Target Field station
| Company type | Transit station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | November 14, 2009 |
| Headquarters | Minneapolis , United States |
Area served | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Products | Commuter rail and light rail services |
Target Field station—previously identified as Minneapolis Intermodal Station, Downtown Minneapolis/Ballpark Station, and The Interchange—functions as a multimodal hub for commuter and light rail in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Located within the North Loop district of downtown, the station takes its name from nearby Target Field, the home stadium of the Minnesota Twins baseball team. The station commenced operations with the launch of the METRO Blue Line light rail on November 14, 2009, followed shortly by the Northstar Line commuter rail on November 16, 2009, and later incorporated the METRO Green Line light rail service beginning June 14, 2014.
Layout
Adjacent to Target Field, the station allows commuter rail trains to be stationed alongside the ballpark. It comprises an island platform catering to commuter rail services along with two separate island platforms dedicated to light rail. The initial Platform 1 was inaugurated in 2009, with an expansion adding Platform 2 in 2014.
The ground-level Northstar platform is oriented northeast–southwest between dual tracks. The original light rail platform spans over the commuter rail tracks, running parallel to the 5th Street North bridge. Positioned roughly northwest of Platform 1, Platform 2 was introduced during the expansion. Additionally, a third track adjacent to the commuter platform facilitates freight trains bypassing the station’s main tracks.
History
Rail lines first appeared on Minneapolis’s west bank of the Mississippi River at this location through the efforts of the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, which later became part of the Great Northern Railway. Parallel east-west rail corridors operated by both the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway and Great Northern Railway were constructed along Dakota Avenue/4th Avenue between 3rd Street North and 5th Street North. Following legal proceedings, grade separation was implemented in 1890 by lowering the rail bed to form what became known as "The Cut," situated beneath street level.
This station is situated near historic Minneapolis railroad terminals, including the original St. Paul and Pacific depot near Fourth Street and depots of Minneapolis and St. Louis located east of Washington Avenue. The Electric Short Line Railway depot at 7th Street North and 3rd Avenue North once served multiple interurban routes.
The final passenger rail facility in Minneapolis prior to this was the Minneapolis Great Northern Depot, which operated until Amtrak service ceased there in 1978.
2009 station
The station opened in 2009 to accommodate both Northstar Commuter Rail and the METRO Blue Line (formerly known as the Hiawatha Line). This extension connected from the Blue Line’s previous terminus in the Warehouse District to this new facility, marking Minneapolis’s reentry into passenger rail service after a hiatus of 31 years.
Construction funding included a $2.6 million contribution from the Minnesota Twins organization.
2014 addition
The expansion completed in 2014, designed by Perkins Eastman, introduced Platform 2 to boost capacity for both METRO Green and Blue Lines while also providing additional community space. The initial platform was subsequently labeled Platform 1.
Future plans
Target Field is slated to serve upcoming transit extensions such as the Green Line Southwest Corridor reaching Eden Prairie and the Blue Line Bottineau Boulevard extension toward Brooklyn Park. It is also envisioned as the starting point for the proposed Northern Lights Express route to Duluth.
Other prospective regional rail lines originating from Target Field include corridors like Dakota Rail (Hutchinson), Dan Patch (Northfield), Little Crow (Willmar), Red Rock (Hastings), and Minnesota Prairie Line (Norwood Young America).
There is also a proposal for an Amtrak Borealis extension connecting Union Depot with Target Field.
Operation
Light rail vehicles serve both Platforms 1 and 2, making two stops at each platform during station visits.
Fares for the Northstar Line vary between $1.00 and $3.25 on weekdays and range from $1.00 to $2.75 on weekends, depending on the travel destination. The schedule includes five trips in the morning and five in the afternoon on weekdays.
Recognition
In 2015, Target Field Station was honored with the Institute Honor Award for Regional and Urban Design by the American Institute of Architects.