrews Rd, 140th St, and CSAH 42.  Near 153rd St W, the line cuts southwest, ending at the existing Apple Valley Transit Center on the east side of Gas Light Dr.

Stations would be provided at the following:

• Cedarvale (Nichols Rd at Cedarvale Dr)
• Diffley Rd (south side)
• Cliff Rd (north side)
• Minnesota Zoo (near Geneva Way)
• McAndrews (just north of 132nd St)
• 140th St (north side)
• Apple Valley (north side of CSAH 42)
• At the line's end at the Apple Valley Transit Center.

Two possible routes for extension, should population density or travel demand support it, would be either south into northern Lakeville for another mile or two, or southeast to Farmington.

The following map shows the routing of my fantasy Cedar LRT line:

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Page last modified 23 December, 2007