Minnesota’s first light rail transit (LRT) line, the METRO Blue Line (Hiawatha Light Rail), connects residents and visitors to several major Twin Cities metro area destinations, including Target Field, downtown Minneapolis, the future Vikings stadium, the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, and the Mall of America in Bloomington. The 12-mile line also serves 11 Minneapolis neighborhoods and Minnehaha Falls Regional Park. Granit and McCrosson were hired to design and construct the light rail line. Parsons Transportation Group (PTG) was the Lead Designer. The work completed by the project personnel was formerly done under PTG, for two segments of the light rail line, Segment C between the then Metro Dome and 46th Street and Segment F between the MSP International Airport and Mall of America. Responsibilities consist of coordinating with rail, traction power, and structural design, preparing roadway, station site, civil utility and drainage construction documentation, including civil plans, special provisions, and environmental permit application. Additional design services were provided during the construction stage, preparing field design change for unforeseen conditions, coordinating with local watershed districts for permit annual updates.
