'Difficult Driving' Conditions on Highway 241 in St. Michael, I-94 from Albertville to Rogers: MnDOT
Expect delays in the area, but road conditions become "fair driving" after the St. Michael- Albertville stretch.
St. Michael and Albertville areas are the only part of the metro categorized as "difficult driving" by the Minnesota Department of Transportation this morning.
The morning after a winter blizzard dropped more than a foot of snow around St. Michael and Albertville, the morning commute could be slow and dangerous in the area. The conditions are "fair driving" for the rest of the metro.
The unofficial snowfall total recorded by the National Weather Service for the STMA area is 12.7 inches.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation driving conditions map shows Interstate 94 in the St. Michael and Albertville area as "difficult driving," along with Highway 241 in St. Michael. I-94 past Rogers and continuing eastbound is "fair driving," as is much of the rest of the metro.
MnDOT reports stalled vehicles on I-94 eastbound between exit 195, Wright County Road 75, and exit 201 Wright County Road 19, northwest of St. Michael, as of 5:44 a.m.
St. Michael-Albertville Schools will begin two hours late this morning because of the winter storm.
WCCO AM Radio reported this morning that St. Michael to Rogers has one of the worst road delays in the Twin Cities right now.
Check back for more traffic and weather updates, and any possible changes on school start time.
If you spot any crashes, stalls or other incidents in the area, let us know in the comments below!
Lynne
4:58 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
My ENTIRE drive into downtown Minneapolis was difficult today, 3 hours from home to work!! Our are needs some public transportation options! An I don't mean driving 10-15 miles to get to it either.
Al Anderson
5:09 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
Lynne
And who should finance your desire to go to downtown Minneapolis? Very few commuters from St Michael/Albertville work downtown. Perhaps a better option (if a shorter commute time is your primary priority) is for you to live in a location where it is shorter. If you moved out in this area -- you already knew (or should have known) that driving to Minneapolis would be a challenge - even on the best of days.
mike
7:55 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Al,
I wonder where are you getting your facts? I can say I personally know 10 people that work downtown. I also know that I am aware of 40% of the bus I ride everyday has people form the STMA area.
Al Anderson
9:12 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Mike -- I apologize for assuming you were someone who moved here within the past 15 years or so. Population of St Michael was only roughly 3,000 when I moved out herer and its over 16,000 now. Assumption would be that most people would have moved out here based on that. But I do apologize for assuming that you did.
Al Anderson
8:07 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
MIke
You can name a 1000 people and it still wouldnt justify the price of a public system that goes all the way out to St Michael. So instead of complaining about there not being one -- how about working together with those 10 people (or more) that you know go downtown and arranging for car pools to Maple Grove or Elk River? Again, if you moved out to this area - knowing that there wasnt bus service - and it's a big challenge to you - why did you move out here?
Trish
9:23 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Hey Al, you're out of touch with reality. I bet people moved to this community to get away from mouthy people like you in the city. Stop hiding behind your computer screen and get in touch with real life. Most major cities have a good transporation system that goes 30+ miles from the downtown area vs inside the 494 loop. Mpls has a poorly designed transporation system. Yes, if you live in the city it's great, but what good does that do?
Al Anderson
1:07 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Hey Trish -- youre entitled to your opinions but not rudeness and insulting others.. . If that's the reason why you are behind the keyboard - its time to go outside and enjoy the fresh air. St Michael is 40 miles from downtown Minnesota -- and the I94 corridor isnt population dense enough to fiscally justify the type of transportation that is being asked for here. What would be the public subsidy for each and every rider for this ? Why should others subsidize your choice of location after you choose to move out here? The boondoggle that is the Northstar line is proof enough that public transit in this relatively population sparse area is not only fiscally not possible its also not working. Additionally, few people work downtown Minneapolis - what good is transit if you work in Plymouth? if the people who live in St Michael/Albertville want to get downtown -- either drive to Elk River and hop on the Northstar Line (there's plenty of seats available) or get together and hire a bus to take you in and out (that would be the market approach to doing so).
And I've been all over the country (not just behind a keyboard) -- only those cities that have high density have a public transportation system that "works" (NYC, Boston come to mind). And even those come at huge taxpayer subsidies per ride.
Trish
1:18 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Hey Al, look who's being mouthy? I did get outside for 5+ hours on Sunday and enjoyed. Did you do the same? I've been in the area for 15 years. How about you? Again, just like MIke said, check your facts. By the way, love the Northstar LIne and us it all the time to get downtown. I'll save you seat!
Al Anderson
1:29 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Trish
I was outside for at least as long as that reveling in the fresh snow....and have lived here for much longer than you. I came out here to enjoy true exurban living -- and not dependent on the likes of the Met Council or subsidizing others for their choices.
No need for me to check the facts - the Northstar line is losing millions on top of the huge upfront cost.
And no ... I chose not to insult you even though your posting shows you dont follow that rule.
Happy in St. Michael
11:00 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Al is absolutely right about this; the facts support everything he said, as does the Constitution and the concepts of freedom, liberty, and fairness. And a large majority of the people who live in St. Michael do NOT work in Minneapolis. We moved out here knowing there wasn't public transportation, as did you, and you can drive to Elk River or Maple Grove to catch a ride on it. The Northstar is an insane waste of taxpayer money and has low ridership. Now, they want to expand it. Commutes aren't fun, sure, but people have a choice of where they live and where they work. Others should not be punished with higher taxes because of someone else's life choices.
mike
1:59 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Happy In St. Michael, Try not to be so short sighted. People live in this area for many reasons, and they are not always able to choose where their current job is. Do you think everyone "MOVED" out to STMA, maybe some people were born here? Everyones sistuation is different, maybe some people moved out here for a job, and now that job is gone. Your logic says they now must move again to where the next job is. Come on you are smarter then this.
mike
8:13 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Hey Al, I don't recall complaing, just wondering where you are getting your facts. I have lived in the area most of my life and am very invloved in this community. The fact is this is a commuter community as the jobs in the area do not support the housing medium. Transit is a good thing for community growth.
Al Anderson
10:53 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Mike -- Im all for fiscally responsible modes of transportation that get people out of cars and into a shared system. That's why I suggest getting together the people you know and see if a vehicle (bus?) going 5x a week in and 5x a week out of Minneapolis or St Paul makes sense. its already being done in other places. perhaps City Hall will allow people to post on their website for just this type of coordinating effort.
What is a fact is that the Northstar line is losing millions and bus service from St Michael to anywhere else but perhaps Elk River or Maple Grove isnt going to happen.
mike
1:50 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Mike, True the Northstar is losing money. The new mass transit plan being put into place is going to cost money(northstar, light rails). Most startup mass transits have years in the red before they become profitable. We are 15 years before the long term goals are met. The Rail system is a big undertaking but once built will be better for the whole twin cities and outlying communities. While I don't think a bus is warrented for the STMA area yet, sometime in the future is not out of the question.
In your future posting try not to make blanket statements that are not true. (Very few commuters from St Michael/Albertville work downtown)
Trish
11:23 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Al, you are correct - the Northstar Line is losing millions. You can say whatever you want and belittle me with your comments, even though I am a CPA with a MBA background. I will not insult you today.
Al Anderson
4:13 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Trish -- YOU were the one who was saying that I was being "mouthy" and out of touch with reality and not in touch with real life. Why dont you take ownership for your words? You think you are the only one with an MBA? Be careful about shoving that in front of my face -- you might just get aced by someone who has a higher educational pedigree than that. :).
Al Anderson
4:19 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Mike -- two questions for you
1) When will the Hiawatha line be profitable? its been in operations for over a decade and it continues to bleed massive red ink. And that is on sections of the metro that has the greatest opportunity for "profitable" ridership. I'll wager every dollar I have that the Northstar line will not be profitable in 15 years.....20 years...50 years.
2) Since you seem to have a handle on how many commuters from STMA area work downtown -- please tell me. I'm listening.
3) If a bus -- which has much greater transportation flexibility in routes driven isnt feasible for this area....please tell me why the limits of rail will satisfy the transportation needs?